LINCOLN — Nebraska linebacker Lavonte David already had his share of signature plays as a Husker, but this one maybe told his story better than all the rest.
Iowa tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz, with a 40-pound weight advantage, knocked David to the Memorial Stadium turf on Friday, then resumed a pass pattern that led to quarterback James Vandenberg finding him about 20 yards downfield.
Officials saw the contact and flags were in the air, something David was unaware of.
The senior scrambled to his feet and found Fiedorowicz. Before the Hawkeye was brought to the ground, David had knocked the football free and recovered the fumble.
"Probably out of anger, because he doesn't like getting beat," NU defensive coordinator Carl Pelini said. "That's who he is, though. He never quits on anything."
That tackle goes on a pile of 274 that David has accumulated in just 26 games as a Husker. Despite playing only two seasons as a junior-college transfer, the Miami native will head into NU's bowl game at No. 5 on the school's all-time tackle chart. He'll have a chance to finish as high as No. 3.
You don't get there without a relentless attitude and approach — attributes Nebraska will miss most when David is gone.
"As far as I'm concerned, he's one of the best guys I've ever seen play college football," Pelini said.
Pelini makes that remark with the experience of coaching Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award winner Ndamukong Suh in 2008 and '09. In fact, he sees similarities in Suh and David in how they prepared and went about their business as Huskers.
Pelini said scouts used to ask him if Suh would be a good pro and he would respond, "He already is."
"That's how I feel with Lavonte, like he's matured into that guy," Pelini said. "When he gets on the practice field, it's like a trade to him now. It's no longer a game. It's his trade, and he's perfecting his trade."
After transferring from Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College, David immediately set the school single-season record with 152 tackles as a junior. The 6-foot-1, 225-pounder had just arrived that summer, though, and started out surviving on instincts more than anything.
Instead of resting on what he had done, NU defensive tackle Jared Crick said David not only perfected his own position but put in the extra time to learn what others were doing.
"I think his competitiveness is what drives him to be what he is," Crick said. "Lavonte is never a guy who's going to be satisfied. That's probably what makes him so special.
"He broke the record last year, but that wasn't good enough for him. He could always improve on everything and he knew that."
Pelini continually praises David's work ethic, but said he doesn't think people appreciate what he's saying. The focus and concentration are there all the time, Pelini said, whether he's involved in a practice drill or not.
"He's in. His head's in," Pelini said. "He's talking all the time, asking questions, learning, watching film. He's an amazing prep guy like that."
That helped David take the next step as a senior.
"As he learned the defense," Pelini said, "he just started going faster and faster and recognizing things quicker and quicker."
David realized he had some tools coming to Nebraska. He then felt good about putting them in the hands of Carl Pelini and head coach Bo Pelini. Friday he thanked both his current linebackers coach (Ross Els) and his former one (Mike Ekeler).
"When I signed here, I knew I was coming to a great place," David said. "Great defensive-minded coaches, coaches who were going to put you in the right position to make plays. And fortunately everything turned out great for me."
Think David wasn't charged up for his final home game, which NU won 20-7 over Iowa?
He finished a pregame running chest bump with Josh Williams by knocking the defensive end to the ground. He savored every last step to the postgame locker room, hugging I-back Rex Burkhead and slapping hands and removing his wrist bands to toss to fans.
Next, David could very well play his final game as a Husker in his home state if Nebraska lands in the Capital One (Orlando) or Outback Bowl (Tampa).
"It's been a great ride here," David said. "It ain't over yet, though."
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