2015 DETROIT LIONS MEDIA GUIDE

21 - AMEER ABDULLAH
Running Back Nebraska Homewood, Ala.
Year: Rookie Ht: 5-9 Wt: 203 Born: 6/13/93
Draft: ‘15, R2 (54)-Det
Complete biographical information available on Detroitlions.com.
MANE FACTS
‣ ¾ Pronunciation: uh-MEER ab-DOO-la
TRANSACTIONS
‣ ¾ Drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round (54th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft.
PRO
Joins RB Joique Bell and RB Theo Riddick in a versatile Lions backfield following one of the most prolific careers in Nebraska
football history, which included three-consecutive 1,000-yard seasons (2012-14).
COLLEGE
Ended his collegiate career at Nebraska as the only player to record three-consecutive seasons with 1,000 rushing yards
(1,137 in 2012; 1,690 in 2013; 1,611 in 2014). Started in all 53 games he played and concluded his four-year career with
813 carries, 4,744 yards and 29 touchdowns, as well as 73 receptions for 690 yards and seven touchdowns as a receiver.
As a return man, his career statistics include 61 kickoff returns for 1,592 yards and one touchdown, and 31 punt returns
for 316 yards and one touchdown.
‣ ¾ All-purpose yards total 7,186 yards on 978 attempts in 53 games (135.6 yards per game).
2014: Finished his senior season with 1,611 rushing yards, which ranks sixth on the Nebraska single-season list and is
the second-best rushing total for a Husker senior. His 2014 rushing total followed up on his 1,690 yards in 2013, making
him just the second player in school history with a pair of 1,500-yard rushing seasons. Also totaled 19 touchdowns on the
ground and three through the air.
‣ ¾ Post-season accolades include: 2014 Second Team All-American (Walter Camp, CBS, Scout, Athlon, Associated Press,
Sports Illustrated), 2014 Doak Walker Award Finalist and 2014 Second-Team All-Big Ten.
‣ ¾ Recorded four games with more than 200 rushing yards, tying a Nebraska single-season record.
‣ ¾ Rushed a career-high 35 times for 229 yards and two touchdowns against Miami (Fla.), while also adding a three-yard
touchdown reception. His previous high for carries was 31 against Penn State in 2012.
‣ ¾ Carried the ball 22 times for 208 yards and a career-high three touchdowns against Illinois. 196 of his 208 yards came
in the first half.
‣ ¾ Racked up 115 all-purpose yards against Michigan State and became the seventh player in Big Ten history with more
than 6,000 career all-purpose yards.
‣ ¾ Broke his previous career high of three touchdowns with four scores against Northwestern, becoming the first Husker
to score four rushing touchdowns in a game since QB Taylor Martinez in 2010.
‣ ¾ Capped off his Nebraska career with 269 all-purpose yards in the Holiday Bowl against USC, where he caught a careerhigh
six passes for 61 yards.
2013: Continued his ascent into the Nebraska record books in his junior season as he finished with 1,690 rushing yards, the
highest total for a Husker player since 1997 and the fourth-best in school history. Also tied the Nebraska single-season
record for 100-yard rushing games with 11.
‣ ¾ Also tallied 1,999 all-purpose yards, which ranks as the fourth-best single-season total in school history.
‣ ¾ Carried a streak of eight games with 100 or more rushing yards over the course of the season.
‣ ¾ Earned First Team All-Big Ten honors and was also named Third Team All-American by the Associated Press.
2012: Rushed for 1,137 yards as a sophomore in 2012, earning a significant role in the offense following an injury to RB
Rex Burkhead.
‣ ¾ Had at least 100 rushing yards in each of his first five starts and finished ninth in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game
and fourth in the conference in all-purpose yards.
‣ ¾ Earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors from the conference’s coaches.
2011: As a true freshman, carried the ball 42 times for 150 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games. Made his biggest mark
as a return man, where he averaged 29.3 yards per return to rank ninth in the nation in that category.
‣ ¾ Scored on a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown against Fresno State.
PERSONAL
Prepped at Homewood High School in his hometown of Homewood, Ala. under coach Dickey Wright. Finished his senior
season with 1,800 yards and 24 touchdowns, while also catching 33 passes for 515 yards. Earned South region player of
the year by the Birmingham News and was selected to play in the Offense-Defense All-American bowl, where he starred
as a defensive back.
‣ ¾ Honored as a Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Award, winning in both 2012 and 2014, and was named to the Nebraska
Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll four times.
‣ ¾ Earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2013 and 2014.
‣ ¾ Graduated from Nebraska with a degree in history, which he completed in three-and-a-half years.
‣ ¾ Son of Kareem and Aisha Abdullah, and is the youngest of nine children, all of whom have college degrees.