By Erin Sorensen
We asked and you answered, Husker Nation. Who is your 2011 Husker MVP? After polling the masses, three MVPs were selected with two honorable mentions:
Lavonte David
Andrew Ritta (@AndrewRitta): Lavonte is MVP. Made EVERY big play on defense after Crick injury, singlehandedly won Ohio State game.
Old Gold Knights (@OldGoldKnights): @BRASKA_4's the most deserving #Huskers MVP. His determination, focus & consistently high level of play were unmatched.
David was the clear winner here. The amount of tweets received mentioning No. 4 was overwhelming. His season's stats justify the response with 123 total tackes, 5.5 sacks and two interceptions. Arguably the Big Ten's best linebacker, David should be an early pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Rex Burkhead
Lanny Holstein (@Lanny_Holstein): Rex Burkhead. Season would have been an epic failure without the workhorse. His intensity kept us in games.
This is an obvious as Burkhead became known this season as “Superman” to Nebraska fans. With 1,357 yards and 15 touchdowns on the season, he clearly sealed himself as the third best running back in the Big Ten. His legs never stopped moving and the 2012 season seems nothing short of promising for the workhorse.
Taylor Martinez
Dean Dougie (@TheRealM****): Taylor Martinez the soph QB had less to work with then previous years. Solid productivity. 20+ combined TD's.
The second year veteran grew up a lot this season. The once famously known “ball hog” became a team player, opting to hand the ball off more often than not. His numbers were down, but the team’s production was up. With 2,089 yards on the season and a combined 22 touchdowns, Martinez made his mark.
Honorable Mentions:
Brett Maher
Doug Belsaas (@belsaas26): Unorthodox - Maher. Biggest ?mark b4 season. Expected drop off. Ability to count on him impacted how NU could call a game.
Forget the Capital One Bowl because that miss was a freak accident. Maher’s leg is near perfect. And don’t call him the next Alex Henery because Maher stands on his own. With 59 punts on the season averaging 44.5 yard/punt and nailing 19 of 23 field goal attempts, Maher proved that Nebraska knows its kickers.
Alfonzo Dennard
I was completely floored that no one mentioned Dennard. His 31 tackles on the season was not bad. A career total of 93 tackles and four interceptions were even better. When in the game, Dennard was a force to be reckoned with. He was sorely missed at the start of the season when he was out with an injury. He will be sorely missed now that he’s gone.
Do you agree with the 2011 MVPs as selected by Husker Nation? Head over to the Official Husker Locker Page and vote now for who you think deserves the title.
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