Kent Wells Season 1989

Honors & Awards

• First-Team All-Big Eight (AP, UPI, Coaches, 1988)
• Big Eight Outdoor Shot Put Champion (1988)
• Sixth-Round NFL Draft Pick (Washington Redskins, 1990)
• One NFL Season (New York Giants, 1990)
• One WLAF Season (Ohio Glory, 1992)

1989 (Senior)
Kent Wells captured first-team All-Big Eight honors at right defensive tackle as a senior for the Huskers. A three-year letterwinner, Wells finished with 36 tackles, including 18 solos, over 10 regular-season games for the Blackshirts. An explosive presence up front, Wells recorded 12 tackles for loss (64 yards), including six sacks for 47 yards. He also recorded 10 quarterback hurries and caused two fumbles while adding a pair of pass breakups as a senior. He started 10 regular-season games and the Fiesta Bowl against Florida State, missing only the game against Oregon State because of injury. He was Nebraska’s nominee for Big Eight Defensive Player of the Week after recording eight tackles, including a pair of sacks, in NU’s win over Iowa State (Oct. 28). Wells helped Nebraska to a 10-2 record that included a 6-1 Big Eight mark. The Blackshirts ranked eighth nationally in total defense (274.1 ypg).

In three varsity seasons, Wells recorded 77 total tackles, including 37 solos. He registered 19 TFLs (103 yards) with 10 sacks (74 yards). He added 18 quarterback hurries and three PBUs to go along with three forced fumbles in his career. Following his Husker career, Wells was chosen in the sixth round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins (160th overall pick). He played in six games for the New York Giants in 1990. He also spent one season with the Ohio Glory in the World League of American Football in 1992.

1988 (Junior)
Wells moved into the starting lineup late in the season after spending the first seven contests as the backup to Paul Brungardt at right defensive tackle. Wells started the final five games, including a 7-0 win over Colorado, and a 7-3 win over Oklahoma to help Nebraska close out an unbeaten Big Eight regular season. In the conference title-clinching win over the Sooners, the Blackshirts held OU to just 98 rushing yards and eight first downs – 270 under Oklahoma’s season average – while holding the Sooners out of the end zone for the first time since 1942. Wells was credited with four tackles, including three TFLs with two sacks. Wells closed the year with 38 tackles, including seven for 39 yards lost. He had 26 tackles including five TFLs over his five starts. He also had a season-high seven tackles in NU’s win over Missouri.

1987 (Sophomore)
As a reserve at left defensive tackle behind All-American Neil Smith and Ray Valladao, he lettered after seeing action in five games. He finished with five tackles.

1986 (Redshirt)
Wells redshirted in his second season as a Husker.

1985 (Freshman)
Wells played as a left offensive tackle behind Brad Rother on the 5-0-0 Nebraska freshman team, before switching to defensive tackle in the spring of 1986.

Lincoln East High School
An all-state selection for Coach Lee Zentic at Lincoln East, Wells was also the Nebraska Class A state champion with a throw of 63-7 in the shot put to rank in the top 10 nationally in 1985.

Personal
The son of Douglas and Marge Wells, Kent was born in Lincoln. He was a human development major at Nebraska.