Philip Bland was a hard-hitting, instinctive Nebraska safety with real edge
Philip Bland’s profile at Nebraska was built on range, aggression, and tackling power: as a true freshman in the 2001 season, he saw action in 10 games and was described by Nebraska coaches as an extremely aggressive, instinctive defender who could also handle pass coverage. In the 2002 season, he emerged as a leader in the secondary and, by his sophomore year, was the team’s leading tackler through the regular season while earning first-team academic honors. Chronic injuries later shortened his career, but his football IQ, physical style, and toughness made him an easy fit for a disciplined defense.
