2009 Nebraska Football Signing Day Coverage
16 comments so far
February 4, 2009 by
Welcome to Signing Day, Nebraska fans. Today, prospective Huskers can make their commitment to NU real by signing (and faxing) their Letters of Intent to the athletic office. I'll be tracking the commitments as they roll in today, and updating this post and the site periodically during the day with thoughts and analysis.
Here is a list of players that the Huskers should have inked today, if all goes according to plan.
- Ankrah, Jason - DE
- Ash, Nick - OG
- Burkhead, Rex - RB/WR
- Byrd, DeAndre - CB
- Coffey, Jesse - OT
- Gomes, Dejon - CB (already signed LOI)
- Green, Andrew -CB
- Green, Cody - QB
- Kerr, J.T. - TE
- Kinnie, Brandon - WR
- Martin, Eric - LB
- Martinez, Taylor - QB/S
- Middleton, Lazarri - CB
- Pensick, Cole - DT
- Qvale, Brent - OT
- Randle, Thaddeus - DT
- Robinson, Dontrayevous - RB
- Sirles, Jeremiah - OT
- Washington, Dijon - S
- Williams, Chris - LB
- Zimmerer, C.J. - FB
You never know if there will be any last minute changes, so stay tuned. I'll add in several thoughts about events and the class in the post along the way, today. If you have thoughts, updates or analysis to add, feel free to use the comments section below.
Bo Pelini will address the media at 2:30 p.m. Central time today. Following the press conference, check back in with Big Red Network for excerpts and analysis of what the coach had to say about his 2009 class.
And, of course, you can find all of our previous recruiting thoughts right here. Now, fire up that fax machine!
6:40 AM - First update of the post over morning coffee. Random thought - with the notable exception of the Shawn Bodtmann situation, this is the most drama-free first week of February I can remember in about 5 years. Seriously, I didn't wake up thinking about what kids won't qualify or who will flake out. I'm secretly hoping for a few good surprises for NU, but those seem unlikely too. If anything, credit this coaching staff for having their guys relatively locked up as signing day dawns.
8:15 AM - So, the day is rolling. Right now, it appears that NU has signatures from six players. Dejon Gomes signed his letter of intent during the JC mid-year signing period. So, technically he's the first one in the boat. This morning, I have reports that Brett Qvale, Cole Pensick, Cody Green, Jesse Coffey and Jason Ankrah have signed their letters.
8:35 AM - All you Rex Burkhead fans (and, who's not a fan of this kind of play?) can rest easy. I have a report that he has signed and faxed his letter. Offensive linemen Nick Ash and Jeremiah Sirles are also confirmed signees. So...there is somebody to block for Mr. Burkhead.
8:50 AM - So pretty important names just crossed NU's fax machine. Linebacker Chris Williams, a Parade All-American, is a confirmed recruit. Defensive back Andrew Green has signed. You can breathe a sigh of relief, considering Oklahoma's late interest in Green. Wide receiver Brandon Kinnie - one of only two JC players in this class - and somebody who plays a "need" positon for the Huskers, has signed. And, Thaddeus Randle has signed and faxed his letter. Randle is one of my personal favorites in this class, but that is a topic for another post.
That brings the confirmed head count to 13 (more than half way done) and it's not yet 9:00. Wow, months of build up in getting these young men, and it is over in a matter of minutes. That's life, isn't it?
9:15 AM - Well I should not have said what I did about the lack of drama. The Lincoln Journal Star is reporting that DeAndre Byrd is not going to sign today. He's not going to qualify (academic issues), and will be going to a JC. In more postive news, Dontrayevous Robinson has signed his letter of intent.
So, that is 15 accounted for at this point. It appears that the majority of the unsigned players at this point are the kids in California, which makes perfect sense. Hey...it's early out there.
9:25 AM - Omaha, Nebraska product CJ Zimmerer just signed his LOI during a little ceremony at his high school. The fullback prospect is the 15th signee today. Counting Bryd out, that makes 16 total accounted for. Looks like we are just waiting on the CA kids now. Off to get some more coffee...
