Honors and Awards

• Big 12 Comissioner's Fall Academic Honor Roll (2008)

2009 Outlook
Redshirt freshman Lester Ward is among a group of young I-backs who will be looking to push for reserve action behind battle-tested juniors Roy Helu Jr. and Quentin Castille. The 6-3, 215-pound Ward brings good size and speed to the spot and should compete with fellow redshirt freshman Collins Okafor and sophomore Austin Jones for playing time. Ward came to Nebraska from Brenham, Texas where he had an excellent all-around athletic career.

2008 (Redshirt)
Ward redshirted and worked with the Nebraska scout team offense.

Before Nebraska (Brenham HS)
Ward was slowed by injury during his senior season, but managed to help Coach Glen West’s team to an 8-3 record and a district title by rushing for 1,200 yards. Ward was a second-team all-district pick. He played a key role for the Cubs in 2006, helping Brenham to a 12-2 record and a trip to the third round of the 4A state playoffs. Ward rushed for 972 yards and had about 200 receiving yards in 2006, despite missing four games. He earned second-team all-district accolades. Ward also saw action for Brenham High School as a freshman and sophomore.

In addition to his football talents, Ward was a top-flight track athlete for Brenham. He competed in the hurdles and the triple jump and saw success on the state and national levels. Ward was second in the 110 high hurdles at the state track meet as a freshman and sophomore. He also finished second in the high hurdles and fifth in the triple jump at the Junior Olympics before his sophomore year of high school.

Ward earned academic all-district honors in both 2006 and 2007. He was listed on the Houston Chronicle’s Greater Houston Top 100, as well as being a member of the newspaper’s Texas Top 100. He was also listed among the top 70 players in Texas by SuperPrep Magazine. Ward visited TCU, Baylor and Missouri before deciding on Nebraska.

Personal
Lester is the son of Lester Sr. and Belene Ward and was born on Sept. 11, 1989. Lester Sr. played collegiately at Baylor and professionally for the Dallas Cowboys. Ward has not declared a major, but was named to the 2008 Big 12 Commissioner’s Fall Academic Honor Roll. Ward has been a volunteer at the F Street Recreation Center and worked as a mentor at a local elementary school.