• Signed NFL Free Agent Contract with Carolina Panthers
• 2001 Big 12 Commissioner’s Fall Academic Honor Roll
• 2001 Fourth-Team Freshman All-American (The Sporting News)

2004 (Senior)
Lornell McPherson provided quality depth at cornerback for the Nebraska defense for three seasons before earning his first sole starting spot prior to his senior season. He was listed as the No. 1 right cornerback throughout the 2004 campaign and started all nine games that he was available to play after previously serving as the Huskers’ nickel back.

McPherson ranked ninth on the NU defense in tackles as a senior with a career-high total of 40. He also added a pair sacks. His six pass breakups tied a personal best he set as a redshirt freshman in 2001, and ranked fifth on the team. One of Nebraska’s best weapons on the blitz from the defensive backfield, McPherson recorded a pair of sacks in the season-opening win against Western Illinois, while he added two quarterback hurries during the season. His sack total was tops among all NU defensive backs.

McPherson was named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll in the fall of 2001. He graduated with a sociology degree in May of 2005.

2003 (Junior)
McPherson played in all 13 games in 2003 and earned starts against Iowa State and Michigan State when the Huskers opened in a nickel set. He finished the year with 34 tackles, including 26 solo stops, and tied a career best with eight stops in the 17-3 Alamo Bowl win over Michigan State. He had four tackles each against Texas A&M and Southern Miss and had an 11-yard sack on a corner blitz against the Golden Eagles.

His first interception was in the season opener against Oklahoma State, one of five Nebraska takeaways in the 17-7 win over the Cowboys. McPherson had his second pick of the year against Texas A&M, one of eight NU takeaways against the Aggies. He added interceptions against Texas and Kansas State, both ending scoring threats near the end of the first half. McPherson also broke up three passes.

2002 (Sophomore)
McPherson played in 13 games and earned four starts when Nebraska opened the game in specialty defensive packages. He finished his sophomore campaign with 17 total tackles, including seven solo stops and two tackles for loss.

McPherson had a season-high four tackles in three different games–Arizona State, McNeese State and the Independence Bowl against Ole Miss. He had three solo stops each against McNeese State and Mississippi, and added three tackles, including a tackle for loss against Troy State. He also played on several of Nebraska’s special teams units.

2001 (Redshirt Freshman)
McPherson was a key contributor and earned fourth-team freshman All-America honors from The Sporting News. He played in all 13 games and started three times (Troy State, Oklahoma, Kansas) when NU opened in a nickel package.

McPherson recorded 29 tackles, including 20 solo stops, and had three tackles for loss, including an eight-yard sack against Troy State. His six pass breakups ranked fourth on the team, and he had interceptions against Baylor and Kansas. McPherson set a career high with eight tackles against Texas Tech, including seven solo stops. He also made five tackles against Troy State. He had two pass breakups in a game twice–against Oklahoma and Kansas. McPherson was a member of the punt return and kickoff coverage teams and recovered a blocked punt against Iowa State.

2000 (Redshirt)
A scholarship athlete, McPherson redshirted in 2000.

Before Nebraska (Omaha Central HS)
One of six Nebraskans in the 2000 recruiting class, McPherson played at Omaha Central, a regular supplier of Huskers. Current Huskers David Horne, Mark LeFlore, Chris LeFlore and Brandon Teamer all hail from Central as well as former I-back and current Green Bay Packer all-pro Ahman Green.

McPherson played both running back and defensive back for Coach Joe McMenamin, earning first-team all-state honors from the Lincoln Journal Star (defensive back) and the Omaha World-Herald (running back) as a senior. In 1999, McPherson moved from quarterback to running back, and finished the year with 1,043 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 13 yards per carry. He added 228 yards receiving en route to All-America honors from PrepStar and honorable-mention All-America honors from USA Today. A three-year letterwinner in track, he is a member of the state’s all-time best 400-meter relay team, setting the state record of 41.79 seconds in 1999. McPherson selected Nebraska over Michigan, Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State and Colorado State.

Personal
The son of John McPherson and Lula McPherson, Lornell was born June 24, 1981. McPherson earned his bachelor's degree in sociology in May of 2005. He was named to the 2001 Big 12 Commissioner’s Fall Academic Honor Roll.

McPherson's Career Statistics

Interceptions: 6-5-0 total; 2-(-6) in 2001; 4-11-0 in 2003

2002 Rose Bowl vs. Miami: Tackles, none
2002 Independence Bowl vs. Ole Miss: Tackles, 3 UT, 1 AT, 4 TT, TFL, 1-1
2003 Alamo Bowl vs. Michigan State: Tackles, 6 UT, 2 AT, 8 TT, TFL, 1-2, 1 PBU

Career Highs
Tackles- 8 vs. Texas Tech, 2001; vs. Michigan State, 2003 Alamo Bowl; vs. Texas Tech 2004
Solo Tackles- 7 vs. Texas Tech, 2001
Tackles for Loss- 2, vs. Western Illinois, 2004
Sacks- 2 vs. Western Illinois, 2004
Quarterback Hurries- 1, Six times
Passes Broken Up- 2, Four times 
Long Interception Return- 11 yards vs. Kansas State, 2003