Honors & Awards

• Three-Time First-Team Academic All-Big 12 (2005, 2006, 2007)
• Four-Time Big 12 Commissioner's Fall Academic Honor Roll (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
• Three-Time Big 12 Commissioner's Spring Academic Honor Roll (2005, 2006, 2007)

2007 (Senior)
Lance Brandenburgh was a versatile member of Nebraska’s linebacking corps throughout his career, earning four letters while lining up at all three linebacker spots. The 6-1, 230-pound Brandenburgh played in 41 games during his Husker career, and while he started only six games, he was regarded as a first-teamer during his final three seasons.

Brandenburgh produced impressive numbers in 2007, before his senior season was cut short by a shoulder injury. He played in nine games with four starts, and finished the year with 51 total tackles, including 37 unassisted stops. He posted five games with six or more tackles in 2007, including a career-high 12 tackles against Texas A&M and 10 tackles at Missouri.

In addition to his contributions on the field, Brandenburgh was selected as a first-team academic All-Big 12 pick for the third consecutive year in 2007. He is pursuing a degree in business administration/pre-optometry and carries a grade-point average better than 3.4.

2006 (Junior)
Brandenburgh played in all 14 games, including a start at middle linebacker against Missouri, finishing the season with 41 total tackles, including 19 solo stops, and four tackles for loss. He recorded seven games with four or more tackles, beginning with four tackles and a tackle for loss at USC, followed two games later by five tackles against Kansas. He received his Blackshirt early in the season and went on to lead all non-starters in tackles while spending the majority of the year as NU's top reserve at all three linebacker spots.

He played a key role at Kansas State after Corey McKeon was sidelined with an injury, finishing the game with four tackles, two tackles for loss and a shared sack. A week later against Texas, Brandenburgh recorded a career-high seven tackles, including four solos. Brandenburgh drew his second career start against Missouri with McKeon sidelined, and responded with five tackles in a 34-20 win. He added five tackles a week later in NU’s Big 12 North clinching win at Texas A&M. Brandenburgh also played a key special teams role, serving on the kickoff return and punt units.

2005 (Sophomore)
Brandenburgh missed four of the first five games with a leg injury, but came on in the second half of the year. He played in eight games and finished with 23 tackles, including five tackles for loss, totaling 10 yards. He served as the No. 2 WILL linebacker for much of the season, but responded with Ruud sidelined because of a broken arm against Michigan, making six tackles in a 32-28 Alamo Bowl victory.

Brandenburgh’s five tackles for loss came in a four-game stretch, including two tackles for loss at Missouri. He also had a pass breakup in the end zone against the Tigers. In addition to his six tackles vs. Michigan, he had five tackles each against Missouri and Kansas. Brandenburgh also started on NU’s kickoff return team.

2004 (Freshman)
Brandenburgh played in every game except the season opener, primarily on special teams. He made three tackles, one each against Kansas State, Iowa State and Colorado. He was NU's Special Teams Player of the Week at Kansas State.

Before Nebraska (St. Thomas Aquinas HS)
Brandenburgh was a three-year starter on both sides of the ball at Overland Park's St. Thomas Aquinas High School. He racked up more than 500 career tackles and led the offense as a quarterback. As a senior, Brandenburgh recorded 123 tackles, three sacks and an interception, and helped Coach Kevin Kopecky's team to a 9-2 record and a state quarterfinal appearance in 2003.

Brandenburgh was twice named the Eastern Kansas League Defensive Player of the Year and twice earned first-team all-state honors from the Topeka Capital-Journal. He was also named to the Capital-Journal's All-State Super 11 and earned All-Metro honors from the Kansas City Star his last two years. Brandenburgh broke his own school record with 193 tackles, including seven sacks, as a junior. He rushed for more than 800 yards and 11 touchdowns and threw for nearly 600 yards, leading Aquinas to the state semifinals. Brandenburgh first established Aquinas' season tackle record as a sophomore, when he had 155 tackles to earn all-county honors. Following his senior season, Brandenburgh was awarded the Ronald J. Warren Memorial Linebacker Award by the Greater Kansas City Coaches Association. He also participated in the Kansas-Missouri All-Star game. Brandenburgh played basketball for Aquinas his final three years of high school. He was also a standout in the classroom, producing a 97 percent average and earning recognition as a member of the National Honor Society. He picked Nebraska over Colorado, UCLA and Kansas.

Personal
The son of Chuck and Barb Brandenburgh, Lance was born on Aug. 4, 1985. He is majoring in business administration/pre-optometry, and has been named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll seven times. Brandenburgh has volunteered as part of Nebraska’s hospital visits and as a speaker during "School is Cool" Week.

Brandenburgh's Career Statistics