Big Thing in a Little Package

Bobby Newcomb stood a6'0'' when he first came to Lincoln, but the Seirra Leone native was known for pure speed. He had set the world on fire at Highlands High School, rewriting the New Mexico record book and looked to be the next great Nebraska Option QB in the mold of Turner Gill and Tommie Frasier. He got a shot at it his sophomore year, but never quite put a choke hold on the position with Omaha native and later Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch.

Newcombe had played as a returner and wingback as a freshman and moved back to wide receiver full time as a junior. Of course, moving to WR during the Osborne/Solich Cornhusker era was much akin to a football Siberia, where it seemed his talent would wither on the vine( save a few quality catches and the opportunity to return kicks and punts). One such moment was finishing the 1999 season with a punt return vs. Tennessee in the Fiesta Bowl. He notched four return scores as a Husker, including this one against Kansas in '99, a 94 yard romp against Mizzou (setting the record for the longest Husker Punt Return) and another against Iowa State as a freshman.

Newcombe was drafted in the 6th round of the NFL draft in '01 after a senior season where he only totaled 26 offensive touches for a total of 237 yards. He logged one year in the NFL with the Cardinals and also had received his BBA in Management after only 3 years.