Honors and Awards

• 2008 First-Team Academic All-Big 12
• Two-Time Big 12 Comimssioner's Fall Academic Honor Roll (2007, 2008)
• Big 12 Commissioner's Spring Academic Honor Roll (2007)
• 2009 Brook Berringer Citizenship Team

2009 Outlook
Lance Thorell emerged as a key player in the Nebraska secondary as a redshirt freshman in 2008, and is expected to again play a key role after a strong spring. With Nebraska facing a spread-style offense nearly every week, the 6-1, 195-pound walk-on settled into a role as the Huskers’ starting dime back and was up to the task. Thorell is likely to continue in his dime role this fall and has the ability to line up at either cornerback or safety.

Thorell is also a standout in the classroom, and earned first-team academic All-Big 12 accolades in 2008.

2008 (Redshirt Freshman)
Thorell played in 11 games, including five starts when Nebraska opened in its dime package. He finished with 24 tackles, including 15 solo stops. He had a career-high eight tackles against New Mexico State, and recorded a career-high five solo stops against Texas Tech. He had five tackles against Missouri and capped the regular season with three stops against Colorado.

Thorell’s first career pass breakup came in the final minutes of the fourth quarter against the Buffs, and one play later Ndamukong Suh intercepted a pass to secure the NU win.

2007 (Redshirt)
Thorell sat out his first season as a redshirt.

Before Nebraska (Loomis HS)
Thorell was a standout on both sides of the ball for Loomis High School, helping the Wolves to the Class D-1 state quarterfinals in 2006. Thorell earned first-team Class D-1 all-state honors at defensive back from the Lincoln Journal Star after totaling 118 tackles and four interceptions as a senior. He added more than 1,000 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns while also playing running back for Loomis.

Thorell also excelled on the track as a member of Loomis’ Class D state champion track team. He set the state Class D record in the 110-meter hurdles on his way to a gold medal at the state track meet, as well as taking home the gold in the 300-meter hurdles. He also placed in the long jump and 400-meter dash at the 2007 state track meet.

Personal
Lance is the son of Mike Thorell and Kristi Thorell, and was born on Oct. 16, 1988. He is a business administration major and has been named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll three times. Thorell is among Nebraska’s most dedicated volunteers in the community and was named to the 2009 Brook Berringer Citizenship Team. His outreach work includes several team hospital visits and speaking at Elliott Elementary in Lincoln.

Thorell's Career Statistics

Single-Game Highs
Tackles-8 vs. New Mexico State, 2008
Solo Tackles-5 at Texas Tech, 2008