Brendan Holbein Season 1994

Honors & Awards

• Member of Two Nebraska National Championship Teams (1994, 1995)
• Honorable-Mention All-Big 12 (Coaches, 1996)
• Honorable-Mention Academic All-Big 12 (1996)
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Fall Semester Honor Roll (1996)
• Honorable-Mention All-Big Eight (Coaches, 1995)
• Phillips 66 Big Eight End-of-the-Year Academic Honor Roll (1995)

Career

A Cozad, Neb. native, Brendan Holbein was well known locally and by opponents as one of the toughest perimeter blockers in the Husker receiving corps. His opponents also knew he was a talented split end who could break any tackle and score. Holbein finished his Husker career with 47 receptions for 592 yards and seven touchdowns.

1996 (Senior)

Holbein returned to the Huskers for his senior year at split end and started all 12 games. He led the team in receiving with 23 catches for 335 yards and tied Vershan Jackson with a team-high four touchdowns on the season. Holbein's four touchdown season was a career-best. He also set his career-best catch against Michigan State when he hauled in a 35-yard pass from Scott Frost for a score. In the 1996 Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech, Holbein hauled in a pass for a five-yard catch.

1995 (Junior)

Holbein played in every game alternating with senior Reggie Baul and started nine games when Nebraska opened in the split formation. Holbein was one of six receivers with double-figure catches as he had 14-151 on the season with one touchdown, a season-best 29-yard grab against Missouri, which made the highlight reel as it was first tipped by NU wingback Jon Vedral. The play occurred as time expired in the first half. He averaged 10.8 yards per catch and had a career-best three catches (for 21 yards) in the season opener against Oklahoma State. The 29 yards against Missouri was a season best, but one yard less than his career-best 30 against the Tigers in 1994. In the 1996 Fiesta Bowl against. Florida, Holbein caught one pass for 33 yards and recovered Florida's fumbled punt.

1994 (Sophomore)

Holbein played in all 12 games in 1994 and started five (against UCLA, Pacific, Oklahoma State, Kansas and Iowa State). Holbein caught nine passes for 88 yards in 1994, including two for touchdowns. His first career score came in the fourth quarter of the UCLA game (his first career start) when he scored on a nine-yard catch from Tommie Frazier. In the game against the No. 13 Bruins, Holbein also threw several key blocks including one which allowed wingback Abdul Muhammad to gain 30 yards on a reverse. Holbein caught two passes for 14 yards in the game. His second touchdown was a 30-yard score against Missouri. He also had two catches (for 12 yards) against Kansas. In the 1995 national championship game against Miami in the Orange Bowl, Holbein caught a seven-yard pass in the third quarter from Brook Berringer.

1993 (Freshman)

Holbein played in four regular-season games and caught one pass for 18 yards against Missouri. He also played against North Texas, Colorado State and Iowa State.

1992 (Redshirt)

A walk-on, Holbein redshirted his first year at Nebraska.

Cozad High School

At Cozad, Holbein was a teammate of fellow Huskers Chris Dishman, Matt Hunting and Casey Macken. There he played running back and cornerback for Coach Gene Hunting and helped lead the Haymakers to the Class B state title in 1991. As a junior, Holbein rushed for 1,648 yards and 22 touchdowns. He bettered that in 1991 with 2,740 rushing and 38 touchdowns, averaging 10.6 yards per carry. He was awarded the Bobby Dodd Award from the Touchdown Club of Atlanta for being selected the top running back in Nebraska. A two-time all-state athlete, he was also named the honorary captain on The Omaha World-Herald's All-Nebraska team and was that paper's offensive player-of-the-year. He also intercepted four passes and recovered three fumbles as a senior. He played in the 1992 Nebraska Shrine Game. Holbein earned 12 letters, four each in football, basketball and track. He turned down a scholarship at Iowa State in order to walk on at Nebraska.

Personal

The son of Dr. Oliver and DeeAnn Holbein, Brendan was born on Nov. 28, 1973. He served as a volunteer speaker for Ventures in Partnership and was a volunteer for Catholic Family Services and for the DARE Program.

Holbein's Career Statistics

Receiving
Year	G/S	No.	Yds.	Avg.	LP	TDs
1992	Redshirted
1993	4/0	1	18	18.0	18 vs. MU	0
1994	12/5	9	88	9.8	30 vs. MU	2
1995	11/8	14	151	10.8	29 vs. MU	1
1996	12/12	23	335	14.6	35 vs. MSU	4
Total	39/25	47	592	12.6	35 vs. MSU	7

Tackles: 1 UT, 0 AT, 1 TT in 1995; 1 UT, 0 AT, 1 TT in 1996
Fumbles Recovered: 1 in 1996

Bowl Stats
1995 Orange Bowl vs. Miami: Receiving 1-7
1996 Fiesta Bowl vs. Florida: Receiving 1-33; Fumble Recovery 1
1996 Orange Bowl vs. Virginia Tech: Receiving 1-5