Lance Brandenburgh

Linebacker...6-1...220...Overland Park, Kan. (St. Thomas Aquinas)

Lance Brandenburgh is one of two Kansas City area standouts in Nebraska's 2004 recruiting class. Brandenburgh, who committed to Nebraska last summer, racked up nearly 500 tackles in his prep career at Overland Park's St. Thomas Aquinas High School. He was a three-year starter on both sides of the ball, leading the offense as the starting quarterback. As a senior, Brandenburgh recorded 123 tackles, three sacks and an interception despite battling injuries for much of the season. He helped Aquinas and Coach Kevin Kopecky to 9-2 record in 2003. Aquinas reached the state quarterfinals in Class 5A (second-largest) and both of its losses were to eventual state champion Blue Valley. Brandenburgh was the Eastern Kansas League Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight year and also earned first-team all-state honors from the Topeka Capital-Journal for the second straight season. He was also named to the Capital-Journal's all-state Super 11 and earned All-Metro honors from the Kansas City Star for the second straight year. When healthy as a junior, Brandenburgh compiled standout numbers on both sides of the ball. He was the Metro Sports Defensive Player of the Year in 2002, after breaking his own school record with 193 tackles, including seven sacks. As Aquinas' quarterback he rushed for more than 800 yards and 11 touchdowns and threw for nearly 600 yards. Brandenburgh's efforts helped his team to a 9-3 record and a trip to the state semifinals. Brandenburgh first established Aquinas' season tackle record as a sophomore when he had 155 tackles to earn all-country honors. ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Lemming lists Brandenburg as the nation's 15th-best inside linebacker prospect. Brandenburgh is ranked as the fourth-best prospect in the state of Kansas by Rivals.com, which also ranks him as the nation's No. 24 inside linebacker prospect. SuperPrep Magazine is also high on Brandenburgh, naming him a prep All-American. The outlet lists him as the 16th-best prospect in the Midlands Region and the No. 13 linebacker in the nation. PrepStar Magazine also tabbed Brandenburgh as an All-Midlands region selection. Brandenburgh has played for Aquinas' basketball team each of the past three years. He is also a standout in the classroom, where he owns a 97 percent average and is a member of the National Honor Society. He chose Nebraska over Colorado, UCLA and Kansas. Lance was born on Aug. 4, 1985, and is the son of Chuck and Barb Brandenburgh.

Why Nebraska? ? "I chose Nebraska because of the strong football tradition, and I wanted to go to a place where I have a chance to win a national championship. The coaching staff and the players there are all great people."