Wistrom inducted to College Hall of Fame

Former Nebraska defensive end Grant Wistrom was introduced as a member of the College Football Hall of Fame on Thursday.

Wistrom, who starred at NU from 1994 to 1997 and helped lead the Cornhuskers to three national championships during his career, is among 18 players and coaches who will be inducted in December.

"I don't even know where to begin to thank the coaches and players who have helped me receive this special award," Wistrom said in a statement. "Obviously, this is not only an honor for me, but is indicative of the guys I played with and the coaches who helped me develop to my full potential."

Wistrom will be the 14th Husker player inducted. NU's last inductee was Mike Rozier in 2006.

Wistrom won the Lombardi Award, which is given to the nation's top lineman, in 1997 following NU's 13-0 season. He earned both Big 12 conference defensive player of the year and first-team All-America honors in 1996 and 1997. During his career, NU went 49-2.

"Our teams posted the best four-year record in the history of college football, and I know there are other deserving candidates from those teams," Wistrom said. "I would like to specifically thank Coach Osborne, Charlie McBride and Tony Samuel for helping me develop as a player on the field and a man off the field."

NU Athletic Director Tom Osborne is one of six NU coaches in the Hall of Fame. He said in a prepared statement that Wistrom deserves to be inducted.

"Grant Wistrom was an ideal representative of University of Nebraska athletics. He was an outstanding student, a great player and had exceptional leadership skills," Osborne said in the statement. "His decision to return to Nebraska for his senior year was critical to our undefeated season in 1997. During his time at Nebraska, Grant certainly represented Nebraska admirably on and off the field."

The Webb City, Mo., native holds an NU career record for tackles for loss with 58.5 and is second in career sacks with 26.5.

Following his time at NU, Wistrom was the No. 6 pick in the 1998 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams and played nine seasons in the NFL, highlighted by a Super Bowl win in 2000. He retired in 2006 following three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.

Among the players joining Wistrom in the 2009 class are Heisman winners Tim Brown of Notre Dame and Gino Torretta of Miami.

Fellow Huskers Trev Alberts and Will Shields were also eligible for induction.

maxolson@dailynebraskan.com