Honors & Awards
» 2014 Rimington Trophy Watch List
» 2014 Campbell Trophy Watch List
» Academic All-Big Ten (2012, 2013, 2014)
» Eight-Time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll
» Brook Berringer Citizenship Team (2014)
» Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2014)
» Big 12 Commissioner’s Spring Academic Honor Roll (2011)
Center Mark Pelini held down the middle of the Nebraska offensive line throughout the 2014 season, starting the first 11 games. Pelini suffered a season-ending ankle injury early on Senior Day against Minnesota.
Pelini and his offensive line teammates were a key part of a Nebraska offense that ranked among the top 20 units nationally in scoring and rushing offense. The group up front powered senior running back Ameer Abdullah’s record-setting season, as he became NU’s all-time leader in all-purpose yards, while ranking second in career rushing yards. The line also helped Nebraska rank among the top offenses in the Big Ten in protecting the quarterback.
Pelini continued to be a standout on the academic side, earning Academic All-Big Ten honors for the third straight season. A double major in history and mathematics, Pelini picked up his degree in December.
2014 (Senior)
Pelini started the first 11 games of the season at center and was a key part of an offensive line that powered several record-setting performances. The Nebraska offense opened the season with a Big Ten modern-era record of 784 yards of total offense, including 498 rushing yards. The line pounded the defenses of both Miami and Illinois as the Huskers rushed for 343 and 458 yards, respectively, and Ameer Abdullah topped 200 yards in both contests.
The line paved the way for Abdullah’s fourth 200-yard rushing game of the season against Rutgers.
2013 (Junior)
Pelini played in all 13 games at center, including starts against Michigan State and Penn State. He played behind senior Cole Pensick most of the season, before Pelini’s role increased greatly in the second half of the season with numerous injuries to Husker offensive linemen.
His play helped running back Ameer Abdullah post 1,690 rushing yards, the most by a Husker since 1997. The line also solidified an offense that featured three starting quarterbacks.
Pelini played in seven games, including three non-league games and the final four contests. He took over in the first quarter at Iowa when Justin Jackson was injured, then split time at center with Pensick in the Big Ten title game and saw action against Georgia in the Capital One Bowl.
2011 (Redshirt Freshman)
Pelini provided depth at center in 2011, but did not see game action.
2010 (Redshirt)
A walk-on, Pelini redshirted in his first season at Nebraska in 2010.
Before Nebraska (Cardinal Mooney HS)
Pelini was a standout at Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, Ohio. His play on the offensive line helped Mooney to a perfect 15-0 record and a Divsion III Ohio state title in 2009.
Personal
Mark is the son of Vince and Diane Pelini, and he was born on Aug. 27, 1991. Pelini has been named to the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll each of the past eight semesters. Pelini was also named to both the Brook Berringer Citizenship Team and Tom Osborne Citizenship Team in 2014 for his community outreach work. Pelini has volunteered his time with School is Cool Week, Husker Heroes, Husker Hotline, Super Hero Day, NFL Fuel Up to Play 60, and local school and hospital outreach activities.
 Pelini's Career Statistics
» Games Played - 30 (7 in 2012; 12 in 2013; 11 in 2014)
» Games Started - 13 (2 in 2013; 11 in 2014)