- 2003 Inductee, Nebraska Football Hall of Fame
- Second-Team All-American, 1976
- First Team, All-Big Eight, 1976
- Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year, 1976
- Second-Team All-Big Eight, 1975
Senior (1976)
Pillen led Nebraska in tackles for the second straight year, recording 137 total stops on his way to All-Big Eight and second-team All-America honors. Named the UPI Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year, Pillen was responsible for 30 stops against Oklahoma State and was named Big Eight Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts.
Junior (1975)
Pillen started for NU at strongside linebacker and led the team in tackles with 134 stops. Pillen made 27 stops against Oklahoma despite suffering a first-quarter knee injury, earning National Defensive Player of the Week. With 85 assisted tackles, Pillen broke the school record set by Barry Alvarez of 78 in 1967.
Sophomore (1974)
Pillen provided depth behind Bob Nelson and John Strakebaum at linebacker. On the year, Pillen had 21 tackles.
Redshirt Freshman (1973)
Pillen redshirted.
Freshman (1972)
A walk-on, Pillen was a standout for the NU freshman squad.
At Lakeview HS
Pillen was an All-State performer for coach Jim McWilliams at Lakeview High School.
Personal
The son of Dale and Dorthea Pillen, Clete was born June 21, 1954. His brother, Jim, was a three-year letterwinner at Nebraska and a 2004 inductee to the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame, while his cousin Dan Schmidt was a Husker from 1974-76.
Pillen's Career Statistics
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Tackles
.
Fum.
.
.
.
Year
UT
AT
TT
TFL
R
PI
PBU
BK
1974
12
9
21
1-5
0
0
0
1
1975
49
85
134
13-27
1
1
3
0
1976
73
64
137
1-1
0
0
1
0
Totals
134
158
292
15-33
1
1
4
1