Honors and Awards

• Two-Time Nebraska Special Teams MVP (2006, 2007)

2009 Outlook
Rickey Thenarse (pronounced tuh-NARSE) has been a special teams standout throughout his Nebraska career and emerged late in his junior season as a key player in the Husker secondary. The Los Angeles native split time at free safety throughout the year with fellow senior-to-be Matt O’Hanlon, then Thenarse earned a starting job during the final four games. This fall, the duo is expected to again man the free safety spot in a much deeper and more experienced Nebraska secondary.

The 6-0, 205-pound Thenarse has been known for his fearless special teams play and hardhitting ability since his arrival at Nebraska in 2006. His play earned him Nebraska Special Teams MVP honors each of his first two seasons, and he has also seen playing time in the secondary since his freshman season. Despite not using a redshirt season, Thenarse is on track to complete his degree work in sociology in May of 2010.

2008 (Junior)
Thenarse played in 11 games and made five starts. He finished with 24 total tackles, including 17 solo stops, had six tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. A shoulder injury in the season opener forced Thenarse to miss the next two games, but he returned with three tackles and two tackles for loss against Virginia Tech. He made his first career start against Missouri and had three tackles and a TFL. He made two tackles and forced a key fumble on punt coverage at Iowa State.

Thenarse made his second career interception at Oklahoma, then moved into the starting lineup. He had four solo tackles, including a 14-yard sack at Kansas State, and led the team against Colorado with a career-high eight tackles with two tackles for loss and a sack. Thenarse continued to be a major player on Nebraska’s special teams in 2008.

2007 (Sophomore)
Thenarse saw extensive action both on special teams and as a backup safety, playing in all 12 games. He made 28 total tackles, including 18 solo stops, with many of his stops coming on kick or punt coverage.

He finished the season with four games of three or more tackles. He had four tackles, including three solo stops, and forced a fumble on a kickoff against USC. He added three tackles against Ball State, before making a season-high five tackles each in back-to-back road games at Texas and Kansas late in the year. Thenarse forced his second fumble of the season against the Longhorns.

2006 (Freshman)
Thenarse was the only true freshman to play in all 14 games in 2006. He saw limited action in the secondary, but made an immediate impact on the Huskers’ coverage units. Thenarse’s kickoff coverage ability helped make that Husker unit one of the nation’s best.

Thenarse finished the year with nine tackles, including five solo stops. He made a season-high four tackles against Colorado, including three solo stops. His game against the Buffs marked his finest performance, as he also forced a fumble. Thenarse added tackles against Nicholls State, Troy, Kansas, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma. He grabbed his first career interception and returned it 25 yards against Kansas State, and he recorded a pass breakup at Iowa State.

Before Nebraska (Jordan HS)
Thenarse was a standout running back and defensive back for Jordan High School in Los Angeles. As a senior, Thenarse carried the ball 112 times for 1,344 yards and 10 touchdowns, while catching 19 passes for 628 yards and five touchdowns. He also returned 11 punts for 231 yards and a touchdown and returned 14 kickoffs for 300 yards in earning first-team all-city and all-state honors.

Defensively, Thenarse had 153 tackles and one interception as a senior. Thenarse earned Eastern League MVP honors and was rated as the No. 94 overall prospect in the nation on the ESPN 150.

As a junior playing for Coach Elijah Asante, Thenarse ran for 1,234 yards on 130 carries, scoring 12 touchdowns and earning first-team all-league honors. Thenarse also had 15 catches for 307 yards and four touchdowns, and added 20 tackles, three sacks and three interceptions on the defensive side of the ball. Thenarse chose Nebraska over USC, UCLA, California, Colorado, Fresno State, Oregon and Washington.

Personal

Rickey is the son of Kathy Thenarse and Ricky Thenarse Sr., and was born on Aug. 2, 1988. He is majoring in sociology and has assisted with NU’s hospital visits.

Thenarse's Career Statistics

Single-Game Highs
Tackles–8 vs. Colorado, 2008
Solo Tackles–5 vs. Colorado, 2008
Tackles for Loss-2 vs. Colorado, 2008