Gabbert Commits
8 comments so far
May 16, 2007 by
While I dubbed this part of the year the “Bad News Season” in college football, the Huskers got some decidedly good news when four-star quarterback prospect Blaine Gabbert of Ballwin, Missouri became the seventh player to commit to Nebraska’s 2008 recruiting class.
Gabbert is 6’5” and 230 lbs. and is said to run a 4.65 40 yard dash. So if quarterback doesn’t work out, he’s got the size and athleticism to play tight end or defensive end. In an era of limited scholarships, that’s pretty important. When Nebraska ran the option, it was helpful when they had a surplus of talent at quarterback that a player like Bobby Newcombe or Tony Veland had the athleticism to become standout receivers or safeties. Instead, when a player like Jordan Adams hasn’t been competitive at quarterback, they weren’t much help anywhere.
Not to suggest that this guy is not an ideal quarterback prospect. With 14-game seasons becoming the norm for a Big 12 contender, you need a player with the size and elusiveness to last a long season. Only good fortune (and probably extraordinary toughness) kept the slighter Zac Taylor from being broken in half.
With four highly touted offensive lineman already in the class of 2008 (as well as a solid running back prospect), the future for the Nebraska offense looks very bright. Gabbert is easily the best high school prospect to choose Nebraska since Josh Freeman or Harrison Beck. Of course, those names are also reminders of why it will be a dogfight until signing day and that even when he arrives on campus, things may not work out as fans hope.
But those are concerns for another day. Today we can enjoy a vision of the future with an NFL-quality prospect who can play up to four years at Nebraska.
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darren May 16 07
GREAT Day to be a Husker fan. It is nice to see NU beat out Gabbert's home-state school (and conference rival) MU and the rabid fan base and fellow pro coach (Saban) at Alabama.
Yes, the Freeman comparisons are inevitable. That's a story for another day. Today, I'm more excited about what is starting to look like what could be a *special* recruiting class for NU.
AustinHusker May 16 07
Maybe is it is just me being a huge fan and trying to get excited about the future, but I cant help but look at the class being assembled and get excited. If I was a QB, RB, TE, WR in the 2008 class and saw that O-line that is being assembled I would be running to NU not walking. But then again maybe that is me. Lets hope the Def guys start showing up as well.
darren May 16 07
PS - Gabbert is a 4.0 student in the classroom. Nice!
Matt May 16 07
I am a little confused by this article. Gabbert is considered by ESPN and Rivals to be one of the top one or two quarterbacks in the country and you suggest he would make a good TE or DE. I don't think he was recruited to play another position even as a fall back. If he was, I doubt he would have chosen Nebraska.
Steve May 16 07
Matt,
My point was only that this guy is an athlete beyond just having the tools to play quarterback. You can bring in 5 Zac Taylor clones but you probably wouldn't use more than three at quarterback. The last two would be wasted scholarships. If you had 5 Gabberts, the last two could play elsewhere. Just an added plus to go along with his quarterback potential.
It would be true of any school he chose by the way. There's nothing unique about Nebraska in needing to get a return on their scholarships. If Gabbert didn't rise up the depth chart at Missouri, Alabama, or anywhere else, you know those other schools would give him a look at other spots. They'd be crazy not to.
Scott May 17 07
I agree with AustinHusker. If I was a recruit and I saw that class coming in I'd be really serious about becoming part of something special. I'm not saying this class is going to cast away the demons that have been haunting us the last few seasons but it sure gives us Husker fans something to look forward to in the off season. The class may also bust but it's nice to have hope.
Gregory May 19 07
If it looks like a prototype, walks like a prototype, (quacks like a prototype)--must be a prototype!
Absolutely, your 6-5 and young 230 lbs. "stallions" are far and away the most in demand athletes, in almost any team sport.
Off the huff, coming from highschool, he's Grant Wistrom playing quarterback. You could field a nice team, with about 8 or 9 Grant Wistroms (and hopefully, Blaine Gabberts).
Again, Callahan has zeroed in on a guy with the possibility of an added vertical threat. Zach Lee, Patrick, or even Joey and Beau, shouldn't be overly stunned by this. Nothing personal, it's just business. No different than any other postion, on the team. Except, QB's might be slightly more "flighty." With RB's coming in a distant 2nd, in that category.
I thing when Callahan offered Harrison, he would have taken Mark Sanchez instead, if he didn't appear to be solid to SC. He might not have even offered to Freeman the next year, if he already had Sanchez.
Brett Aug 11 07
If i was Blaine Gabbert I would be looking at the upcoming offensive line and consider this option and choice. I've read some reviews about this and he has taking this part into consideration and i'm glad that he has. Now all we need is Robinson to stop with Michigan and Norte Dame tours and we'll probably have one of the best offensive line in the country. So damn good that it might be a 95' Nebraska team all over again. We have some solid running backs and wide recievers coming into play as well. I'm real excited about this recruiting class and this season.