More Recruits to Visit
10 comments so far
January 25, 2008 by
The Huskers appear set to host a dozen or more recruits in the next few days. Scout.com reports that Nebraska will host 12 recruits this weekend. This includes committed players five-star Lincoln offensive lineman Baker Steinkuhler, three-star linebacker Kyler Reed of Kansas, and Ricky Henry who will likely attend Nebraska if he becomes academically eligible.
A few players fit the profile of “recruited walk-ons” including safeties Jordan Mackovicka of Brainard, Mason Wald of Alabama, and unofficial visitor Brian Thorson of Millard North who’s already given a commitment to Buffalo (yes, that Buffalo where Turner Gill is head coach). Though it’s possible any or all of them could be offered scholarships.
The Huskers appear set to address their need at wide receiver with five receiver prospects set to visit including big three-star wideout LaRon Byrd of Louisiana, Antonio Bell of Florida (also a three-star prospect), a pair of brothers from Texas in Courtney and Stephen Osborne (who look like they could be twins but are listed as 2 inches and twenty pounds apart in height and weight), and Kenny Stafford of Columbus, Ohio.
Rounding out the class is three-star cornerback prospect Prentiss Waggner of Louisiana who at 6’2” can match-up with the big wide receivers the Big 12 has and three-star running back prospect Justin Rogers (who attends the same high school as Mason Wald).
Only one more outstanding visit remains beyond this weekend according to Scout.com. Three-star wideout Khiry Cooper of Louisiana is set to visit next weekend. While it seems likely that more visits could be added, this still could become the last major recruiting weekend for Nebraska before national letter of intent signing day.
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Greg Morrow Jan 25 08
What impresses me when I think of Brown decomiting his "verbal" is, he's the second guy Nebraska found in a major program's backyard and the major program get's clued that
the kid must be a "playa". What I get from that is, the staff is doing a nice job of scouting talent. That, or they have a good network of contacts to inform them about looking at a kid's highlights. To a degree, both could be true, but I lean to thinking they see guys whom they can develop.
(What a concept!)
I recall reading Solich and Osborne's classes player bios.
One thing that alway caught my eye was, though they didn't beat out alot of major programs for the kids, the kids themselves were MVP's. Some where mvp's of the particular conference, division or even the state's mvp. Seem's like there were several in every class, including Solich's. My point is, they may not have been "prototypes" to scouting guru's,
but they were really good football players. Even current Texan's kicker Kris Brown, was a good HS quarterback.
I also recall that almost every receiver and db for Nebraska seemed to be a running back in HS.
Steve Jan 26 08
Quick update: The Omaha World-Herald reports that Thorson actually decommitted from Buffalo in the past few weeks.
Mizzou Tiger Jan 26 08
The recent articles about "walkons" at Nebraska really sinks in how desparate the Huskers are. It's sad and everyone who supports it is sick. I think it's sad that the NU coaches including Osborne would pie sky a young man into walking onto Nebraska and pay in the range of $60,000 of his/parents/siblings money just for the chance to play for dear old Nebraska U while turning down a Division II scholarship and a decent college education for "free" elsewhere. OK, 5 to 10 might make it. What about the other 50 or so that don't??
I think everyone of the Coaches ought to look themselves in the mirror and be accountable for their disgraceful actions. "And the coaches tell these players, "No one will ever know you are not on scholarship, you'll get to dress right along side "them" in the great plush locker rooms"....give me a break....Where's Chancellor Pearlman to step in a stop this?????
Show me another Big 12 football program that stoops sooooooooo low!!!! You won't find one.. Hope everyone in Husker land can sleep at night knowing what your doing to these Nebraska kids......shame on you all! What's wrong with a Northwest Missouri State, North Dakoto, even UNO??? If you support this, you're nothing but a bunch of corn cobs....
J Mo Jan 26 08
I think Mizzou Tiger is just mad because Mizzou offers kids from Missouri scholarships and they still don't want to go there. This year is the exception. And even this year they're lucky to get as many of the top ranked Missouri kids as they did as the #1 Missouri recruit was all set to come to NU.
bnahusker Jan 26 08
Dear Mizzou Tiger,
If we have to explain, you wouldn't understand. But I'll try.
