Eric Hagg

Honors & Awards

• Second-Team All-American (Rivals.com)
• Third-Team All-American (AP)
• Honorable-Mention All-American (SI.com)
• First-Team All-Big 12 (Unanimous in 2010)
• Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 18 at Washington)
• Nebraska Team MVP (2010)
• Honorable Mention All-Big 12 (2009, Coaches)
• Second-Team Academic All-Big 12 (2008, 2010)
• School Record for Longest Punt Return (95 yards vs. Texas, Oct. 16)
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Spring Academic Honor Roll (2008, 2010)
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Fall Academic Honor Roll (2009, 2010)

Eric Hagg was one of Nebraska’s most versatile and valuable defenders each of the past three seasons, and he played at an award-winning level as a senior. The 6-2, 210-pound Hagg was Nebraska’s nickel back since his sophomore season and his ability to play a hybrid role is a major reason Nebraska ranked among the top 12 nationally in pass defense, scoring defense and total defense.
Hagg’s size, speed and instincts have allowed him to cover running backs, tight ends and wideouts with equal success. He started all 14 games and finished the season with a team-high five interceptions and four pass breakups. He also has 49 total tackles, including 39 solo stops and three tackles for loss. Hagg also showed his play-making ability against Texas when he returned a Longhorn punt for a 95-yard touchdown, setting a Nebraska school record.
Despite not having a traditional position, Hagg’s impact has been evident. He was chosen as a first-team All-Big 12 defensive back by nearly every media outlet, while also earning second-team All-America honors from Rivals.com, third-team accolades from the Associated Press and honorable-mention honors from SI.com. Hagg was also among the most respected players in the locker room and was chosen as the 2010 Team MVP by his teammates.
                     
2010 (Senior)
    Western Kentucky: Hagg was around the ball, holding Western Kentucky to just 120 yards in the air, as he recorded three tackles, a pass breakup, a quarterback hurry and recovered a fumble in NU’s 49-10 victory. Idaho: Hagg had one tackle, as the Blackshirts recorded six turnovers in a 38-17 victory. Washington: Was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, leading a ball-hawking defense...totaled one tackle, but snuffed out the Huskies’ first drive with an interception and added two breakups, as Nebraska held Jake Locker to a career-worst 4-for-20 performance and just 71 yards. South Dakota State: Hagg helped the Blackshirts limit their second opponent under 100 yards passing, as he totaled a pair of tackles in Nebraska’s 17-3 victory. Kansas State: Hagg helped the Blackshirts limit Kansas State to just 135 yards passing, as he totaled three stops and intercepted a Wildcat pass at the 7-yard line to end the first half. Texas: Helped limit Texas to just 62 yards passing, its lowest output since 1983, as he had two solo stops...provided Nebraska’s lone touchdown with a school-record 95-yard punt return in the fourth quarter. Oklahoma State: Totaled a season-high eight tackles and nabbed his third interception of the season in helping the Huskers down the No. 17 Cowboys in Stillwater. Missouri: Hagg keyed a Blackshirt defense that harassed the Tigers all afternoon in knocking off Mizzou, 31-17...recorded seven tackles, a season-high two tackles for loss, including a sack, as the Huskers totaled six sacks and held Blaine Gabbert to 18-of-42 passing for a season-low 199 yards. Iowa State: Hagg made two of the biggest plays in NU’s 31-30 overtime win at Iowa State...picked off a pass in the third quarter that led to a Husker score that put NU ahead 24-10...snuffed out ISU’s upset bid by intercepting the Cyclones’ fake PAT attempt in the end zone in overtime...also added a pair of solo stops in the win. Kansas: Hagg had one tackle, as the Blackshirts held Kansas to just 87 total yards, including 15 through the air. Texas A&M: Had five tackles - all solo - including one for loss...tallied one pass breakup. Colorado: Helped a pass defense that held CU to just 10-of-27 passing in NU’s Big 12 North clinching win...totaled three solo tackles and added his fifth interception of the season, which he returned 26 yards to set up a score that put NU up 31-3. Oklahoma: Matched a season high with eight tackles, including seven solo stops, while also forcing a fumble in the Big 12 title game loss to the Sooners. Washington: Hagg recorded three solo tackles against Washington in the Holiday Bowl.

