Honors & Awards
- Three-Time Academic All-Big Ten (2011, 2012, 2013)
- Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2013, 2014)
- Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Leadership Award (2014)
- Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2014)
- Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2011, 2012, 2013; Spring 2012, 2013)
- Big 12 Commissioner's Fall Academic Honor Roll (2009, 2010)
- Big 12 Commissioner's Spring Academic Honor Roll (2010, 2011)
Brent Qvale was a fixture on the Nebraska offensive line for four seasons, and worked with the top unit at tackle during his final two years in the program. Qvale was one of three tackles in the regular rotation for the majority of the season, before stepping into the starting left tackle role for the final five games after widespread injuries hit the line.
The 6-7, 315-pound Qvale suffered an injury of his own against Penn State, but was able to return to start against Iowa on Senior Day. His play helped Nebraska field one of the Big Ten’s top rushing offenses again in 2013.
Qvale earned his degree in May of 2013, and played the entire season as a graduate student. He was one of 30 Huskers to earn Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2013, picking up academic all-conference honors for the third straight season.
2013 (Senior)
Qvale played in every game in 2013, including starting the final five games at left tackle. He was part of a three-man tackle rotation for the entire season with fellow seniors Andrew Rodriguez and Jeremiah Sirles. Following injuries to several guards, Rodriguez moved inside and Sirles flipped to right tackle, leaving the left tackle spot to Qvale.
The play of the offensive line helped junior I-back Ameer Abdullah rush for 1,590 yards, the most by a Husker since 1997. Nebraska rushed for better than 250 yards in five games, and the line solidified an offense that started three different quarterbacks.
2012 (Junior)
Qvale held down the left tackle spot and helped the Husker offense rank as one of the nation’s top units. The offensive line paved the way for junior I-back Ameer Abdullah to rush for 1,137 yards, while quarterback Taylor Martinez ran for 1,019 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Nebraska averaged better than 250 rushing yards per game, while racking up more than 430 yards in total offense 12 times in 14 games.
2011 (Sophomore)
Qvale played in every game except Penn State when he was sidelined by injury. In addition to action at guard, Qvale was a regular on NU's PAT and field-goal units.
2010 (Redshirt Freshman)
Qvale played in all 14 games as a redshirt freshman as a reserve guard behind Keith Williams and Ricky Henry, and also as a member of Nebraska's PAT and field goal units. Qvale helped Nebraska rank atop the Big 12 and in the top 10 nationally in rushing offense.
2009 (Redshirt)
Nebraska coaches considered the possibility of Qvale bypassing a redshirt, but a shoulder injury forced him to the sideline early in the fall.
Before Nebraska (Williston HS)
Qvale came to Nebraska from Williston High School and was the Huskers' first signee from the North Dakota high school ranks since Darin Duin in 1988. He was the first scholarship football player from North Dakota since Darin Erstad joined the squad as a punter from the NU baseball team in 1994.
Qvale was a multi-sport standout at Williston High. As a senior, he helped Williston and Coach Todd Matthews to a 7-4 record and a trip to the second round of the state playoffs. Qvale dominated on the offensive line and was named the Gatorade North Dakota Player of the Year and was first-team all-state as an offensive tackle. The all-state honors marked the third straight year Qvale picked up first-team all-state recognition as an offensive lineman.
Qvale was a first-team all-state pick in basketball his last two years of high school. As a senior, he averaged more than 21 points and 12 rebounds per game. He also captured the state shot put title his final three years, including a toss of 57-5 as a junior. Qvale only visited Nebraska, but chose the Huskers over offers from numerous schools, including Wisconsin and Iowa. Qvale also carried a perfect 4.0 grade-point average in the classroom.
Personal
Brent was born on March 11, 1991, and is the son of Sanford and Carol Qvale. In addition to being a three-time academic All-Big Ten selection (2011, 2012, 2013), Qvale was a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2013, 2014). He also earned spots on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll each of his final five semesters. He also was named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll each of his first four semesters at NU. A nutrition, exercise and health science major, Qvale earned his bachelor's degree from Nebraska in May of 2013. Qvale has volunteered his time with hospital and school visits. Qvale’s older brother, Brian, finished his basketball career at the University of Montana in 2010-11.
Qvale's Career Statistics
» Games Played - 53 (14 in 2010; 12 in 2011, 14 in 2012; 13 in 2013)
» Games Started - 18 (13 in 2012; 5 in 2013)