One of the first questions people tend to ask about a new recruiting class, is which players will play next year? We know most players under Pelini redshirt. That's why we shouldn't expect to see the true freshmen offensive linemen. You'd say the same about the defensive linemen except that two are already on campus. That might accelerate both the learning curve but also the strength and conditioning curve enough to give Chase Rome and/or Jay Guy a chance to see the field. A true freshman quarterback like Brion Carnes would be best suited to redshirt, so you'd expect him to as well. As a grayshirt, Bronson Marsh wouldn't play in 2010 either. So what about the rest?
Big Red Network is a Husker football site. But, we make exceptions for special occasions like the Super Bowl. We also like to occasionally demonstrate our creative chops by writing in verse. So, for the fourth straight year, we at BRN offer our Super Bowl prediction haiku. Even though nobody demanded it, we can't help but bring our lyrical 5-7-5 NFL prediction debate skills to our tens of tens of fans.
A few weeks ago, I used the analogy of Linebackers stepping up to fill in gaps to try and figure out where Coach Pelini might try and plug future holes with his recruiting. What I found were that the top three needs in the future (not necessarily this year) were likely at offensive line, linebacker, and defensive back. Beyond that, defensive line, quarterback, and running back would be concerns after those positions. Wide receiver and tight end were probably not as big a concern this year, but if there were guys not to pass on, NU would take them. Overall, Bo did a good job of spreading the scholarships out over offense and defense and over all the positions.
Under Coach Bo Pelini, Nebraska does not do a lot of junior college recruiting. Pelini said as much in his press conference today. The facts back that up. Of NU's 21 scholarship players for 2010, just three come from the junior college ranks. Pelini also said they were very selective of the kinds of players, programs and circumstances from which they recruit junior college players. Examining the three in this class illustrates the elements he wants to see.
Geography is destiny. Where you are often dictates the outcomes in your life, whether you want to admit it or not. You geography affects everything - your economic opportunity, the medical health problems you may encounter in life, even things as small or as simple as your everyday mood. Where you are often dictates what you are and how you live. This social-psychological truism can be applied to college football programs. Geography is a major factor in recruiting players, which is one of the most essential elements in a program's health. There are other factors, sure. But geography is important. It's not about weather. Weather is an overrated factor. I am talking about access to population centers, and high school programs that churn out players. For Nebraska, there are some serious geographical challenges. The Husker staff addresses them by protecting home turf, extending how they think of their "home" region, and going to where players are plentiful.
Nebraska didn't just sign 21 scholarship players yesterday. They added 16 more walk-on athletes. The walk-on class of 2010 includes some very intriguing prospects that bolster NU's total talent level. Based on recent history, some of them are sure to end up within Nebraska's two-deep roster at some point. And, the rejuvenated walk-on program continues to be on of Nebraska's true recruiting advantages.
Welcome to Signing Day, the ultimate guilty pleasure of the college football season. If this wasn't the last breaking news event (or first depending on how you want to look at it) of the season until spring practice starts the whole thing might seem a little misguided but it is so it isn't. Make sense?
Here's how things will work today. I've got a couple of computers, ESPNU, the BRN Twitter account and enough coffee to drown the city of Seattle. As the commits roll in, I'll be updating this post throughout the day. Feel free to jump in with thoughts, concerns, dismay and joy in the comments section below.
Editor's Note: Also check out our running coverage of the 2010 Signing Day.
It was sure there would be something to talk about this week, when rumors came out that Brion Carnes committed to Western Kentucky. Then within 24 hours we learned that he remained undecided. Linebacker Lavonte David, seemingly committed to Nebraska, made a visit to South Florida. Safety Corey Cooper and Defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa are also said to be sitting on the fence between Nebraska and other schools.
This weekend's Senior Bowl included two members of the 2009 Husker team - Phillip Dillard and Larry Asante. In the North's exhibition victory, they were able to make a few plays. More importantly, the practice session allowed both players to showcase their ability for NFL scouts. Participating in the Senior Bowl greatly enhanced both players' chances of playing professionally. For fans of the college game an NU in particular, these two specific players having that opportunity speaks volumes about the coaching job done by Bo Pelini and his staff.
Nebraska fans have spent months fretting over the quarterback position. Zac Lee was too shaky. Cody Green was too inaccurate. And there wasn't a clear successor in the 2010 recruiting class. But the commitment of Jamal Turner should ease some of the longer term concerns about the position. The stat that jumps out is this one. Turner had a streak as a sophomore of 184 passes without an interception. Apply that kind of consistency to a typical college season and that might be 2 or 3 interceptions all year.
Signing day's coming soon! Let's hope there's not any drama this year that hurts us. This is a small class, but there are some big prospects and in-state prospects that are being discussed all over right now. But Coach Bo Pelini is already thinking ahead, visiting juniors and getting a commitment for 2011. Tom Osborne is thinking ahead, getting the conference opener on Thursday night on EPSN. And you know us, we're thinking ahead too. We've already started looking at one of our non-conference opponents, and we've got a few more months to look at the rest of them.
If you've paid attention to Nebraska's nonconference scheduling over the years you've noticed that the slate includes a few near-certain victories with at least one credible if not nationally prominent opponent. Over the next two seasons, Nebraska's biggest name opponent will be the Washington Huskies. In the first of each of the last home and home series between the Huskers and Huskies, the winner went on to capture a national championship. If for no other reason, that will make this a highly anticipated game by NU fans. But when you see that the Huskies haven't been to a bowl game since 2002 and has put together six straight losing seasons, you wonder if this contest will live up to the ones against the likes of Virginia Tech.
15 comments so far
11 days ago
by Darren K. Carlson
Nebraska's recruiting class has three big prospects on the board. Though, to listen to most of the fan base, you would think two were a much higher priority than the third. And, while the idea of Nebraska signing defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa and safety Corey Cooper is very exciting to fans for good reason, I am here to tell you why the third remaining prospect - quarterback Brion Carnes is arguably the most important of the group.
When Nebraska's 4-3 defense faces a running play, our linebackers have to be aware of whose job it is to step up and fill in any gap opened by the opponent's offensive line. Fortunately for players, they usually only have to think about the gaps one play at a time, they're not having to worry about where the gap will be in three or four plays. In recruiting, coaches don't have that same luxury and need to anticipate where the gaps are going to be not just this year, but in the years following. In the next couple of weeks, you'll see plenty about the recruits coming in, so let's take a look at where the gaps appear to be over the next few years.
9 comments so far
13 days ago
by Darren K. Carlson
Millard South Quarterback Bronson Marsh has said he will accept a "grayshirt" scholarship offer from the University of Nebraska. For those of you who don't follow recruiting with a passion, a "grayshirt" is a scholarship offer where the player - Marsh in this case - sits out of football for a semester. Marsh would not count against this current classes scholarship count, at least not immediately. Using "grayshirt' offers is very common at large programs, including Nebraska. But, few players receiving such conditional offers merit as mush press coverage as Marsh has. So, what is all the fuss about? Plenty.
4 comments so far
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