David named first-team All-American

Nebraska senior linebacker Lavonte David has joined elite company in Cornhusker history, being named a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association on Monday.

The 6-1, 225-pound David has led Nebraska in tackles the past two seasons and become one of the top five tacklers in school history despite playing just two seasons as a Husker.

David is the 96th first-team All-American in Nebraska history, and when including 14 two-time selections, David gives Nebraska 110 all-time first-team All-America picks.

David is joined at linebacker by Georgia sophomore Jarvis Jones and Alabama junior Dont'a Hightower. David is one of six Big Ten players named to the AFCA All-America team and gives Nebraska an AFCA first-team selection for the third consecutive year, joining Ndamukong Suh in 2009 and Prince Amukamara in 2010. Overall, Nebraska has had a total of 46 players earn 51 overall first-team AFCA All-America honors.

A finalist for the Butkus Award and the winner of Big Ten Linebacker-of-the-Year honors, David finished the regular season with a team-leading 122 tackles. He had five games with double-figure tackle totals, including four in Big Ten play. David also led Nebraska with two interceptions, two fumbles caused, two fumble recoveries and 11 tackles for loss, while ranking second on the team with 3.5 sacks.

David has led Nebraska in tackles seven times in 2011, and 14 times in 26 career games at Nebraska. His 274 career tackles are fifth in school history, while his 122 tackles this season rank 10th on NU's single-season list. Last season, David registered a school-record 152 tackles and was a second-team All-America pick by the Associated Press.

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