Joel Wilks Season 1994

Honors & Awards

• Starting Offensive Guard on 1994 Nebraska National Championship Team

Career
A three-year letterman, Joel Wilks was the starting left guard for the national champion Huskers in 1994, leading the Big Red with 142 pancakes (knock-down blocks), an average of 11.8 per game. Nebraska led the nation in rushing offense (340.0 ypg), while ranking fifth in total offense (477.8 ypg) and sixth in scoring (36.3 ppg). Wilks and the offensive line helped the Huskers rally for a 24-17 win over Miami in the Orange Bowl to claim the national title by outscoring the Hurricanes 15-0 in the fourth quarter. He played in 23 regular-season games in his career and the 1994 and 1995 Orange Bowls. He started 13 regular-season games and the 1995 Orange Bowl.

1994 (Senior)
Wilks started all 12 regular-season games for the Huskers at left guard, before switching spots with All-American Brendan Stai at right guard to start Nebraska’s 24-17 win over Miami in the Orange Bowl to help the Big Red capture the national title. The 6-3, 280-pound Wilks led Nebraska’s “Pipeline” with 142 pancake blocks on the season.

1993 (Junior)
Wilks missed the first five games of the 1993 season with a severe ankle sprain, but returned to play in the last six contests, including his first career start against Iowa State when left guard Rob Zatechka was limited with an ankle spring. Wilks saw extensive actions against Colorado, Kansas and Iowa State. He also played in the 1994 Federal Express Orange Bowl against Florida State. The former walk-on from Hastings, Neb., helped the Huskers rank third in the NCAA in rushing with 287.9 yards per game, fifth in scoring (38.3 ppg) and 23rd in total offense (425.0 ypg).

1992 (Sophomore)
Wilks earned a scholarship prior to the 1992 season. He played in five games at left guard, backing up Ken Mehlin and Chris Zyzda. Wilks traveled with the Huskers to the Orange Bowl but did not play in the game.

1991 (Redshirt)
Wilks redshirted in his second season with the Huskers in 1991.

1990 (Freshman)
After walking on to Nebraska, Wilks became a part-time starter at offensive tackle for the 4-1 junior varsity team.

Before Nebraska (Hastings High School)
Wilks was an all-state, all-conference and academic all-state defensive tackle and offensive guard for Coach Walt Olsen at Hastings High School. Wilks played in the 1990 Nebraska Shrine Bowl and was a member of the Nebraska all-star team that played in Australia in the summer of 1990 along with fellow Husker teammates Cory Schlesinger and Jon Pedersen. Wilks also lettered in basketball and track for the Tigers. He was a member of the National Honor Society.

Personal
The son of Jerry and Georgia Wilks, Joel was born Oct. 10, 1971, in Omaha, Neb. He has a younger sister, Jessica. He was a business administration major at Nebraska.