I am in my 16th year of exile in Missouri, and I hear more "Nebraska Sucks" than I ever hear about the great Columbia Kitties. Don't get me wrong, I love living in Soutwest Missouri. The people, and the roads for my Harley are fantastic until the Bandwagoners and Husker Haters show up. If only the people of this state showed the support to MU that they shower on the Beloved St. Louis Cardinals, you would understand. The dream of wearing the Scarlet and Cream far excedes the power of a scholarship at one of the schools you mentioned. I'm sure that they are fine institutions, and we both know that NW Missouri State is a power in thier division. But for a few (50 out of thousands?), having a chance to take the field in Lincoln, even for one play in four years, is greater than playing full time, short of "The Dream". Tell Warren Sapp how bad our Walk-on program is for kids. While he was sucking for air, our former walk-ons were barreling into the OB end zone, and sending the Hurricane fans to the gates. For many kids, playing for Nebraska is the goal, not part of the journey. It isn't a process, it's a way of life.
"Not the victory but the action; Not the goal but the game; In the deed the glory."
Go Huskers!
Bob
Steve Jan 26 08
MT,
Another misconception is that these kids get nothing in return for walking-on. While it's probably not $60,000 worth, they do get cash and gear (all perfectly legal). Former walk-on David Kolowski did a pretty good job detailing it in his book. The tangible rewards to a walk-on at a major program are substantial. In fact, the thesis of his book was that the walk-ons were too satisfied with their status (vs. hungry to make the two-deep) and that he attributes some of the decline of the program to the "just happy to be there" crowd.
I could go on about the non-tangible rewards. Even as a walk-on you are a "rock star" both in your home community (in Nebraska) and on campus. A plain looking 300 lbs. kid may have little luck with the ladies, but put him on the NU football team and all of a sudden he's fighting off the chicks.
Walking on is no punch in the gut. It's absolutely an opportunity. And while we're on the subject, how many people turn down ACADEMIC scholarships to tiny schools to go to major universities? Quite a few. Wayne State might be a fine school, but when I'm going job hunting, I'd rather have University of Nebraska on my resume even if it means I pay more money out of pocket.
Steve Jan 26 08
It now appears that Prentiss Waggner may not have made the trip (according to Scout.com). I also may have spelled Mr. Osborne's first name the wrong way. It's Steven Osborne (vs. Stephen).
doombob Jan 26 08
Man, being a walk would be worth it just for the meals at the Hewitt center. Heck, I turned down a full ride (academic) at UNO just to go to Lincoln. It's a decision I will never regret. Too many good things came out of going to that school. The people I know that decided to go smaller schools don't seem to have had the great experiences (educational & personal) that I did. The walk ons that I know say they wouldn't have traded it for a full ride somewhere else. It was a chance to belong to something bigger than you. It's really strange that Mizzou Tiger feels that way. I live in the KC area and the football fans I know understand the desire to walk on. This includes Tigers, Jayhawks, Wildcats, Cyclones, Longhorns.
bnahusker Jan 29 08
Does anyone else find it interesting that fans of traditional powers (OU, Texas, etc) hang around for the discord after they post, but the Tiger and KSU fans "Hit and Run"?
Go Huskers!
Bob
Nebstud2001 Feb 06 08
The Missouri Fan doesn't understand and I'm sure many like him never did or never will.
Being a walk-on is more than facing down that price tag. It's a lot to consider, but if it can be managed it's more than worth it.
I think I read somewhere (and I don't know if this number is a total number or not) that something like 28 former NE walk-on accounted for a total of 43 years of NFL play. That's saying something just by it's self.
A quote from a guy, Bryan Wallace, who we are targeting as a walk-on spells it out in a fairly clear fashion.
"Whoever is in front of me, even though I may be a walk-on, I'm coming for that spot. I'm going to Nebraska to play. As walk-ons, we are the core of the program. Our work ethic is going to determine how the other players work..."
This isn't a simple decision and these kids must think long and hard about this. These are guys we are targeting to come be a part of this program. WE WANT THEM HERE! Why?
Because they come here and work their butts off every single day. They want it all. The playing time, a starting job and even to be on scholarship some day. That is a great motivator and what we need because it pushes the 4 & 5 star kids to work harder. Better, these walk-ons instill a sense of pride and desire into the 4 & 5 star guys who aren't from here.
It's the best of competition and it breeds excellence into every player on this team.
Maybe this Missouri fan knows this. Maybe his reaction is one more of fear than arrogance. It could be both, but if he knows what what the walk-on program helped do for Nebraska back then, it's not a stretch to see fear in that tigers post.
Run and hide little tiger, run and hide. The big bad vicious dog is back and is ready to rip your little kitties to shreds.