Over the years, Nebraska has had some potent point-scorers at the NCAA Championships, led by the great Jordan Burroughs — Nebraska’s only two-time NCAA champion.
Despite its long storied history, Nebraska is on an all-time run as a program right now — the Huskers finished second as a team at NCAAs in 2025 before placing third this past season to secure back-to-back team trophies. Nebraska now has six team trophies (Top-4 finish) in program history. Before 2025, Nebraska had never scored more than
79.5 team points at NCAAs — the Huskers scored 117 in 2025 and 100.5 this past March.
So, I figured with that many team points being scored that some of Nebraska’s recent and current wrestlers may just be cementing their place in the school record books. While doing a deep dive on Nebraska’s NCAA point-scorers, I found that Brock Hardy just finished his career with 65.5 points this past March — the second most in school history, just behind Burroughs’ program record of 68.
For reference, here are the Huskers who have scored the most team points at the NCAA Championships — along with how many points they scored by grade and what placement they got that season.
Of note, the recent decision by the NCAA allowing each athlete to compete in five postseasons, this list could have a lot of new additions over the next decade.
Here are some of my thoughts…
The GOAT
Jordan Burroughs (2007-09, 2011)
After going 1-2 and not placing at NCAAs as a freshman, Burroughs went on an absolute tear to stand atop this list of Husker greats.
Burroughs finished in 3rd place at 149 pounds in 2008 in one of the toughest brackets of all time. He then won his first NCAA title in 2009 as a junior up at 157 pounds — he had a pin, a technical fall and two major decisions along the way, adding 5.5 bonus points. After injuring his knee the next season and receiving a medical redshirt, Burroughs returned in 2010-11 up at 165 pounds and was dominant — he won his second NCAA title, adding seven bonus points with two techs, two majors and one default win.
Burroughs scored 67.5 team points in three years after scoring half a point as a freshman — that’s an unreal run — that’s more than any other Husker has scored in all four years. Burroughs went 101-6 in those three seasons with all six losses coming his sophomore year.
Currently holding a slight lead over Hardy in this category, he might just lose his spot atop this list soon.
Climbing The Ladder
Antrell Taylor (2024-present)
The senior-to-be from Millard South, Taylor has exceeded all expectations. An elite in-state prospect, Taylor came in, redshirted as a freshman, then found the podium as a redshirt freshman up a weight class.
As a sophomore, he won an NCAA title at his natural weight of 157 pounds. This past season, he made the NCAA final but failed to repeat. With one last shot at another title, I expect Taylor to be locked in this year.
With those three podium finishes come a lot of team points — 47.5 to be exact. Taylor currently sits in 16th place on Nebraska’s all-time list with a season to go. Taylor scored the most NCAA team points of any sophomore ever for Nebraska when he won his title in 2025 with 23.5 team points scored — he had a pin and a tech fall for 3.5 bonus points.
Taylor is solidly in the hunt for another NCAA title this season, and he may just need it if he wants to surpass Burroughs on this list. If Taylor scores 21 points this season at NCAAs, he’ll be Nebraska’s all-time leader.
Christopher Minto (2025-present)
Not one to play second fiddle to anyone, Minto is hot on Burroughs’ and Taylor’s heels.
After placing fourth as a freshman down at 165 pounds, Minto moved up this past season as a sophomore and made it to the NCAA final at 174.
With two years of eligibility remaining, it’s a bit premature to project out too far, but Minto is on pace to crush Burroughs’ record — Minto has 34 NCAA points so far in his career and already sits in the top-25 in school history. Minto has already surpassed guys like Jim Scherr, Chad Red and Taylor Venz on this list and looks to be the national favorite this year at 174.
As a freshman, Minto scored 14.5 team points. As a sophomore, he scored 19.5 with his runner-up finish — including a tech and two majors for 3.5 bonus points.
Minto could break 70 career points scored at NCAAs if he stays on his current trajectory.
Camden McDanel (2025-present)
A two-time All-American, Cam McDanel has placed 8th and 5th at the national tournament in his first two seasons in Lincoln, giving him 17 career team points (six as a freshman and 11 this past March).
With the new 5-for-5 ruling, McDanel stands to wrestle for three more seasons after taking a grayshirt out of high school. McDanel was young for his graduating class in 2023, so his eligibility clock didn’t start until he enrolled in 2024.
If he continues to improve throughout his career, it’s likely McDanel finds the Top-15 on this list and could potentially work his way into the Top 10.
Jacob Van Dee (2024-present)
After failing to place as a redshirt freshman, Van Dee has finished in 7th place at NCAAs the past two seasons — giving him 16 career team points.
