David Noonan Season 1990

Honors & Awards

• Phillips 66 Big Eight Academic Honor Roll (1993)
• Preseason Top 20 Defensive Tackle (Football Preview)

1993 (Senior)
A three-year letterwinner for the Huskers as a nose tackle/middle guard, David Noonan was a leader among the Blackshirts in 1993. In his final season, Noonan played in 10 games behind starter Terry Connealy. A senior out of Lincoln Northeast High School, the 6-3, 275-pound Noonan registered 16 total tackles, including nine solos, while notching two tackles for five yards lost. He also contributed four quarterback hurries to help Nebraska to a Big Eight title and a trip to the 1994 Federal Express Orange Bowl national championship game against Florida State. Noonan played in the 18-16 loss to the Seminoles, but he did not record a tackle.

In his career, Noonan played in 36 regular-season games with 11 starts and appeared in the 1991 Florida Citrus Bowl and 1994 Orange Bowl. He did not play in either the 1992 or 1993 Orange Bowls because of injuries. He closed his college career with 47 tackles, including 17 solos, with five TFLs for 15 yards lost. He registered one sack for seven yards to go along with 11 quarterback hurries and a pair of interceptions caused.

1992 (Junior)
Noonan started every game at nose tackle for the Blackshirts as a junior in 1992, alternating time with Terry Connealy. Noonan finished with 20 tackles, including six solos, over 11 regular-season games. He notched one tackle for a loss of two yards and had two quarterback hurries. Noonan recorded season highs with four tackles each against Utah and Oklahoma. He helped Nebraska to the Big Eight title.

1991 (Sophomore)
Noonan moved to nose guard from defensive tackle in the spring and played every game as the alternate at middle guard behind All-American Pat Engelbert. Noonan finished the year with 11 tackles, including two tackles for eight yards in losses. He also had a seven-yard sack and five quarterback hurries, including two interceptions caused. He posted season highs with three tackles apiece against Colorado State and Kansas. Noonan suffered a broken foot during bowl preparations and did not play in the 1992 Orange Bowl against Miami.

1990 (Redshirt Freshman)
A reserve defensive tackle behind All-American Kenny Walker and Brian Brown, Noonan played in four regular-season games as a redshirt freshman and recorded one unassisted tackle in the 1991 Florida Citrus Bowl against Georgia Tech.  Noonan did not register a tackle during the regular season.

1989 (Freshman)
A scholarship athlete, Noonan redshirted as a true freshman in 1989.

Lincoln Northeast High School
Noonan was an all-state defensive tackle for Coach Bruce Reed at Lincoln Northeast in 1988. Noonan added all-region honors from SuperPrep after recording 57 tackles, four sacks and a fumble recovery for the Rockets as a senior. He also played offensive tackle and center.

Personal
The son of Gene and Donna Noonan, David was born in Lincoln. David’s older brother, Danny, was an All-America middle guard for the Huskers in 1986 and went on to an NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys. Danny majored in health, physical education and recreation at Nebraska. A long-time strength coach for the Huskers, Omaha Mavericks and the Omaha Lancers, Noonan died tragically in an auto accident near Omaha at the age of 53 on March 30, 2025.