Mike Petko Season 1991

Honors & Awards
Second-Team All-Big Eight (AP, 1991)
Honorable-Mention All-Big Eight (Coaches, 1991)
Honorable-Mention All-Big Eight (AP, UPI, Coaches, 1990)
Honorable-Mention All-Big Eight (Coaches, 1989)
GTE Academic All-District VII (1991)
Phillips 66 Academic All-Big Eight (1989, 1990)
Honorable-Mention Academic All-Big Eight (1989)
11th-Round NFL Draft Pick (New England Patriots, 1992)

1991 (Senior)
A second-team All-Big Eight choice as an inside linebacker, Mike Petko played in 10 games with 10 starts as a senior, totaling 61 tackles (17 solos) on the year. He added three quarterback hurries and a pair of pass breakups while notching one TFL for two yards lost. He capped his college career with 10 tackles, including five solos, to go with two QB hurries against Miami in the 1992 Federal Express Orange Bowl. Petko helped lead Nebraska to a share of the Big Eight title.

A three-time letterman and a three-time honorable-mention All-Big Eight choice, Petko finished with 159 career tackles (48 solos) over 30 regular-season games with 29 starts. He had three tackles for loss (11 yards) with one sack (five yards), 10 QB hurries, seven pass breakups and two interceptions. He was also a force in the postseason, totaling 19 tackles (10 solos) over three bowl games, including two tackles for loss for seven yards lost, including a five-yard sack. He also started for the Big Red in three straight bowl games. An outstanding student, Petko was also a two-time first-team Academic All-Big Eight selection and a GTE Academic All-District VII choice in 1991.

Petko was selected in the 11th-round of the 1992 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots (288th overall pick).

1990 (Junior)
Petko earned honorable-mention All-Big Eight accolades while starting all 11 regular-season games and NU’s bowl game at strong-side linebacker. He was NU’s fourth-leading tackler with 62 stops, including 15 unassisted tackles. Petko’s performance included a career-high 15 tackles in the regular-season finale against Oklahoma. Against Colorado, Petko was a disruptive force with eight total stops, including three tackles for loss, a five-yard sack, four pass breakups, four hurries and an interception against No. 1 Colorado. He added 11 tackles against Baylor. Petko helped the Huskers rank seventh nationally (13.4 ppg) in scoring defense and total defense (263.5 ypg).

1989 (Sophomore)
Petko took over as the starter at strong-side linebacker after the season’s first game. He remained the starter until he strained a knee late in NU’s loss at Colorado (Nov. 4). He missed the Kansas and Oklahoma games with the injury but returned to start in the Sunkist Fiesta Bowl against Florida State. He earned honorable-mention All-Big Eight recognition while finishing sixth on the team with 36 total tackles, including 16 unassisted stops.

1988 (Freshman)
Petko started at strong-side linebacker for Coach Shane Thorell’s 5-0 Husker junior varsity team. He tied for third on the squad with 25 tackles, including 11 solos. He added one TFL for five yards lost, recovered a fumble and broke up a pass.

Anaheim Servite High School
A two-year starter at outside linebacker for Coach Leo Hand, Petko was a two-time all-league pick and earned All-Orange County honors as a senior when he was credited with 97 total tackles, two interceptions, three fumble recoveries, two fumbles caused, five sacks and two quarterback hurries. As a junior in 1986, he had 63 total tackles, including 12 sacks. Servite was the same high school as Nebraska starting I-back Derek Brown, who was a sophomore in 1991.

Personal
The son of David and Cathy Petko, Mike has one brother and one sister. He was born in Ogden, Utah. Petko earned his bachelor’s degree from Nebraska as a finance major in 1992.