In his junior year, he led the Big Ten in rushing, and scored 73 points, an IU record at the time.

Those numbers decreased significantly the following three years, especially with the addition of Miller Farr in the backfield; until 1969 when Nowatzke had no rushing attempts or receptions, and played in only nine games on special teams.

He also had been injured in 1968, and in 1969 suffered a vertebra fracture in the neck (requiring two weeks in the hospital) when Detroit's coach was trying him out at middle linebacker in the pre-season.

[2][3][11] The Baltimore Colts were the only team willing to give Nowatzke a tryout in 1970, and they signed him to the practice squad as a backup linebacker, not a running back.

Five games into the 1970 season, the Colts needed running backs and gave Nowatzke an opportunity.

[11] The Colts next game was Super Bowl V. Nowatzke rushed for 33 yards (a team high), and caught a 45-yard pass.

[2] In 1971, the Colts regained their running back corps, and did not need Nowatzke's services as a runner again, and played him sparingly at linebacker.

[12] He also bought the Clark Equipment Company, Brown Trailer Division in Detroit, and became a Great Dane dealer, one of the largest truck-trailer manufacturers in the United States.