Nebraska’s Jordan Burroughs wins the NCAA 157-pound title in 2009 in St. Louis. Larry Slater photo.

Nebraska’s Jordan Burroughs started his senior season by dominating opponents from Ohio State and Pittsburgh by technical fall.

The next day, Nebraska coach Mark Manning received a text message from his star wrestler.

The text from Burroughs read: “What do I need to work on?”

“That’s why Jordan is so good,” Manning said. “He’s never satisfied.”

Top-ranked and undefeated at 165 pounds, Burroughs will shoot for his second national title at next month’s NCAA Championships in Philadelphia. Burroughs is 29-0 this season.

Burroughs is part of a Nebraska wrestling program which features an abundance of alumni who were hugely successful at the international level.

That group includes Olympic champion Rulon Gardner, World champion Bill Scherr, Olympic silver medalist Matt Lindland, and World silver medalists Jim Scherr and Brad Vering.

But none of those Husker greats were able to achieve what Burroughs has a chance to do in less than a month.

Become a two-time NCAA champion.

“It would be awesome to be the first wrestler at Nebraska to win two NCAA titles,” Burroughs said. “I’m really excited to have this opportunity. There have been a lot of great wrestlers who have come through this program, so it would mean a lot to me to put my name in the record books.”

Burroughs won the NCAA title at 157 pounds in 2009 and was ranked No. 1 last season before injuring his knee early in the season. He was granted a medical redshirt by the NCAA and came back this season up a weight class at 165.

He started the season ranked No. 2 behind returning NCAA champion Andrew Howe of Wisconsin. Burroughs moved up to No. 1 after downing Howe 10-7 earlier this season at the Midlands Championships.

Howe suffered an injury shortly after that and has been sidelined for more than a month. Howe may return for the Big Ten Championships on March 5-6.

“I’m preparing to win an NCAA title, and I’m preparing to face everybody in my weight class,” Burroughs said. “Howe’s a great wrestler. I just have to be ready for whoever I face.”

Burroughs followed close friend and high school teammate Vince Jones to Nebraska. Jones was an All-American for the Huskers.

Burroughs came to Nebraska after winning a New Jersey state high school title as a senior. He struggled early in his Husker career.

“Oh man, there were a lot of bumps in the road for Jordan,” Manning said. “When he first came here, he had never lifted weights. He knew nothing about diet and nutrition. In his first wrestle-off, he lost 13-6 to a walk-on. I didn’t project Jordan to be a superstar. He was really raw and needed a lot of work.”

Burroughs began his redshirt season as a 141-pounder. After struggling early, Burroughs started to come on midway through his redshirt season. He moved up to 149, and wrestled so well that he was pulled out of his redshirt and cracked the Husker starting lineup as a true freshman.

“We bumped him up to 149 because he was a terrible weight-cutter, and he just took off after that,” Manning said. “Moving up a weight class made a huge difference for him. He had started lifting weights, and he was getting bigger and stronger.”

Burroughs qualified for the NCAAs as a true freshman at 149 in 2007 before placing third the next season at 149. He then bumped up to 157 and went undefeated in capturing his first NCAA title in 2009 in St. Louis.

“Jordan had good talent when he came in here, but he didn’t understand what kind of intensity and work ethic it took,” Manning said. “Now he is the hardest-working guy on our team. He’s a tremendous listener and he’s constantly trying to get better. He’s meant so much to our program.”

Burroughs features a lethal combination of speed and power. He has long arms and can score takedowns with a double-leg shot from his feet and from his knees. He also has improved at hand fighting and controlling ties.

“Jordan’s hard to prepare for,” Manning said. “Not many people wrestle like him. He wrestles in combinations. If you stop his shot, he may come right back with another shot. He has a unique style and he’s really perfected it.”

Burroughs, a two-time Big 12 champion, also is a guy who is not content just to sit on a lead.

“Jordan keeps attacking and tries to dominate,” Manning said. “You have to be in great shape to wrestle like that. Guys try to slow him down and wrestle defensively, and wrestle on the edge of the mat. They can’t match his pace and he eventually wears them down.”

Burroughs was off the mat for nearly seven months after injuring his knee in December 2009. He tore the Lateral Collateral Ligament on the outside of his left knee.

“It was a really serious injury – it was pretty bad,” Manning said. “There was nothing left on the outside of his knee. It was a long road back after he got hurt.”

Said Burroughs: “It was a little scary at first, but I couldn’t let the injury keep me down. I worked real hard to come back strong. The knee feels great. It may feel stronger than my right knee now.”

Just a week after undergoing surgery, Burroughs hobbled into the Nebraska weight room on crutches with a large brace on his knee. He started lifting weights with his upper body while his knee healed.

“I never saw Jordan have the ‘poor me’ syndrome,” Manning said. “He lived in the weight room after that. He lifted five days a week and it’s made a big difference for him. He’s very strong and very physical.”

The 22-year-old Burroughs is a top freestyle prospect. A past Junior World Team member, Burroughs is expected to contend for a spot on this year’s U.S. Senior World Team at 74 kg/163 lbs.

“That’s my ultimate goal – to win the World Championships and the Olympics,” Burroughs said. “I’ve trained with (World Team members) Trent and Travis Paulson and they showed me what it takes to excel at that level. It would be amazing to wrestle in the Olympics and beat the Russians. That’s what I’m shooting for.”

In addition to studying video of top college wrestlers like Howe, Burroughs has watched top international wrestlers like World champion Denis Tsargush of Russia. Tsargush has won the last two World titles at 74 kilos.

“Oh yeah, I’ve watched him,” Burroughs said of Tsargush. “Those Russians are slick. I think my style suits me for freestyle. I’m good on my feet. I know I can put pressure on guys and wear them down.”

Manning, a past U.S. World Team coach in freestyle, likes the potential Burroughs has internationally.

“Jordan wants to be an Olympic and World champion, and I definitely think his goals are realistic,” Manning said. “He’s definitely not a finished product by any means. He has a long way to go. He has to continue to improve and he understands that.”

Burroughs has made huge gains during his college career. He's among the top contenders to win the Hodge Trophy this season as the nation's best collegiate wrestler.

“I believed in Coach Manning when I came here, and I bought into the program and his philosophy for what it takes to be successful,” Burroughs said. “It’s been a great experience. I love it here.”

Burroughs will be wrestling close to home at the NCAAs in Philadelphia. He grew up in nearby Sicklerville, N.J.

“It’s going to be amazing, wrestling that close to home,” he said. “The only problem I’m having right now is trying to find enough tickets so everyone can go. Having the tournament in Philly, it will be a great way to finish my college career. It would be great to go out with another national title.”