Ty Steinkuhler Season 2008

Honors & Awards

• 2008 Honorable-Mention All-Big 12 (Coaches)
• 2008 Second-Team Academic All-Big 12
• Two-Time Big 12 Commissioner’s Fall Academic Honor Roll (2004, 2008)
• Two-Time Big 12 Commissioner’s Spring Academic Honor Roll (2006, 2008)

2008 (Senior)
Defensive tackle Ty Steinkuhler was a key element of a much-improved Nebraska defense in 2008. Steinkuhler and fellow tackle Ndamukong Suh clogged up the middle of the defense, while continually wreaking havoc in opposing backfields. The defensive front allowed Nebraska to finish second in the Big 12 in total defense, while reducing its average yards per game allowed by more than 125 yards per game from 2007.

The 6-3, 280-pound Steinkuhler started all 13 games and finished among the Big 12 leaders in tackles among defensive linemen. Steinkuhler totaled 48 tackles, including 21 solo stops, while recording eight tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.

Steinkuhler had six or more tackles five times in 2008, including a career-high eight tackles in the season opener against Western Michigan. He added six-tackle efforts against San Jose State and Virginia Tech, and shared a sack against the Hokies, before making six tackles and a tackle for loss against Missouri. The Lincoln native played his best football in the season’s final two games. Against Colorado, he had two tackles for loss (14 yards) and a sack for a 12-yard loss. In the Gator Bowl against Clemson, Steinkuhler was dominant in the first half and finished the game with six tackles, a sack, a pair of tackles for loss and a forced fumble.

The son of 1983 Lombardi and Outland winner Dean Steinkuhler, Ty was honored for his work, being named an honorable-mention All-Big 12 performer by the league’s coaches. He was also a second-team academic All-Big 12 honoree in 2008.

2007 (Junior)
Steinkuhler battled injuries for much of the year and finished with 13 total tackles, including four tackles for loss. He went down with a leg injury in the opener against Nevada and missed NU’s game at Wake Forest. Steinkuhler returned to make three tackles against USC, then started at end against Ball State and tackle vs. Iowa State. Against the Cyclones, Steinkuhler had a six-yard tackle for loss and a fumble caused.

Steinkuhler started the final five games of the season and matched his season high with three tackles against both Texas and Kansas State. He had a tackle for loss in each of Nebraska’s final two games.

2006 (Sophomore)
Steinkuhler played in all 14 games as a reserve defensive tackle, and finished with 22 tackles, including 15 solo stops. He had his first career sack against Kansas State and forced a fumble against Troy, while finishing the year with three tackles for loss. He had at least one tackle in 10 games, highlighted by a career-high five against Troy that included one for loss. He added four-tackle efforts against USC and Colorado and contributed his third tackle for loss in the Big 12 title game against Oklahoma. In addition to his defensive duties, Steinkuhler also saw limited time on special teams, most notably the PAT/field goal block unit.

2005 (Redshirt Freshman)
Steinkuhler played in eight games as a reserve defensive end, including the final three contests, when his time increased on the defensive line. He registered five tackles and was in on a pair of tackles for loss. He had a season-high three stops during the win over Wake Forest, including a tackle for loss. His second tackle for loss came against Kansas State.

2004 (Redshirt)
Steinkuhler redshirted in his first season and worked on the scout team.

Before Nebraska (Southwest HS)
Steinkuhler excelled on both sides of the ball as a senior for Lincoln Southwest and Coach Mark King. The Journal Star made him a first-team Super-State pick as a linebacker. The World-Herald honored his offensive play, naming him a first-team All-Nebraska pick as a lineman, but listed him as a first-team Class A all-state linebacker. Steinkuhler totaled 163 tackles, including 98 unassisted, with an interception and a fumble recovery. He helped Southwest make one of the state's biggest improvements with a 5-5 record and the school's first-ever playoff trip.

Steinkuhler helped build the Southwest football program from the ground up. The Silver Hawks struggled to an 0-9 record in their inaugural season in 2002. Despite the winless season, Steinkuhler had 134 tackles (72 solo) to earn second-team Super-State honors and first-team Class A honors from the Lincoln Journal Star. An outstanding all-around athlete, Steinkuhler added three letters in basketball and four in track.

Personal
Ty is the son of Dean Steinkuhler and Sue Steinkuhler, and was born on Sept. 11, 1985. He is a criminal justice major, and has been named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll three times. He adds to a long line of father-son combinations in NU football history, and Dean's No. 71 is one of 16 retired Husker jerseys. Ty has volunteered his time with local hospital visits.

Steinkuhler's Career Statistics

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Tackles

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Fum.

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.

QB

Year

G/S

UT

AT

TT

TFL

Sacks

C-R

BK

PBU

PI

Hry.

2004

 

 

 

 

 

Redshirt

 

 

 

 

 

2005 8/0 2 3 5 2-0 0 0-0 0 0 0 0

2006

14/0

15

7

22

3-8

0.5-1

1-0

0

0

0

0

2007

10/8

7

6

13

4-12

0-0

1-0

0

0

0

1

2008 13/13 21 27 48 8-27 2.5-21 1-0 0 0 0 3

Totals

45/21

45

43

88

17-47

3-22

3-0

0

0

0

4

Single-Game Highs
Tackles?8 vs. Western Michigan, 2008
Solo Tackles?4, five times 
Tackles for Loss?2 vs. Colorado, 2008, Clemson, 2009 Gator Bowl