Lance Thorell Season 2007

Honors & Awards

• Academic All-Big Ten (2011)
• Bobby Reynolds Award (2011)
• First-Team Academic All-Big 12 (2008)
• Second Team Academic All-Big 12 (2009, 2010)
• Big 12 Commissioner's Fall Academic Honor Roll (2007, 2008, 2010)
• Big 12 Commissioner's Spring Academic Honor Roll (2008, 2010)
• Brook Berringer Citizenship Team (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)

Career
Lance Thorell completed a highly productive in 2011 as a key member of the Nebraska secondary. The 6-1, 200-pound Thorell played in 52 career games, including all 13 contest in 2011. Originally a walk-on, Thorell earned a scholarship before the start of the 2011 season, and played a key role as a nickel and dime back for the 2011 Blackshirts. He earned starts against Minnesota, Michigan State and Northwestern.

Thorell's play helped Nebraska rank among the best defenses in the Big Ten during conference play, as opposing teams completed a league-low 51 percent of their passes. Thorell finished the year with 38 total tackles, including 24 solo stops. He had two pass breakups and set the tone for Nebraska's 24-3 win over Michigan State with a first-quarter interception and return that set up the opening score of the game. Thorell had at least three tackles in six games, including a career-high 15 tackles against Northwestern.

Thorell picked up his undergraduate degree in agribusiness in December of 2011. Thorell was one of 27 Huskers to earn academic All-Big Ten honors, marking the fourth straight season Thorell received academic all-conference honors. A standout in the community as well, Thorell was a four-time member of the Brook Berringer Citizenship Team. He was also chosen as the winner of Nebraska's Bobby Reynolds Award.

2011 (Senior)
Chattanooga: Thorell saw action in nickel and dime situations in the 40-7 win, and had a pair of solo stops. Fresno State: Made one tackle as Fresno State was held under 50 percent passing in the 42-29 win. Washington: Played, but did not have any stats. Wyoming: Saw extensive action in nickel and dime sets, totaling three tackles, including his first career TFL. Wisconsin: Had one tackle and a pass breakup. Ohio State: Totaled one tackle in the win over OSU. Minnesota: Made his first start of 2011 and had three tackles in the win over the Gophers. Michigan State: Started at peso and had a season-high four tackles in limiting MSU to 11-of-27 passing...Made one of the game's biggest plays intercepting a Kirk Cousins pass and returning it 26 yards to set up NU's first touchdown. Northwestern: Had a career-high 15 tackles, including nine solo stops in the loss to Northwestern. Penn State: Totaled three tackles in Nebraska's 17-14 win. Michigan: Finished with three tackles in the loss to the Wolverines. Iowa: Played but did not record any statistics in NU's 20-7 win. South Carolina: Made two solo stops in NU's Capital One bowl loss to Gamecocks.

2010 (Junior)
Thorell appeared in all 14 games as a junior and finished with seven tackles, including four solo stops. In addition to his work in the secondary in specialty packages, Thorell contributed to the Big 12's top special teams units. He had a season-high three tackles at Iowa State.

2009 (Sophomore)
Thorell saw action in all 14 games and finished with seven tackles, including four solo stops, while adding a pass breakup. Thorell made his only start of the season at Missouri and had two tackles against the Tigers. He also had two tackles against Louisiana-Lafayette.

2008 (Redshirt Freshman)
Thorell had a strong freshman season, as he played in 11 games with five starts as a sixth defensive back. He finished with 24 tackles, including 15 solo stops, and had a career-high eight tackles against New Mexico State. Thorell had a career-high five solo stops at Texas Tech, added five tackles against Missouri and finished the regular season with three tackles against Colorado. He added his first career pass breakup against the Buffs.

2007 (Redshirt)
A walk-on performer, Thorell redshirted in his first season with the Huskers.

Before Nebraska (Loomis HS)
Thorell was a standout on both sides of the ball for Loomis High School, helping the Wolves to the Class D-1 state quarterfinals in 2006. Thorell earned first-team Class D-1 all-state honors at defensive back from the Lincoln Journal Star after totaling 118 tackles and four interceptions as a senior. He added more than 1,000 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns while also playing running back for Loomis.

Thorell also excelled on the track as a member of Loomis' Class D state champion track team. He set the state Class D record in the 110-meter hurdles on his way to a gold medal at the state track meet, as well as taking home the gold in the 300-meter hurdles. He also placed in the long jump and 400-meter dash at the 2007 state track meet.

Personal
Lance is the son of Mike Thorell and Kristi Thorell, and was born on Oct. 16, 1988. He has been named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll five times. Thorell is among Nebraska's most dedicated volunteers in the community and is a three-time member of the Brook Berringer Citizenship Team. His outreach work includes volunteering with School is Cool Week, visiting the Lincoln Correctional Center, as well as several team hospital visits and school visits.

 

.

.

Tackles

.

.

Fum.

.

.

.

QB

Year

G/S

UT

AT

TT

TFL

Sacks

C-R

BK

PBU

PI

Hry.

2007

Redshirt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2008 11/5 15 9 24 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 0 2009 14/1 4 3 7 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 0 2010 14/0 4 3 7 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 2011 13/3 24 14 38 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 2 1 0

Totals

52/9

47  

29  

76 

1-2

0-0

0-0

0

4 

1 

0

Thorell's Career Statistics

Single-Game Highs
» Tackles- 15 vs. Northwestern (2011)
» Solo Tackles- 9 vs. Northwestern (2011)
» Tackles for Loss- 1-2 at Wyoming (2011)