Honors & Awards
- Second-Team All-Big Ten (Coaches, 2013)
- Honorable-Mention All-Big Ten (Media, 2013)
- Rimington Trophy Watch List (2013)
- Cletus Fischer Native Son Award (2013)
- Academic All-Big Ten (2013)
- Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2012, 2013; Spring 2013)
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Big 12 Commissioner's Fall Academic Honor Roll (2009)
Cole Pensick was a key member of the Husker offensive line in 2013, a group that has powered Nebraska to be one of the Big Ten’s top rushing teams this fall. The 6-2, 275-pound Pensick showed great versatility throughout his NU career with the ability to play both center and guard, and that ability was useful late in 2013 with the line ravaged by injuries.
Pensick played in all 13 games, and started 12, including 11 at center and one at guard. Pensick was also hit by the injury bug, spraining a knee against Michigan State that slowed him in the season’s final two games. Pensick’s outstanding play as a senior was honored as he was a second-team All-Big Ten choice by the league coaches.
A Lincoln native, Pensick was one of 19 Husker seniors who will play the Gator Bowl as a graduate. Pensick earned his degree in December of 2012 and completed two semesters of graduate courses while completing his playing eligibility. He was one of 30 Huskers to earn Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2013.
2013 (Senior)
Pensick played in all 13 games, with 12 starts. He started the first nine games at center, before sliding over to guard for the Michigan State game as injuries sidelined the Huskers’ top three guards. Pensick suffered a knee injury against the Spartans, but was able to play the final two games. He did not start at Penn State, but returned to his starting center spot on Senior Day against Iowa and in the Gator Bowl against Georgia.
Pensick handled the center position very well despite having to work with three different starting quarterbacks during the course of the year. The play of the offensive line helped I-back Ameer Abdullah rush for 1,690 yards, the most by a Husker in 16 seasons. NU produced better than 250 rushing yards five times on the season and ranked third in the Big Ten in rushing offense.
2012 (Junior)
Pensick played in all 14 games with starts at center in the final two games. Pensick alternated at guard during the year, serving as the top backup to both Seung Hoon Choi at left guard, and All-Big Ten selection Spencer Long at right guard. The play of Pensick and the offensive line helped Nebraska average better than 250 rushing yards per game, while topping 200 yards on the ground 12 times.
2011 (Sophomore)
Pensick played in wins over Chattanooga, Wyoming, Minnesota and Michigan State, and helped Nebraska rush for more than 300 yards against both Wyoming and Minnesota.
2010 (Redshirt Freshman)
Pensick saw reserve action against Western Kentucky, Washington, Kansas State, Texas A&M and Colorado.
2009 (Redshirt)
Pensick redshirted as a defensive tackle and worked on the scout team in 2009.
Before Nebraska (Lincoln Northeast HS)
Pensick was the first player to commit to Nebraska's 2009 class and was one of two in-state prospects in the group, coming to NU from Lincoln Northeast High School. Pensick was a three-year starter for Coach Dave Svehla's Rockets and dominated the line of scrimmage on both offense and defense.
As a senior, he played primarily on offense, but still managed to record nearly 40 tackles and lead his team in tackles for loss. He also averaged about 10 pancakes per game while lining up as the starting right guard on offense.
Pensick was honored for his defensive play as a senior, as he was a first-team Super-State pick by the Lincoln Journal Star and a first-team Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska selection. Pensick was a first-team All-Nebraska and second-team Super-State selection during his junior season when he had 39 tackles, including seven tackles for loss, three sacks and a pair of fumble recoveries. His play helped Northeast to a state playoff berth in 2007. Pensick was a second-team All-Nebraska performer as a sophomore.
Pensick also excelled in wrestling and track for the Rockets. On the mat, he finished fifth in Class A at 285 pounds as a junior. In track, Pensick captured the Class A shot put title as a junior with a throw of 57-10 1/4 and finished second as a senior with a throw of 57-11 1/2.
Personal
Cole is the son of Dan and Bev Pensick and was born on Oct. 10, 1990. An agribusiness major, Pensick earned his bachelor's degree from Nebraska in December of 2012. He was named to the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in the fall and spring semesters of 2012-13. He was also a 2009 Big 12 Commissioner’s Fall Academic Honor Roll selection. He has been a part of school and hospital outreach activities.
Pensick's Career Statistics
» Games Played - 36 (5 in 2010; 4 in 2011; 14 in 2012; 13 in 2013)
» Games Started - 14 (2 in 2012; 12 in 2013)