» First-Team All-Big 12 (Coaches, Rivals.com)
» Second-Team All-Big 12 (SA Express-News, Dallas Morning News)
» Honorable-Mention All-Big 12 (AP)
» Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (vs. Kansas State)
Senior safety Larry Asante has closed his career in strong fashion in 2009, helping Nebraska
feature one of the nation’s best secondaries and one of the top overall defenses. His play
earned him first-team All-Big 12 honors from the league’s coaches.
Asante continued to show strong all-around skills from his safety spot, patrolling the
middle of the field in a stingy NU pass defense, while also doing an outstanding job in run
support. Asante finished the regular season tied for second on the team with 76 tackles,
including 40 solo stops. His tackle numbers this season pushed his total to 221 career stops,
the third-most in school history among defensive backs. With six tackles in the Holiday Bowl,
Asante would pass Daniel Bullocks for second on that list.
Asante had eight games this season with at least six tackles, including five of the last
six games. He also added a pair of interceptions, including a 74-yard interception return
for a touchdown against Louisiana-Lafayette. Asante also ranked third on the team in pass
breakups with seven.
2009 (Senior)
Florida Atlantic: Seven tackles,
including three solos... added a careerbest
two PBU. Arkansas State: Led the
team with eight tackles, including seven
solo stops... added a forced fumble and
helped the Blackshirts hold ASU to just
274 total yards. Virginia Tech: Provided
six tackles including three solo stops in
his home state... added one pass breakup.
Louisiana-Lafayette: Recorded 74-yard
interception return for TD to put NU ahead
34-0 at halftime... it was NU’s first INT
return for a score by a defensive back since
2002... added two solo tackles. Missouri:
Made six tackles, including five assists...
added two pass breakups while helping
NU hold MU to just 134 yards passing.
Texas Tech: Recorded three tackles, all assists. Iowa State: Had three tackles, including
one solo stop. Baylor: Tied for second on team with six tackles, including three solos... had
first TFL of season with two-yard stop behind line of scrimmage... added a PBU. Oklahoma:
Finished second on the team with eight tackles, including five solo stops... added one pass
breakup. Kansas: Posted five stops, including two solos. Kansas State: Had team-best and
season-high 10 tackles, including four solos... added second interception of the season...
forced fumble at the 1-yard line as KSU was going in for a score, turning the table for the
Huskers.. earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. Colorado: Ranked second on the
team with six tackles, including five solos. Texas: Made six tackles as Nebraska limited Texas
to just 202 yards of total offense and one touchdown.
Career
Asante has started at safety all three of his years in the Nebraska program after playing
linebacker at Coffeyville Community College. Asante had 78 tackles in 2007, including 40
solo stops and earned honorable-mention All-Big 12 honors. He had at least eight tackles
six times, including a season-high 10 stops against Texas A&M.
Asante was a key cog in one of the nation’s most improved defenses in 2008. He finished
the year with 67 tackles, including 45 solo stops and also broke up four passes. Asante’s
play helped Nebraska improve more than 125 yards per game in total defense. He earned
honorable-mention all-conference honors for the second consecutive season.