Van Dee is just 1.5 points behind Silas Allred on the all-time list and could realistically jump into the Top-30 and finish around where Taylor Venz currently sits (26 points).
What Could Have Been…
Corey Olson (1990-93)
After redshirting in 1988-89, Olson was dominant from the start — he placed third at NCAAs as a redshirt freshman with three pins in the tournament, setting the program freshman record for NCAA points scored with 19.5.
As a sophomore, Olson injured his knee, losing a year of eligibility.
Olson came back and made the NCAA final in both of his final two seasons. He scored 23 team points as a junior and 21.5 as a senior, giving him a total of 64 points scored in just three tournaments. At the time, it was the program record and is currently good enough for 4th place on the all-time Nebraska chart. He scored a total of 18.5 bonus points at NCAAs with eight pins, a tech fall and a major decision in his career — the third most in program history.
Had Olson wrestled as a sophomore when he was ranked #2 in the country, he potentially could have a huge lead in this category for the Huskers.
Bonus-Point Machines
Nebraska has had a lot of bonus-point scorers at NCAAs over the years — here are some of the most notable.
Gary Albright (1982, 1984-86)
Albright wrestled in 1982 before missing a year and finishing from 1984-86. A three-time All-American and 1984 NCAA Champion, Albright scored an absurd 26 total bonus points at the national tournament.
Albright won 13 of his 20 matches via pinfall at NCAAs and earned the Gorriaran Award twice, making him the most potent bonus-point scorer in school history. As a senior, Albright placed third at NCAAs but still scored 23.5 points due to all five of his wins coming via pinfall, giving him 10 bonus points that year.
The program leader in career NCAA points scored from 1986 through 1993 until Olson came around, Albright is tied with current Husker Associate Head Coach Bryan Snyder for 5th on Nebraska’s all-time list with 63 points scored at NCAAs.
James Green (2012-15)
Wrestling from 2012-15, Green was Nebraska’s second four-time All-American, finishing third his final two seasons.
When it came to nationals, Green was a bonus-point machine. In four trips to NCAAs, Green had a pin, three techs, 12 major decisions and a medical forfeit win — worth 20.5 bonus points, the second-most by a Husker.
Green finished his career with 60 points scored at NCAAs, good enough for 9th in school history. His career high came as a junior when he scored 21 points while placing third — he had a tech, four majors and a win via forfeit.
Jason Powell (2001-04)
After not scoring a single team point as a freshman, Powell made up for it during his final three seasons. Powell was a three-time All-American, finishing 5th and 3rd before winning an individual NCAA title as a senior in 2004.
As a sophomore and junior, Powell had three pins at NCAAs each year, earning him the Gorriaron Award both years for the most pins at the national tournament. As a senior, Powell scored an absurd 25.5 team points on the way to his title — he added 5.5 bonus points with a pin, tech and two majors. Powell scored 17.5 career bonus points at NCAAs, the fourth most in Husker history.
Powell’s 61 career points scored puts him in 8th place on Nebraska’s all-time list.
Tolly Thompson (1994-97)
Nebraska’s heavyweight GOAT, Thompson scored a lot of bonus points. A three-time All-American, Thompson won an NCAA title as a sophomore and placed third the next two seasons.
Thompson ended his career with 65 points scored at NCAAs — the third most of any Husker. After not placing as a freshman, Thompson scored 22 on the way to his title. He then scored 18.5 as a junior before adding 21.5 as a senior. In his final national tournament, Thompson scored eight bonus points with three pins and a win via default.
Thompson’s 17 career bonus points is the fifth most by a Husker.
Bill Scherr (1981-84)
After not competing as a freshman, Bill Scherr racked up 61.5 team points in three seasons — still good enough for 7th place on the all-time list for Nebraska. He placed fourth and third before winning an NCAA title as a senior along with his brother Jim Scherr.
Scherr scored six bonus points in 1982 with three pins. As a senior, Scherr scored 7.5 bonus points with two pins, a tech and two majors — he scored 15.5 career bonus points at NCAAs.
Brock Hardy (2023-26)
One thing about Nebraska’s fourth four-time All-American Brock Hardy is that he was steady in March. He never won a title, but he consistently performed.
Hardy scored placement points each year and added 14.5 career bonus points at NCAAs. Hardy’s 65.5 career team points is second only to Burroughs.
In his career, Hardy had two pins, three techs, two majors and two wins via forfeit at NCAAs.
Just Missed The Top-10
Craig Brester (2006-10)
After finishing in the blood round as a freshman at 197 pounds, Brester placed fourth as a sophomore before making back-to-back NCAA final appearances.
