Derek Brown Season 1990

Honors & Awards

• Third-Team All-American (AP, Football News, 1991)
• Honorable-Mention All-American (UPI, 1992)
• Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year (AP, 1992)
• Two-Time First-Team All-Big Eight (AP, Coaches, 1991, 1992)
• Doak Walker Award Nominee (1 of 51, 1992)
• Fourth Round NFL Draft Pick (New Orleans Saints, 1994)
• Four NFL Seasons (New Orleans Saints, 1993-96)

1992 (Junior)
Derek Brown was part of a dynamic rushing duo alongside fellow I-back Calvin Jones in the Nebraska backfield in 1992. The duo, affectionately known as the “We-backs” became the first pair of Husker running backs to each rush for more than 1,000 yards in the same season. They fueled Nebraska’s run to the NCAA rushing title (328.2 ypg). Brown was selected as the Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press after rushing for 1,011 yards (101.1 ypg) and four touchdowns on 169 carries (6.0 ypc). His final season as a Husker was cut short on a 43-yard run against Oklahoma (Nov. 27) that ended with a separated shoulder. He missed Nebraska’s regular-season finale against Kansas State in Tokyo. He produced four 100-yard games on the year, including a season-high 156 yards on 15 carries against Kansas. He added 154 yards and two touchdowns on just 14 totes against Middle Tennessee State, before working his way to 148 yards on 25 carries against Missouri. He opened the season with 105 yards and a touchdown on 15 attempts against Utah.

Brown closed his three-year Husker career with 2,699 yards and 23 touchdowns on 458 carries over 29 games. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry during his career. With back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 1991 and 1992, Brown became just the fifth Husker to accomplish the feat.

A three-year letterman, Brown elected to forego his final year of eligibility and enter the NFL Draft. He was chosen in the fourth round (109th overall pick) by New Orleans and spent four seasons with the Saints from 1993 through 1996. He played 56 games in his NFL career and totaled 1,383 rushing yards. He added 918 yards on 108 receptions as an NFL back. As a rookie, he rushed for 705 yards and two touchdowns while starting 12 games for the Saints. He added 489 yards and three rushing scores while appearing in 16 games with nine starts in 1994. He scored a total of nine TDs in the NFL (6 rushing, 3 receiving).

1991 (Sophomore)
Brown unleashed an impressive season alongside fellow “We-Back” Calvin Jones in 1991. Brown, who was a third-team All-American by the AP and a first-team All-Big Eight choice, led the Huskers with 1,313 yards and 14 touchdowns on 230 carries. He notched seven consecutive 100-yard rushing games to open the season, including a career-high 175 yards on 23 carries in a season-opening win over Utah State. He followed with 121 yards and two scores on just 15 attempts against Colorado State, before fighting his way for 100 yards and two more scores on 21 carries against Washington. He added 135 yards on 25 carries against Arizona State. Brown opened conference play with 143 yards and a career-high three touchdowns on 18 carries against Oklahoma State, before adding 145 yards and three more scores on 28 carries against Kansas State. He ended his 100-yard rushing streak with 118 yards and two TDs on 18 carries against Missouri. He was held to 96 yards and a touchdown on a career-high 30 carries against Colorado. He recorded his eighth 100-yard game of the season with 107 yards and a score against Iowa State, before capping the regular season with 98 yards on 24 carries against Oklahoma. He managed five carries for 10 yards against Miami in the 1992 Federal Express Orange Bowl.

1990 (Freshman)
Brown earned his first varsity letter after playing in eight regular-season games. He carried 59 times for 375 yards and five touchdowns as a true freshman, including a season-high 120 yards and two scores on 21 carries in a win over Minnesota. He opened his career with 72 yards and two touchdowns on just two carries in a win over Northern Illinois in Nebraska’s second game of the season. Brown added 77 yards and his final touchdown of the year on 13 carries against Missouri. In the 1991 Florida Citrus Bowl, Brown rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries.

1989
Brown signed with Nebraska in February of 1989, but was a non-qualifier under the NCAA’s Proposition 48 guidelines. He came to Nebraska on his own and attended the University as a part-time student. He later met the ACT requirement and was eligible as a true freshman in 1990.

Anaheim Servite High School
Brown was a first-team All-American by Parade Magazine and USA Today as a senior running back at Servite High School in Anaheim, Calif. He rushed for 2,400 yards and 20 touchdowns in 1988 to set the Orange Country rushing record. He was the third-leading rusher in Orange Country history with 4,800 yards in his three-year high school career for Coach Leo Hand. Brown led Servite to a 10-3 record and a trip to the CIF semifinals as a senior. He also claimed the Glenn Davis Award as the best football player in the CIF Southern Section. Brown also lettered twice in track at Servite.

Personal
The son of Shirley M. Leary, Derek was born in Banning, Calif. He has one brother, LaMark. Derek was a consumer science and education major at Nebraska.