? Drafted in 4th Round by the <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Dallas Cowboys<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>
? 1980 Co-Captain
? 1980 First-Team All-American (Football Writers, Football News)
? 1980 Second-Team All-American (UPI, AP)
? 1980 First-Team All-Big 8 (UPI, AP)
? 1980 Big 8 Defensive Player-of-the-Year (AP)
? 1980 Optimist Award Winner
? 1980 Lombardi Award Semifinalist
? 1980 Nebraska Defensive Player-of-the-Week (Colorado, Oklahoma)
? 1979 First-Team All-Big 8 (AP, UPI)
? 1979 Honorable Mention All-American (AP)
? 1979 Big 8 Defensive Player-of-the-Week (Missouri)
? 1979 Nebraska Defensive Player-of-the-Week (Missouri)
? 1978 Honorable Mention All-Big Eight (AP)
1980 (Senior)
Third straight year of starting for the Huskers at defensive end, one of the most experienced linemen in the country, was a co-captain for the Huskers. One of Nebraska’s three, first team All Americans. Also earned second team All-America honors from UPI and AP. Was a unanimous first team All-Big 8 selection and Big 8 Defensive player-of-the-year. Finished the year as an Optimist Award winner and a semifinalist for the Lombardi Trophy.
Had 57 tackles, including 42 unassisted, 21 stops behind the line for a loss of 153 yards, two fumble recoveries and one pass broken up. Playing in front of the largest crowd to see a football game at the time at PennState and a national television audience, Nelson and the rest of the Blackshirts dropped Lion quarterback Jeff Hostetler and Todd Blackledge nine times for 89 yards in losses. The PennState ground game was limited to only 33 net yards and the Blackshirts forced nine turnovers in a 21-7 win at State College, Pa. In a 48-7 win in Lincoln over OklahomaState, Nelson and the defense held the Cowboys to minus 13 yards rushing and a total offensive production of 143 yards.
1979 (Junior)
Started on the right side and had 58 total tackles, including 34 unassisted. Had eight stops behind the line for a loss of 60 yards (tops among linemen), recovered two fumbles and broke up two passes. First his efforts he earned first team UPI & AP All-Big 8 honors and Honorable Mention AP All-America honors. Most memorable game was on Nov. 3 against Missouri, a game the Huskers won 24-21. With the score 24-21 in the fourth quarter and with only second remaining, Nelson, playing with a severely sprain ankle, sacked Tiger quarterback Phil Bradley for an 18-yard loss, Missouri was on the NU 11 yard line and time ran out for the Tigers. For Nelson’s effort against Mizzou he was named co-Big 8 Defensive Player-of-the-Week with NU tackle Bill Barnett. Nelson would have most likely had an even greater year but the previously mentioned ankle sprain kept him out of the KansasState and IowaState games.
1978 (Sophomore)
Earned Honorable Mention AP All-Big 8 with 42 tackles, including 20 unassisted. Also recovered three fumbles, intercepted a pass and blocked a punt.
1977 (Redshirt Freshman)
Redshirted
1976 (Freshman)
Walked on and starred with the 1976 freshman team.
Before Nebraska (FairmontPublic School)
All State football honors at FairmontPublic School for Coach Tim Turman.
Personal
Son of Bonnie Nelson, born Feb. 8, 1958. Also related to former Nebraska baseball great Bob Cerv.
Tackles
.
Fum.
.
.
.
Year
UT
AT
TT
TFL
R
BK
PBU
PI
1978
19
21
40
2-7
3
1
0
1
1979
29
19
48
7-56
2
0
2
0
1980
42
15
57
21-153
2
0
1
0
Totals
90
55
145
30-216
7
1
3
1
Bowl Statistics
1979 Orange Bowl vs. Oklahoma: Tackles 1 UT, 1 AT, 2 TT, TFL 1-1.
1980 Cotton Bowl vs. Houston: Tackles 5 UT, 5 AT, 10 TT, TFL 1-0
1980 Sun Bowl vs. MississippiState: Tackles 3 UT, 3 TT