Huskers Garner Two More Recruits, Kind Of
8 comments so far
December 11, 2006 by
Anyone who has followed college football recruiting for more than a day can tell you it is very fluid. NU's recruiting developments from this weekend illustrate this point perfectly. One prospect shored up his verbal commitment to NU, while another took a step closer to being a Husker.
Safety prospect LaTravis Washington - the player in this class that excites Steve the most - got his academic standing in order. Washington had been in a bit of limbo. He had committed to NU, but their recognition of that commitment was pending his getting eligible. The Huskers didn't want to get burned by being committed to a player who would not arrive. Well, Washington is reporting that he has a high enough ACT score to be eligible. And, the recruiting services (Rivals.com and Scout.com) are both listing him as part of NU's class. So, you can consider him in the fold.
Another defensive back prospect is very nearly a Husker commit as well. David Ross, a four-star rated cornerback prospect out of Compton California is now listed as a "soft" commitment to NU, according to Rivals.com. He says he's about 80% in for the Huskers, with one trip to Oregon pending. Getting Ross would be significant, as he is a big time player and it would fill what looks like the final spot in this year's crop of defensive backs for NU.
The conditions of these players committing to NU are reminders of the stakes in recruiting. It's never advisable to count your chickens before they are hatched. I don't envy the coaches, since their future employment is in no small part yoked to the whims of high school kids. With these two kids, NU's class currently jumps in to the top 10 of classes nationally. Though, that is very likely to change between now and signing day.
And, what if one or both of them either don't qualify or choose NU? Well, losing out on players like Reggie Smith and Ashlee Palmer helped put NU's defensive backfield in its current condition. So, these are the right guys to get and it behooves NU to continue to close the deal.
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Steve Dec 11 06
Some post-script on Ross. He really wants to be a Wolverine but they haven't offered...yet. Nebraska is basically his second choice and the Huskers get him only if Michigan doesn't offer. It sounds like they were talking to him, but may have cooled.
Michigan already has 4 defensive back commitments in their current class plus an athlete with defensive back size/speed. On top of that the Wolverines have 4 wide receivers in the class giving them a total of 9 guys that could conceivably be used as a defensive back. Eight of the nine are taller than David Ross, which might have something to do with him not being offered.
Brandon Dec 11 06
According to this Omaha.com story, Castille is in as well. Of course, in the story they also note that Castille said the same thing to Louisville last week, so believe what you want.
I really try not to follow the recruiting game but, sort of like the Real World, I get sucked in no matter how decrepit and disgusting it may seem. Just look at the quotes from Castille in the above article. I can't imagine what it must be like for grown men to have to go on the road and bow down to 18-year-olds.
I'm glad it's not my job.
Tyler Dec 11 06
Yes, Castille is in for a big surprise when he gets out of his High School diapers and introduced to college. It doesn't sound like he has the attitude necessary to cut it in Jordan's RB by committee system. Maybe a mistake to recruit that kind of kid?
darren Dec 11 06
Tyler,
I think you are assuming a lot of things about Castille that nobody knows yet. I don't know if he whined or not. We just know he talked to Louisville. And...remember...THEY called him.
It is impossible to know much about a player's attitude or willingness to compete. By all accounts, Leon Jackson was a great teammate at the Army All-American Bowl last year, and was very "ra ra" about NU. And look how that turned out. Yikes.
The coaches at Louisville got in Castille's ear about us using him as a "Fullback", and that he should be insulted that we are recruiting two other backs. BC and Jordan cleaned that mess up in an hurry by telling him he's not going to be a Dane Todd type of fullback, but a running back, and that Helu and Mendoza aren't necessarily feature backs.
I can only imagine that our coaches had to mention the idea of *competition* to him in that visit too. Brandon Jackson going from 4th string to All-Conference isn't exactly something you can hide. Competition is a factor at any good program. All these kids want to be the best. I can't begrudge them that.
Right now, all we know is that Castille is "in". We'll wait for signing day and his actual career before we can know any more.
Josh Marshall Dec 11 06
Rumormill has it that Glover has reneged on his verbal and will now go to Oklahoma State.
Josh
dallas Dec 11 06
let glover go to OSU, we dont need him > its not our fault that hes a big baby n wants to go to a SHITTY team...im telln u next years team will be much better n have more talent than OSU has...plus theyre coming to our house next year n well get revenge on em for what they did to us....go BIG RED!!
Scott Dec 12 06
Dallas,
I just saw the news and heard that about Glover. I wish him the best but I know the Huskers won't miss him. Just remember that this was the team that beat NU 41-29. A loss is a loss. There is no asterisk for what some might feel is a "fluke".
Glover isn't the first to do this and won't be the last. Coach Callahan and Co. will find someone to take his place. We can give his offer to someone that truly wants to be a part of something special here.
darren Dec 12 06
Interesting take on Glover and the madness that is recruiting websites/services.
When we lose a player to another school in our conference it's never a good thing. We lose, and a team we play often wins. It's a net 2 negative, in my opinion.
But...our class ranking with Rivals.com actually improved with Glover's departure because our average # of stars-per-player increased, and we got another scholarship back to use. Lose a player, the class rating increases. That should tell you a lot about the folly of following recruiting right there.