Josh Heskew Season 1997

Honors & Awards

• University of Nebraska Graduate (December, 1998)
• Member of Three Nebraska National Championship Teams (1994, 1995, 1997)
• First-Team All-Big 12 (Coaches, AP, Football News, Austin American Statesman, Kansas City Star, Houston Chronicle, 1998)
• Co-Captain (1998)
• Third-Team All-Big 12 Coaches (1997)
• Two-Time Big 12 Fall Semester Academic Honor Roll (1996, 1997)

Career

Josh Heskew played in 46 games throughout his collegiate career, starting 26 of them. He finished with 282 career pancakes.

1998 (Senior)

Heskew started every game his senior year. His career-best game came against California in the third game of the year when he recorded 23 pancakes. Heskew led the team with 122 pancakes, an average of 10.2 a game. He helped the Huskers rank sixth nationally in rushing, 23rd in scoring offense and 39th in total offense. Heskew started his third bowl game against Arizona in the Holiday Bowl. 

1997 (Junior)

Even though he missed all of spring ball with a broken foot (second metatarsal in his right foot, broken during winter conditioning), Heskew was ready by fall and started every game in 1997. Heskew's best game came with a season-best 17 pancakes against Texas A&M in the Big 12 Championship game. He also had double-figure knock-downs against Central Florida, Kansas State, Baylor, Kansas and Missouri for 116 total (9.6 per game). He helped NU win the statistical national titles in rushing (392.6 ypg), total offense (513.7 ypg) and scoring (47.1 ppg). Heskew started his second bowl game against Tennessee in the Orange Bowl and aided the Huskers to 409 yards rushing and six touchdowns.

1996 (Sophomore)

Heskew played in every game except Arizona State in 1996. He was the backup to All-America center Aaron Taylor. Heskew saw more action than the other reserve linemen, taking additional snaps when Taylor would move to right or left guard. Heskew aided the Huskers to a No. 4 national ranking in rushing (291), No. 4 ranking in scoring offense (42.7) and a No. 25 ranking in total offense (422.42). He had a total of 44 pancakes on the season (4.0 average) with a best of eight against Kansas. He started at center in the 1996 Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech when Taylor started at left guard.

1995 (Freshman)

A redshirt freshman, Heskew played in nine games as Nebraska's No. 3 center behind All-America senior Aaron Graham and junior Matt Vrzal. Heskew helped lead the Huskers to their 12th NCAA rushing title.

1994 (Redshirt)

Heskew redshirted and did not see action while recovering from a knee injury.

1993 (Delayed Enrollment)

Heskew tore his ACL in the Oklahoma Shrine Game and had reconstructive surgery. A scholarship athlete, he delayed his enrollment at Nebraska until the spring semester.

Before Nebraska (Mustang High School)

Heskew was a tight end and nose guard for the Mustangs and Coach Charles Carpenter. He caught 19 passes for two touchdowns in 1992, but got the most attention on defense, where he averaged two quarterback sacks per game and had as many as five in one contest. He tallied 158 tackles (58 solo) at nose guard and became the only player in Mustang history to be selected to all three all-state teams, as named by the Tulsa Tribute, the Daily Oklahoman and the coaches' poll. Not even Dennis Byrd, the former New York Jets defensive tackle who played for the Mustangs, can claim that honor. Heskew was on the Daily Oklahoman's Bluechip List and was all-city as both a nose guard and tight end. He played in the Oklahoma-Texas Oil Bowl game and the Oklahoma All-Star game. The Mustangs went 2-8 in Class 6A (largest), but Lawton Eisenhower Coach Chris Stiles and Norman Coach Cotton Wade, the state championship coaches, both said Heskew was the most dominant defensive player they faced all year. He also lettered in track. Heskew was the sixth scholarship athlete to sign with Nebraska from the state of Oklahoma and one of three offensive linemen (also Lawton's Will Shields in 1989 and 1997 signee Jon Rutherford of Midwest City). The late Victor Stachmus started the flow North in 1988.

Personal

The son of Mark and Vickie Heskew, Josh was born on Sept. 2, 1975. Josh majored in secondary education and earned his bachelor's degree from Nebraska in December of 1998.

Heskew’s Career Statistics

Games Started -- 26
Games Played -- 46
1996 "Pancakes" (Knock-down Blocks) -- 44 (4.0 average)
1997 "Pancakes" -- 116 (9.7 average)
1998 "Pancakes" -- 122 (10.2 average)
"Pancake" Best -- 23 vs. California, 1998