Brester scored a career high 20 team points as a senior and ended his career with 54 team points scored — the 11th most in program history.
Ridge Lovett (2021-22, 2024-25)
An all-timer for Nebraska, Ridge Lovett had an unorthodox career. He started his true freshman season at 133 pounds, but the NCAA tournament was cancelled due to Covid. He then moved up to 149 where he made the NCAA final.
After his sophomore year, Lovett redshirted the 2022-23 season and returned as a junior. Lovett placed sixth that season before winning NCAA gold in 2025. As a senior, Lovett scored 22.5 team points.
With his career total of 53.5 NCAA team points scored, Lovett currently sits in 12th place on the all-time Husker list.
Robert Kokesh (2012-15)
Currently an assistant coach for the Huskers, Kokesh was a three-time All-American for Nebraska. As a freshman, Kokesh fell in the blood round, but he placed in the top-4 every year after.
Kokesh scored a career high 17.5 points with a 3rd-place finish as a senior — his 50.5 career team points is #13 on the Husker list.
Mikey Labriola (2019, 2021-23)
Just Nebraska’s third four-time podium finisher, Labriola was a mainstay for Nebraska at 174 pounds for half of a decade.
Labriola’s highest NCAA finishes came as a sophomore (third) and senior (second). Labriola scored 16 team points during his finals run in 2023, finishing with 48 career team points scored — putting him in 14th place in program history.
Tyler Berger (2015-19)
Another NCAA finalist for Nebraska, Berger found the podium three times in his career at 157 pounds.
After falling in the blood round as a freshman, Berger placed fifth as a sophomore and third as a junior before making the NCAA final as a senior.
Berger scored 19.5 points in 2019 on his way to a runner-up finish — giving him 47.5 points, currently putting him in a tie for 15th place on the Husker charts with Antrell Taylor.
Other Notables
Bryan Snyder (1999-2002)
Nebraska’s current Associate Head Coach, Snyder was Nebraska’s first four-time All-American — he placed fourth and fifth before taking second two years in a row.
With all of his placement points, Snyder finished his career with 63 team points scored at NCAAs — tying him at 5th place with Albright on the Nebraska list. Snyder wasn’t a bonus-point machine at NCAAs — he had three pins and two techs in his career — but he knew how to find the top half of the podium.
Jason Kelber (1989-91)
The final member of Nebraska’s Top-10 to not be mentioned yet, Kelber didn’t compete at NCAAs in 1987 as a freshman before redshirting and going on an impressive three-year run.
Kelber placed sixth in 1989 before making the NCAA final in 1990 as a junior — he fell to current Iowa assistant coach Terry Brands 3-2 in the final. As a senior, Kelber won an NCAA title at 126 and scored 22.5 team points.
In his career, Kelber scored 55 team points at the national tournament — he’s currently #10 on the all-time list.
TJ Dudley (2014-17)
The current head coach of Campbell University, Dudley was a monster at 184 for Nebraska. He was a three-time All-American and made it to the 2016 NCAA final where he fell to Gabe Dean of Cornell 5-3.
Dudley then placed third at NCAAs as a senior after a quarterfinal loss to three-time NCAA Champion Bo Nickal.
Dudley’s 45.5 career NCAA points scored is the 17th most in program history.
Brad Vering (1998-2001)
A three-time All-American for Nebraska, Vering became Nebraska’s seventh individual NCAA Champion when he won it all at 197 pounds as a junior in 2000.
Vering scored 20 points that season before placing seventh as a senior, ending his career with 42 career team points — he currently sits in 18th place in team history.
Peyton Robb (2021-24)
After missing a chance at NCAAs as a freshman in 2020 due to Covid, Robb finished on the podium three times in his career.
After making the blood round as a freshman in the shortened 2021 season, Robb placed fourth, fifth and seventh in his career at 157 pounds, giving him 41.5 team points scored in his career.
Robb sits just behind Vering at #19 on the all-time list.
Chad Red Jr. (2018-19, 2021-22)
Chad Red was so close to four-time All-American status in 2022 when he fell in the blood round, but he had a great career for Nebraska despite it being interrupted by Covid.
Red finished on the podium three times at 141 pounds — 7th as a freshman, 8th as a sophomore and sixth as a junior. He scored 28.5 team points at NCAAs — putting him at #26 on the program charts.
Taylor Venz (2018-19, 2021-22)
Another Husker whose career was interrupted by Covid, Venz placed 4th as a redshirt freshman in 2018 at 184 pounds. He fell short of the podium in each trip after.
Venz scored 26 team points for Nebraska, putting him in the Top-30 in school history.
