Hall of Fame
Position: Quarterback
Years: 1998-2001
Place of Birth: Omaha, NE
Date of Birth: November 16, 1978
Jersey Number: 7
Height: 6-1
Weight: 200
High School: Millard North HS (Omaha, NE)
The winner of the 2001 Heisman Trophy, Eric Crouch finished his career as only the third quarterback in NCAA history to rush for 3,000 yards and pass for 4,000 yards. The Omaha, Nebraska, native becomes the 19th Husker player to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
A 2001 First Team All-American as both a quarterback and all-purpose player, Crouch took home the Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp Player of the Year and Davey O'Brien Award. The 2001 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year guided Nebraska to an 11-2 record, a share of the Big 12 North title and an appearance in the BCS National Championship Game at the Rose Bowl. In 2000, Crouch was a Second Team All-Big 12 honoree after leading the Huskers to a share of the Big 12 North title, a 10-2 record and a dominant victory over Northwestern in the Alamo Bowl. As a sophomore, he was named the 1999 Big 12 Co-Offensive Player of the Year after guiding Nebraska to the Big 12 title and a win over Tennessee in the Fiesta Bowl. The 1999 Huskers finished the season with a No. 3 final ranking and a 12-1 record.
Crouch finished his career with 32 school records, and he remains atop the Nebraska charts for rushing yards by a quarterback (3,434), total touchdowns (88) and career (59) and single-season (20 in 2000) rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, among others. He surpassed 100 yards rushing in 17 games, and his career rushing touchdowns were an NCAA record for a quarterback at the time. In a game against California in 1999, Crouch tied an NCAA record by scoring a touchdown via a run, a pass and a reception. The team captain's 4,481 career passing yards rank in the top 10 at Nebraska while his rushing yards are fourth among all positions. Crouch's other accolades include the 2001 Sporting News National Offensive Player of the Year, the 2001 ABC/Chevrolet National Player of the Year and the Big 12 Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll. Nebraska retired his No. 7 jersey in 2002.
Crouch was selected as a wide receiver in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams, and he went on to professional stints in NFL Europe and the Canadian Football League.
An active member of the community, Crouch regularly makes non-publicized visits to hospitals and works with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In 2017, he established the ARQ 7-on-7 developmental football league for youth players, and he was an assistant coach at Midland University (NE) during the 2018 season. Crouch is currently the Owner & CEO of Crouch Recreation, a playground and recreation equipment vendor in Omaha.
