Nebraska’s first “Academic Heisman” was won by Rob Zatechka in 1994. The second was won by Kyle Vanden Bosch in 2000. Few Huskers have ever epitomized the combination of “brains and brawn” more than Kyle Vanden Bosch. In addition to the “Academic Heisman,” he won several other national scholar-athlete awards. He is one of a dozen Huskers to be a two-time Academic All-American and was first-team Academic All-Big 12 three times.
Vanden Bosch was also a three-time finalist for Nebraska’s “Lifter of the Year” award, winning it twice. He owns position records for the Husker Power Performance Index, which showcased his speed, power, agility and explosiveness.
When his athletic gifts and intelligence were combined on the football field, Vanden Bosch carried on a legacy of outstanding play by Nebraska rush ends.
In his senior season, Vanden Bosch earned second-team All-Big 12 honors with a team-high 17 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks (tied with Randy Stella for the team lead). Vanden Bosch blocked two field goals against Texas A&M in 1999, tying an NCAA record.
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Even in the (relatively small) pantheon of great wide receivers at Nebraska, Terrence Nunn rarely gets mentioned…