 

2009 (Junior)
Hagg played in all 14 games with 10 starts, helping NU rank among the nation's best defenses. He finished with 40 tackles, including seven for loss, along with two sacks. Hagg also intercepted a pass, broke up four others, forced a fumble, and had three quarterback hurries. He also continued to play a role on NU's special teams.

Hagg posted his second career sack against Arkansas State, and had a tackle for loss for a second straight game at Virginia Tech. Hagg led Nebraska with six tackles in the shutout of Louisiana-Lafayette and also forced a fumble in the game. He had a tackle for loss at Missouri, before a five-tackle effort against Texas Tech. Hagg tied his season high with six solo tackles at Baylor, and added a tackle for loss and a PBU in the game.

In a 10-3 win over Oklahoma, Hagg had a key tackle for loss on a Sooner fourth-down rush and added a pass breakup and a hurry. Against Kansas State, Hagg had four tackles, including a 14-yard sack and added a season-high two breakups. Hagg recorded his first career interception in the first quarter against Texas, setting up a field goal for the game's first points. He finished the year with a tackle for loss in the Holiday Bowl win over Arizona.

2008 (Sophomore)
Hagg played in all 13 games with 10 starts, and had 39 tackles, including 29 solo stops and five tackles for loss, a sack and ranked among the team leaders with seven pass breakups. Hagg opened the year with five tackles, a forced fumble and fumble recovery against Western Michigan. He recorded a career-high 10 tackles, including nine solo stops against New Mexico State, then made his first career tackle for loss against Virginia Tech. He added four tackles each against Baylor and Oklahoma, and had tackles for loss against Kansas and Colorado. Hagg had two pass breakups against both San Jose State and Kansas.

Hagg saved his biggest plays for a crucial moment in the Gator Bowl win over Clemson. With the Tigers threatening for the go-ahead score late in the contest, Hagg had a key pass breakup on a first-and-goal play. Hagg then threw Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper for a 16-yard sack on second down, allowing NU to preserve the 26-21 victory.

2007 (Freshman)
Hagg played in seven games as a true freshman, primarily on special teams, and made two assisted tackles in the win over Kansas State.

Before Nebraska (Ironwood HS)
Hagg was a standout at Ironwood High School in Peoria, Ariz., starring at receiver and defensive back for Coach Larry Allen. Hagg caught 49 passes for 920 yards and nine touchdowns, while making 33 tackles and intercepting four passes on defense. His efforts as a senior earned him first-team Arizona 5A all-state honors from the Arizona Republic.

As a junior, Hagg had 37 catches, including 12 touchdowns and made better than 40 tackles on defense. He also had seven interceptions and blocked a punt. In addition to his outstanding accomplishments on the field, Hagg was a top basketball player, starting for Ironwood and averaging 10 points per game as a senior. Hagg only visited Nebraska, but had numerous other offers including Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon and Oregon State.

Personal
Eric Jr. is the son of Eric Hagg Sr., and was born on Sept. 15, 1989. He is majoring in ethnic studies and has volunteered his time as an FCA Outreach speaker, the Madonna Hospital Wheelchair Football Workshop and with team hospital visits.  

 

.

.

Tackles

.

.

Fum.

.

.

.

QB

Year

G/S

UT

AT

TT

TFL

Sacks

C-R

BK

PBU

PI

Hry.

2007

7/0

0

2

2

0-0

0-0

0-0

0

0

0

0

2008 13/10 29 10 39 5-28 1.0-16 1-1 0 7 0 2 2009 14/10 30 10 40 7-32 2.0-22 1-0 0 4 1 3 2010 14/14 39 10 49 3-6 1.0-1 1-1 0 4 5 2

Totals

48/34 

98 

32 

130 

15-66

4.0-39

3-2

0

15

6 

7 

Single-Game Highs
Tackles –10 vs. New Mexico State, 2008
Solo Tackles –9 vs. New Mexico State, 2008
Tackles for Loss -2 vs. Clemson, 2009 Gator Bowl, vs. Missouri, 2010
Sacks -1.0 four times, once in 2008, twice in 2009, once in 2010
PBU's- 2 three times, twice in 2008, once in 2009, once in 2010)