Nebraska Adds Defense Tackle Commit
3 comments so far
December 31, 2007 by
Husker fans have fretted over the decommitments that occurred since the coaching staff turned over. While Blaine Gabbert seemed like the major recruiting prize, past quarterback prodigies have been very hit or miss (see Harrison Beck, Josh Freeman, Ron Powlus, etc. etc.). It was also a concern that Gabbert didn’t have a great senior year. Guys like Joe Ganz, Brook Berringer, Keithen McCant, and Jammal Lord on the other hand flew in under the radar only to give standout performances on the field. Likewise would running back Jonas Gray have been any different from guys like DeAngelo Evans, David Horne, or Brian Knuckles who arrived with a lot of fanfare only to fizzle out?
Even big name recruits like Simi Kuli and Shaun Mohler were junior college stopgap players versus longer-term answers. No, the decommit that hurt the most was the long-term answer to a long-term problem, defensive tackle Darius Parish. Bill Callahan made no secret that the hardest players to find are the interior defensive lineman because there are only so many to go around. Would it really be that hard to find a serviceable receiver late in the recruiting game or somewhere on the current roster? But where would Nebraska be if a whole year passed without a legitimate prospect for one of the two inside d-line positions?
Thankfully, it appears the Huskers won’t have to find out. Three-star defensive tackle prospect Quintin Toailoa of Redlands East Valley High School in California revealed that he’d recently committed to Nebraska. While not as heavy as Parish (he’s listed at 285 lbs. vs. 325 for Parish), his 6’5� frame should allow him to add the weight he’d need to play inside. In fact, he’s an inch and a half taller and just as heavy as LSU standout Glenn Dorsey was as a recruit. That’s not to put him in the same class as Dorsey, but it does suggest that he’s the kind of prospect the Huskers need to get out of the quick fix junior college rut of recent years with interior defensive linemen (see Kevin Dixon, Shukree Barfield, Brandon Johnson, Ola Dagunduro, Joseph Townsend, and Barry Cryer). It also bolsters the argument that a top defensive coach like Pelini is going to be able to attract defensive talent.
There are still holes to fill and a lot more recruiting to be done. But the new coaching staff managed to replace an important loss from the class they inherited and that’s more good news as we head into the New Year.
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Darren Dec 31 07
This is good to see. I believe stongly in emphasizing the recruitment of linemen on both sides of the ball. Win the LOS!
In a previous post, I talked about the coaches putting energy of their own in to this recruiting class...and coming back with a different group of kids - not just the ones that the previous staff was in on.
It is great to see them enter this third - rebound - phase so quickly following the attrition they had. It's proof they are working hard and working fast.
Greg Morrow Dec 31 07
The staff has "stopped the bleeding". That's a big deal- and to get two "prototypes" with this tackle and Barney's son, should be a credibility booster to current verbals and prospects with visits lined up. Oh, Kreikemeier too.
Bo has almost all his staff in place (they're getting organized by the minute).
Obviously, he's with the Tigers during the "dead period" and when he gets back, he still has a solid month to court prospects.
He's in a much more advantageous situation than Callahan was, starting out. All they way around, really.
Plus, where Callahan emphasized offensive prospects and JC's for defense those first 2 classes, you know Pelini will take a more balanced approach.
bnahusker Dec 31 07
It is nice to get another commiment.
Would someone with a better grasp of the situation in Lincoln tell me if I'm correct in thinking that JCs should be for emergency, or "Special Player" use only. I'm thinking that if a sacrifice is going to be made, let's take care of it now, while Bo is in his Grace Period. I know that Zach Taylor was a great find, and I don't have a problem using JC tranfers, but that isn't really "The Nebraska Way".
Thanks, and Happy New year to all!
Bob