Position: Cornerback Class: Senior (Three letters) Height: 5-10 Hometown: Garfield Hts., Ohio Weight: 190 High School: St. Edward Career Honors: 2002 Jim Thorpe Award Watch List 2002 Preseason First-Team All-Big 12 (Lindy?s) 2002 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week vs. Utah State (Sept. 7) 2002 Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week vs. Troy State (Aug. 31) 2002 Co-Captain 2001 Third-Team All-Big 12 (Coaches) 2001 Honorable-Mention All-Big 12 (AP) School Record Holder for Most Pass Breakups in a Season (17 in 2000) Noting Groce: With a pair of punt return touchdowns against Troy State, DeJuan Groce tied an NCAA record, while setting Nebraska and Big 12 records for punt return touchdowns in a single game. Groce also had two interceptions in the win over the Trojans and leads the team with four picks this season.

Playing cornerback is like being stranded on an island all alone. The position requires a player to rely on his own wits, physical ability and instincts in order to survive the constant attack of the opposing wide receiver and quarterback.

It is a stressful position that can test the confidence of a young player.

For Nebraska senior DeJuan Groce, the stress of playing right cornerback for the Huskers rarely shows. In fact, referring to Groce as "stressed out" would be like calling Santa Claus a solemn, young, skinny man.

"DeJuan is probably as relaxed a player as I have ever coached in 40-some years," Nebraska Defensive Backs Coach George Darlington said. "We kid him all the time and say that he will never die of a heart attack."

Groce, a 21-year-old native of Cleveland, Ohio, said he embraces his "laid-back" label.

"I?m a real laid-back dude," Groce said. "I guess that?s my character. It?s my way of dealing with things. Sure I get bothered by things emotionally, but I just keep it in and deal with those things in my own way."

Nebraska Head Coach Frank Solich said Groce is one of the most popular players on the team.

"He?s a guy that doesn?t let you take things too seriously, which means he is a pretty fun guy to be around," Solich said.

Although Groce possesses a laid-back personality, Darlington is quick to point out that relaxed does not mean passive.

"He is a very competitive player," Darlington said. "He has contributed tremendously for our team in many different ways, not only in visible ways on punt returns and defensive back, but also covering punts and with his ability as a leader."

As a cornerback, Groce is among the best one-on-one cover men in school history, joining the ranks of Tyrone Williams, Ralph Brown and Keyuo Craver.

Groce owns eight career interceptions and needs just one more to rank among the top 10 players in school history in interceptions.

He also ranks fourth all time at Nebraska with 36 career pass breakups, including two of the top-three single-season totals in school history. His 17 pass breakups as a sophomore in 2000 broke the previous top mark of 15 set by his predecessor Ralph Brown in 1999. Groce broke up 14 more passes a year ago to help the Huskers to the national title game.

This season, Groce has already snagged four interceptions, including a pair of interceptions in back-to-back wins over Troy State and Utah State.

Groce?s performances against the Trojans and Aggies allowed him to become just the second player in Nebraska history to record two interceptions in consecutive games. He joined Bill Kosch, who picked off a pair of passes against Iowa State on Nov. 7, 1970, and two more against Kansas State on Nov. 14, 1970.

Groce credits his ascension to Nebraska?s top cornerback spot to his own dedication and the players that came before him.

"I?ve worked my way up since I first got here. It?s a big improvement," Groce said. "If I get a chance, and they throw the ball to my side, then I?ve got to make a play, because they might not throw it my way again the whole game. That?s the way I learned it from Ralph and Keyuo, and that?s the way they learned from the guys before them."

Groce is now trying to pass on his knowledge and experiences as a cornerback to the younger players behind him.

"You can just see Fabian (Washington) getting better every day," Groce said. "He has a lot more confidence now. You could see that against Iowa State with those two interceptions. He?s not afraid to play the ball. He?s willing to take the risk to make a play. He is a raw athlete, but he is getting better every day."

Groce said that one of the most important things he can instill in the younger defensive backs is a relentless pursuit of improvement.

"The big thing is just to get the other guy encouraged," Groce said. "You need to tell them that they need to keep their confidence. If they give up a big play, they just need to get back up and make a play the next time. That?s probably the biggest thing that I learned from Ralph and Keyuo, and that?s what I need to pass on to the younger guys now. If they keep working, they are going to be great players."

