- 1993 Butkus Award Winner
One of the most decorated defensive players in Husker history, Trev Alberts became Nebraska's first Butkus Award winner in 1993, capping one of the finest seasons in history by an NU defensive player.
As a senior co-captain, the Cedar Falls, Iowa, native led the Huskers to an undefeated regular season and an Orange Bowl appearance against Florida State. The Big Eight defensive MVP, Alberts led the Huskers with 96 tackles, including 47 solo stops, and tied a school record with 15 sacks for 88 yards. He also had 21 tackles for 99 yards lost, three fumbles caused, one pass breakup and 38 quarterback hurries, all of which were team highs. He recorded eight double-figure tackle games and had at least one sack in nine games. In the final regular-season game, he dislocated his elbow, but returned to play in the Orange Bowl, where he had six tackles, including three sacks for 29 yards lost, and three quarterback hurries, earning defensive MVP honors in the Huskers' 18-16 loss to FSU.
For his performance, Alberts was named a first-team All-American by every major publication and was named the Football News National Defensive Player of the Year, Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year and the Big Eight Male Athlete of the Year. His No. 34 jersey was retired at the 1994 Spring Game.
In 1992, Alberts totaled 73 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss, as he earned first-team All-Big Eight and second-team All-America honors. As a freshman in 1990, he was the Big Eight Defensive Newcomer of the Year, making 26 tackles, including four sacks. Alberts set then-school records for tackles for loss with 45 (for 242 yards lost) and sacks with 29.5 (for 196 yards lost). He also had five fumbles caused, five recovered fumbles, six pass breakups and 69 quarterback hurries in his Husker career. His 248 tackles rank ninth on Nebraska's all-time chart.
Off the field, Alberts was equally honored, earning the NCAA's highest honor, The Today's Top Six Award, in 1993. A three-time academic All-Big Eight honoree, Alberts earned postgraduate scholarships from the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, NACDA Disney, the NCAA and the Big Eight. A CoSIDA Academic All-American in 1993, he graduated from Nebraska before his senior season.
Alberts was the fifth pick in the 1994 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts and played for the Colts until 1996. He has served as an an analyst on college and professional football games for major national networks.
Career Defensive Statistics
Year
G/S
UT
AT
TT
TFL
Sacks
Fum.
C-R
BK
PBU
PI
QB Hry.
Int.
Csd.
1990
10/0
10
16
26
4-33
4-33
0-1
0
0
0
2-0
0
1991
11/0
21
32
53
9-60
7-50
1-3
0
1
0
12-1
0
1992
11/11
27
46
73
11-50
3.5-25
1-1
1
4
0
17-1
0
1993
11/11
47
49
96
21-99
15-88
3-0
0
1
0
38-0
0
Totals
43/22
105
143
248
45-242
29.5-196
5-5
1
6
0
69-2
0