Jared Tomich Season 1996

Honors & Award

• Nebraska Football Hall of Fame (2006 Inductee)
• Drafted by the New Orleans Saints (1997 - 2nd Round, Pick #39)
• Member of Two Nebraska National Championship Teams (1994, 1995)
• Inaugural Brook Berringer Citizenship Team Member (1997)
• University of Nebraska Graduate (December, 1996)
• Lombardi Award Finalist (1996)
• First-Team All-American (Walter Camp, American Football Quarterly, 1996)
• Second-Team All-American (AP, American Football Foundation, 1996)
• CFA Good Works Team (1996)
• Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player-of-the-Year Midseason Leader (1996)
• Guy Chamberlin Trophy Winner (1996)
• Big 12 Commissioner's Fall Semester Honor Roll (1996)
• Nebraska Lifter-of-the-Year (1996)
• First-Team All-American (AP, 1995)
• Second-Team All-American (Football News, 1995)
• Football News Defensive Player-of-the-Year Semifinalist (1995)
• Two-Time First-Team All-Conference (1995, 1996)
• Football News Defensive Player-of-the-Year Semifinalist (1995)
• First-Team All-Big Eight (AP, Football News, 1995)
• Second-Team All-Big Eight (Coaches, 1995)
• Big Eight Defensive Player-of-the-Week (vs. Oklahoma, 1995)
• Nebraska Defensive Player-of-the-Week (vs. Oklahoma State, Kansas, Oklahoma, 1995)
• Nebraska Lifter-of-the-Year Finalist (1995)

Career

Jared Tomich was a vital contributor to the Husker defense that ranked among the nation’s top 10 in nearly every category during Tomich’s three years. The two-time All-America walk-on from St. John, Ind., left the Huskers with a degree in communications, numerous accolades and two national championship rings. Tomich had 26 tackles for loss in his career, including 16 sacks.

Tomich was drafted in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft by New Orleans. He would go on to play for the Saints for four years (1997-2000) and the Green Bay Packers for one (2002). Tomich would end his five year NFL career with 56 tackles, 10 sacks and four forced fumbles.

1996 (Senior)

Tomich recorded 41 tackles, 10 tackles for 40 yards in losses and five sacks for 26 yards. He caused a team-leading four fumbles and recovered one. He led the team with 23 quarterback hurries that caused incomplete passes. Tomich earned All-America honors from Walter Camp in 1996, was a finalist for the Lombardi Award and was named a semifinalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award. In the 1996 Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech, Tomich had two tackles and two quarterback hurries. He played in the East-West Shrine Game.

1995 (Junior)

Tomich had an excellent season as NU's left outside linebacker (rush end), as he helped NU rank second nationally against the rush, 13th in total defense and fourth in scoring defense. Tomich led the team in sacks with 10, yards lost with 70, fumbles caused and recovered, 3-2 respectively, and quarterback hurries with 24. For his efforts, Tomich was named first-team Associated Press All-American and second-team All-American by Football News. He was a first-team All-Big Eight pick by the AP and Football News and second-team All-Big Eight by the league coaches. Tomich and Grant Wistrom, just a sophomore, were first-year starters replacing Dwayne Harris and Donta Jones, but came into the season with plenty of experience. OLB Coach Tony Samuel said, "I've had some individuals -- you'll remember Trev Albers, Travis Hill and of course, Broderick Thomas. But as a twosome, productivity-wise, they're as good as I've had so far. Tomich is going to be a great player. He's already there, but he's not finished improving. I've never been around a guy who wants to step in and understand the opponent as much as he does." Tomich had 27 tackles on the season, including 18 solo stops, 12 tackles for 79 yards lost, three breakups and one rush that directly led to an interception -- a hit on Kansas quarterback Mark Williams that led to Phil Ellis' pickoff. His top tackling game was in the season finale against Oklahoma when he recorded six stops. He had two tackles for loss four times, tying his career high and two sacks against Oklahoma State (22 yards lost), Kansas State (21 yards lost) and Oklahoma (15 yards lost). He had a career-best five QB hurries in the last two games against Kansas and Oklahoma and was Nebraska's nominee for Big Eight Defensive Player-of-the-Week three times (vs. Oklahoma State, Kansas and Oklahoma), winning the award after his six-tackle, two-sack performance against the Sooners. Tomich suffered a back bruise in the Colorado game. He suited up against Iowa State but saw limited action as Luther Hardin started in his place. In the national championship game against Florida in the Fiesta Bowl, Tomich and company put heavy pressure on quarterback Danny Wuerffel. The Florida junior, who set an NCAA record in 1995 for passing efficiency, was sacked seven times and hurried 11 times, throwing 14 incomplete passes. Tomich was responsible for three tackles, one four-yard sack and two quarterback hurries.

1994 (Sophomore)

In his first year playing for Nebraska, Tomich made his presence known. He played in every game and was considered a first-team outside linebacker as he alternated playing time with Harris on the left side. The explosive sophomore finished with 23 tackles on the season (12 solo), had four tackles for 15 yards lost, including one seven-yard sack in the season opener against West Virginia. He also had 12 quarterback hurries and caused one interception against Oklahoma State. His best outing was a five-tackle day in the Kickoff Classic (three solo). Tomich had a tackle for loss in each of the first three games and two (for five yards lost) against No. 13 UCLA. Originally a walk-on, Tomich earned a scholarship before the 1994 season. In the 1995 Orange Bowl against Miami, Tomich saw extensive playing time at outside linebacker and recorded one assisted tackle.

1993 (Redshirt)

A walk-on athlete, Tomich redshirted his first season.

1992 (Freshman)

Tomich sat out the 1992 season.

Before Nebraska (Lake Central High School)

Tomich played defensive end for Coach Elmer Britton at Lake Central and earned all-state honors his senior year.

Personal

The son of James and Cheryll Tomich, Jared was born April 24, 1974. He majored in communication studies and earned his bachelor's degree from Nebraska in December of 1996. He was one of several athletes who arranged to serve dinner at the city mission in December 1996, during the season, and took time out to make a surprise visit to the Lincoln Children's Museum on National Foster Child Care Day. Jared also volunteered with the Venture in Partnership Program and was a Shadowing Program mentor. Extremely active in the community, especially with children, Jared was named to the CFA Good Works Team.

Tomich's Career Statistics

.	.	Tackles			.	.	Fum.	.	.	.	QB	Int.
Year	G/S	UT	AT	TT	TFL	Sacks	C-R	BK	PBU	PI	Hry.	Csd.
1993	Redshirted
1994	12-0	12	11	23	4-15	1-7	0-0	0	0	0	12	1
1995	11/10	18	9	27	12-79	10-75	3-2	0	3	0	24	1
1996	12/12	16	25	41	10-40	5-26	4-1	0	0	0	23	1
Totals	35-22	46	45	91	26-134	16-108	7-3	0	3	0	59	3

1995 Orange Bowl vs. Miami: Tackles 0 UT, 1 AT, 1 TT
1996 Fiesta Bowl vs. Florida: Tackles 1 UT, 2 AT, 3 TT; TFL 1-4; Sacks 1-4; QB Hurries 2
1996 Orange Bowl vs. Virginia Tech: Tackles 1 UT, 1 AT, 2 TT; QB Hurries 2