Groce?s leadership experience with the younger cornerbacks has also developed into a leadership role with the rest of the team. Along with being a member of the Unity Council for two years, Groce was named one of three team captains for the 2002 season, joining John Garrison and Chris Kelsay.

Solich said Groce?s position as a captain was a reflection of his production and attitude as a player.

"I think as a captain you have to lead by example," Solich said. "Off the field and on the field, you have to get it done every day when you?re a captain, and I think the other players appreciate his work ethic, his talent and his attitude."

The vote of confidence from his teammates was special to Groce.

"It was a great honor because that is coming from your teammates and nobody else," Groce said. "I?m a quiet leader who tries to lead by example. I never thought I would be a captain when I got here. I was just worried about getting on the field."

Along with his ability as a defensive back and a team leader, Groce has displayed his versatility as a special teams standout during his Husker career.

Groce has served as a bullet on punt coverage teams, while also showing a knack for blocking field goals with one against Rice last season.

But Groce may be best known by Husker fans across the nation for his spectacular punt return abilities.

Heading into the Missouri game, Groce ranks fifth in Nebraska history with 771 career punt return yards. He will likely finish second in school history on that list, trailing only 1972 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers? 1,515 yards.

Amazingly, Groce returned only two punts as a freshman and none as a sophomore, before sharing the punt return job with Craver through the first four games of his junior season in 2001.

In game five at Missouri, Groce enjoyed a breakout game, returning seven punts for 145 yards to help the Huskers to a 38-3 victory over the Tigers and earn Big 12 Special Teams Player-of-the-Week honors.

Before that game, Groce had returned just 13 punts for 129 yards in his career.

"I was just out there trying to make something happen," Groce said. "It was a nice day for a football game. It was sunny and their crowd seemed to be pretty excited about the game. We just had fun that game."

Since the game at Missouri, Groce has continued to have fun returning punts for the Huskers.

In last year?s 31-21 win over Kansas State, Groce raced for his first punt return touchdown with a 60-yard burst in the third quarter.

He added a 72-yard return for a score in the national championship game at the Rose Bowl last season. Groce?s Rose Bowl return ranked as the second-longest punt return touchdown in NU bowl history, trailing only Rodgers? 77-yard return against Alabama in the 1972 Orange Bowl.

This season, Groce has taken his dangerous return abilities to a new realm, tying an NCAA record while setting school and Big 12 marks with a pair of punt return touchdowns in NU?s win over Troy State.

Groce?s first punt return try against the Trojans resulted in a career-long 83-yard bolt that ranked as the fifth-longest return in school history. With his only other touch as a returner in the game, he raced 72 yards for another score and a spot in the NCAA record book.

Groce?s four career punt return touchdowns trail only Rodgers? NCAA-record eight punt return scores in the NU record books.

All that Groce has accomplished on the field, pales in comparison with what he has learned off the field with his work as a volunteer in the community. One of the primary programs Groce has associated himself with has been Team Spirit, where he visits young people who have been hospitalized by illness, disease or injury.

"I love helping out kids," Groce said. "It puts things in perspective for me. No matter what troubles or challenges I am facing in my life, they are nothing compared to kids and families faced with life-threatening illnesses."

Along with learning about life on the field and in the community, Groce has done plenty of learning in the classroom. He is on track to graduate with a degree in communication studies in December.

All of Groce?s experiences have made his time at Nebraska unforgettable.

"Even to this point, I still can?t believe I am playing here. It?s just a dream come true for me," Groce said. "Every time I walk into the stadium, I just look around and I can?t believe I get to play here on this field.

"It has been a great opportunity to get to know so many people and maybe help a lot of people. I?m going to graduate in December and my mom and dad are happy about that."

Groce hopes to continue his development and growth as a player and a person as a professional football player next season.

Although he is a Cleveland native, Groce said he just wants a chance to play for any NFL team, regardless of the city.

"I don?t care what team I play for, or whatever round I would get drafted," Groce said. "If I step on the field with some NFL team?s helmet on my head, I would probably pass out. I just can?t believe how lucky I have been to get to play football at Nebraska, let alone in the NFL.

"When I was an 11-year-old kid playing Little League football, I set some goals for myself to play high school football and college football and then one day hope to get to the NFL. It?s amazing to see those things really happening to me. I know I?m doing it, and everybody says I?m doing well, but I still can?t believe it."