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Honors & Awards
Phillips 66 Big Eight Academic Honor Roll (1992)
1992 (Senior)
One of a bevy of talented outside linebackers for Nebraska, David Leader was a reserve LOLB behind All-American Travis Hill and Donta Jones in 1992. Leader was also a major contributor on NU’s special teams units. Leader played in all 11 games and finished with nine tackles, including four solos. He had two tackles for loss (11 yards) and forced a fumble. He helped the Huskers capture the Big Eight regular-season title and earn a trip to the 1993 Federal Express Orange Bowl against Florida State.
A two-time letterman, Leader played in 21 regular-season games for the Huskers and totaled 19 tackles (6 solos), three TFLs (20 yards) and one sack (9 yards). He forced one fumble, recovered another and notched one pass breakup.
1991 (Junior)
Leader earned his first varsity letter after playing in seven regular-season games as the alternate left outside linebacker behind Travis Hill. Leader registered eight total tackles and a fumble recovery. He also saw action for the Big Eight champion Huskers against Miami in the 1992 Federal Express Orange Bowl.
1990 (Sophomore)
A non-lettered reserve at outside linebacker, Leader appeared in three games and was credited with two tackles and a quarterback hurry.
1989 (Redshirt)
Leader redshirted in his second season at Nebraska.
1988 (Freshman)
A walk-on from Bloomfield, Neb., Leader started the first two games at right outside linebacker for the 5-0 Husker junior varsity team. He finished with 15 tackles on the season, including 12 solos. Leader had two tackles for loss (14 yards) and a pass breakup on the JV team.
Bloomfield High School
A two-year all-conference pick and an all-state selection as a senior at Bloomfield High School, Leader lettered four times as a quarterback, tight end, split end, linebacker and defensive back for Coach Alan Gottula. Leader also lettered in basketball and track. He qualified for the state track meet three times and won the Class C triple jump title.
Personal
The son of Roger and Merina Leader, David was born in Yankton, S.D. He has four brothers and a sister. Leader was a speech communications major at Nebraska. Following his graduation from UNL, Leader was a long-time educator and coach in Lincoln. His son, Nick, was a member of the Husker football team from 2019 to 2021.