Daryl Leise Season 1991

Honors & Awards
Phillips 66 Big Eight Academic Honor Roll (1990, 1991)

1991 (Senior)
Daryl Leise (pronounced LY-zee) was part of loaded tight end group as a senior for the Huskers in 1991, joining first-team All-Big Eight Johnny Mitchell (1990), second-team All-Big Eight choice William Washington (1989) and Chris Garrett. Leise saw action in 10 of NU’s 11 regular-season games and pulled down his first career reception with a 16-yard catch against Kansas (Nov. 9). An outstanding blocker, Leise helped the Big Red to its seventh NCAA rushing title in a 12-year span by averaging 353.2 yards per game. Nebraska also ranked third nationally in both scoring (41.3 ppg) and total offense (506.5 ypg). He also helped NU win a share of the Big Eight title and earn a trip to the 1992 Orange Bowl against Miami. Leise claimed a spot on the Phillips 66 Big Eight Academic Honor Roll for the second straight year.

A two-time letterman, Leise played in 26 career games for the Huskers.

1990 (Junior)
Leise was part of a three-man tight end rotation, first with Chris Garrett and William Washington, then with Washington and freshman Johnny Mitchell after Garrett went down with a broken ankle against Oregon State. Leise played in all 11 regular-season games for the Big Red and recorded two unassisted tackles but did not have a reception. He earned starts in back-to-back games in the middle of the season against Missouri and Oklahoma State. He helped the Huskers rank second nationally in rushing offense (340.0 ypg) and sixth in scoring (37.5 ppg) before earning another start in the 1991 Florida Citrus Bowl against Georgia Tech. Leise was named to the Phillips 66 Big Eight Academic Honor Roll.

1989 (Sophomore)
Leise played in five games as a reserve for the Huskers. He did not have any statistics and he did not earn a varsity letter.

1988 (Redshirt)
Leise redshirted while making the move from linebacker to tight end.

1987 (Freshman)
A scholarship recruit, Leise started at weakside linebacker for Coach Shane Thorell’s Nebraska junior varsity team. Leise finished with 13 total tackles, including 10 unassisted stops.

Omaha Creighton Prep High School
An all-state defensive end as a senior, Leise was one of the leaders on Coach Tom Jaworski’s state championship teams in 1985 and 1986. A two-year starter on defense, he also started as a second tight end in the last few games of Prep’s 12-0 season in 1986. He recorded 76 tackles as a senior with 52 solos, including nine TFLs. He also recovered a fumble for a touchdown. Leise was one of three former Junior Jays who figured prominently into the plans of the 1991 Huskers, including I-back George Achola and offensive guard Dave Jensen.

Personal
The son of Roger and LaVonne Leise, Daryl was born May 15, 1969 in Omaha. He has three sisters, Mary Beth, Michelle and Denise. Daryl was a finance major at Nebraska.