The trophy, established by J. Gordon Roberts in 1950, is presented to the senior who "best exemplifies courage and determination despite all odds in the manner of Nebraska All-America center Tom Novak." Sportswriters and broadcasters vote on the award, which is presented at the Outland Trophy banquet in Omaha.
All-Time Winners
1950 - Charles Toogood, T
1951 - Frank Simon, E
1952 - Ed Husmann, T
1953 - Ted Connor, T
1954 - Bob Wagner, G
1955 - Rex Fischer, HB
1956 - LaVerne Torczon, G
1957 - Jerry Brown, FB
1958 - Dick McCashland, FB
1959 - Harry Tolly, QB
1960 - Pat Fischer, QB
1961 - Don Purcell, E
1962 - Dwain Carlson, G
1963 - Dennis Claridge, QB
1964 - Lyle Sittler, C
1965 - Tony Jeter, E
1966 - Larry Wachholtz, DB
1967 - Wayne Meylan, MG
1968 - Ernie Sigler, QB
1969 - Al Larson, DB
1970 - Joe Orduna, HB
1971 - Jeff Kinney, HB
1972 - Rich Glover, MG
1973 - John Bell, MG
1974 - Tom Ruud, LB
1975 - Tony Davis, FB
1976 - Clete Pillen, LB
1977 - Monte Anthony, FB
1978 - Rick Berns, IB
1979 - Tim Wurth, RB
1980 - Jeff Quinn, QB
1981 - Mark Mauer, QB
1982 - Steve McWhirter, LB
1983 - Turner Gill, QB
1984 - Craig Sundberg, QB
1985 - Travis Turner, QB
1986 - Marc Munford, LB
1987 - Von Sheppard, WB
1988 - Todd Millikan, TE
1989 - Mike Murray, MG
1990 - Kenny Walker, DT
1991 - Keithen McCant, QB
1992 - Lance Lewis, FB
1993 - John Reece, FS
1994 - Matt Shaw, TE
1995 - Tommie Frazier, QB
1996 - Mike Minter, ROV
1997 - Scott Frost, QB
1998 - Monte Christo, QB
1999 - Adam Julch, OT
2000 - Troy Watchorn, FS
2001 - John Gibson, WB
2002 - John Garrison, C
2003 - Jason Lohr, DT, Jammal Lord, QB
2004 - Jake Andersen, OL
2005 - Cory Ross, IB
2006 - Greg Austin, OG
2007 - Cortney Grixby, CB
2008 - Joe Ganz, QB
2009 - Phillip Dillard, LB
2010 - Rickey Thenarse, S
2011 - Mike Caputo, C; Terrence Moore, DL
2012 - Sean Fisher, LB
2013 - Ron Kellogg III, QB
2014 - Trevor Roach, LB
2015 - Andy Janovich, FB
2016 - Tommy Armstrong Jr., QB
2017 - Chris Weber, LB
2018 - Devine Ozigbo, RB
2019 - Mohamed Barry, LB
2020 - Collin Miller, LB
2021 - JoJo Domann, OLB