Todd Millikan Season 1987

Honors & Awards
Nebraska Football Hall of Fame (2010)
First-Team All-Big Eight (AP, UPI, Coaches, 1988)
Second-Team All-Big Eight (UPI, 1986)
Nebraska Tom Novak Award (1988)
10th-Round NFL Draft Pick (Chicago Bears, 1989)

1988 (Senior)
A first-team All-Big Eight pick as a senior tight end in 1988, Todd Millikan started every regular-season game and the 1989 Orange Bowl against Miami. He also helped Nebraska to the Big Eight Conference title. Millikan hauled in 16 receptions for a team-high 308 yards and a team-best seven touchdown catches. His longest catch with a career-long 82-yard touchdown in a win over Missouri. It capped a four-game midseason stretch for Millikan that featured eight receptions for 243 yards and four touchdowns in wins over Kansas (3-57-1 TD), Oklahoma State (3-52-2 TDs) and Kansas State (2-52). He opened the season with two receptions for 33 yards including a touchdown against Texas A&M. He added short touchdown catches against UCLA and Iowa State. Millikan added one reception for five yards in the bowl game against the Hurricanes. Millikan also provided devastating blocking to help Nebraska claim the NCAA rushing title (382.3 ypg), while also ranking sixth nationally in scoring (39.5 ppg) and seventh in total offense (477.9 ypg).

A four-year letterman, Millikan finished his career with 40 receptions for 825 yards and 14 regular-season touchdowns. He went on to play in the Hula Bowl all-star game following his senior season. He was voted the winner of Nebraska’s Tom Novak Award, which is presented to the Husker who “best exemplifies courage and determination despite all odds in the manner of Nebraska All-America center Tom Novak.” Millikan was selected in the 10th round of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears (270th overall pick). He signed pro contracts with the Bears (1989), the Barcelona Dragons (1991) and the Ohio Glory (1992) in the World League of American Football, but he did not play in a professional game. He was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

1987 (Junior)
Millikan matched wingback Dana Brinson for the team lead with 13 receptions on the season. Millikan totaled 287 yards and three touchdowns, including three receptions for a season-high 62 yards in a 35-25 win at Arizona State. He also had three catches for 46 yards in a win over Kansas. In the 1988 Fiesta Bowl against Florida State, Millikan added two receptions for 32 yards.

1986 (Sophomore)
Millikan provided significant contributions in Nebraska’s passing game in his third year as a Husker by pulling down 11 receptions for 230 yards and four touchdowns. He provided explosive plays including a 73-yard reception while also serving as a punishing blocker at tight end. Millikan scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:26 left in Nebraska’s 27-24 win at South Carolina. In the 1987 USF&G Sugar Bowl against LSU, Millikan had two catches for 23 yards, including a touchdown, in NU’s 30-15 victory. Nebraska finished second nationally in rushing offense (305.5 ypg) and third in scoring (37.8 ppg).

1985 (Redshirt Freshman)
After playing just three games a linebacker for the freshman team in 1984, Millikan made the move to tight end in the fall of 1985. A talented athlete, Millikan earned a varsity letter as a reserve behind Todd Frain and Tom Banderas. Millikan did not record a catch.

1984 (Medical Redshirt)
Recruited as linebacker, Millikin was granted a medical redshirt after suffering a dislocated shoulder in the third game playing linebacker for the Nebraska freshman team. 

Shenandoah Community High School
An all-state linebacker and punter as a senior at Shenandoah Community High School in Iowa, Millikan played for Coaches Don Stange and Terry Ratliff. Millikan earned 14 varsity letters in high school, including three in football and basketball and four each in baseball and track. He was an all-conference pitcher in baseball, while also qualifying for state in the 400-meter hurdles on the track.

Personal
The son of Jack and Marilyn Millikan, Todd has one sister and one brother. He was born in Shenandoah. He was a criminal justice major at Nebraska.