9:55 AM - JT Kerr and Eric Martin have reportedly signed their letters of intent and faxed them to NU. Just waiting on a few more now...including the much-discussed Taylor Martinez. I'm not nervous (yet). He's one very talented player that I really hope puts his name in writing for NU.
10:35 AM - Two defensive backs from California have apparently signed with NU (Hooray for Marvin Sanders). Lazzari Middleton (an "all name team" candidate...) and Dijon Washington (Maybe I'll call him Mr. Mustard) have put ink to their letters.
Still waiting on Martinez. And yes, I'm officially nervous about that. Tell him he can play QB, Bo!
11:25 AM - The Lincoln Journal Star is reporting (via a live blog, no less) that NU will be hearing from Martinez soon. Wow, I can only hope so. That would finish off the class in fine shape. Still, I'm not comfortable until it is really in.
Of course, the prospect of landing Jason Pierre-Paul is a stunner. That's still developing. Suffice to say...NU wants that guy in Scarlet and Cream.
I have to step away from the computer for just a bit now. Keep the thoughts coming in the comments section if you like. I'll update and offer more thoughts later today.
1:30 PM - I'm back at the "switchboard" for one last update for this particular post. Martinez has signed. Whew! Maybe I'm a bit of a worry wart. But, the Pelini brothers did go visit him in person last week. And where there is smoke there is often a fire. Anyway, I'm glad to have the multi-skilled Martinez on the roster.
Jason Pierre-Paul, the other big story of the day, looks like he is set to sign with South Florida afterall. Gosh that would have been a big addition for NU. Still getting signatures from 20 of the 21 expected is a good thing. Hey, some walk on gets to use up that available scholarship, right? I nominate Alex Henery. Lord knows he has earned it.
Pelini speaks in about one hour. There should be a lot more to digest then.
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Brandon Feb 04 09
Byrd is an academic casualty according to LJS. Headed the JUCO route.
Joel Schmidt Feb 04 09
Keep up the excellent coverage guys! Next stop, spring game...got my ticket ordered today!
Brandon Feb 04 09
From the rumor mill: Pierre-Paul has yet to sign with USF and may have NU back in the mix according to Big Red Report.
Also hearing Wade may be on board with TT.
darren Feb 04 09
Nice digging, Brandon. Hmm, that is weird to the point of fishy when it comes to Wade.
Jeez, getting Pierre-Paul on a last minute switch would really brighten the day.
Oh, the drama of watching young people make choices! (Sarcasm: on).
Terry Feb 04 09
Scout.com is showing Taylor Martinez has having signed his LOI with Nebraska.
Brandon Feb 04 09
Martinez is in which means everyone is in. Now all eyes turn to Pierre-Paul.
JBLING22 Feb 04 09
Wade signing with Texas tech after a late night deciscion to visit kind of hurt but who knows Please Pierre-Paul...
JBLING22 Feb 04 09
Pierre Paul signed with South Florida/
bnahusker Feb 04 09
11:57........
Are we done?
Who's left?
Bob
GBR!
JBLING22 Feb 04 09
Im interested in seeing whom all the walk-ons are... I know we know of most of them, but it would be nice to see a potential DT that the staff can work with... For some reason DT's seem to be short on the team for the future.......
Jeff Feb 04 09
Great coverage.
Overall, I'm pleased with the class. Going 20 for 21 tells me everyone who signed wants to be a Husker for all the right reasons.
Redeucer Feb 04 09
Wow. Only 1 LB and 1 true WR and Safety. That's a little disappointing. Especially after losing two WRs this year. I hope there is more there that we just haven't seen developed yet.
darren Feb 04 09
Wow, Redeucer, that's a "half empty" way to view it...
The class has 2 true LBs, Williams and Martin. Both can really ball. Probably could have used one more, but they have a lot of young LB talent on the roster right now.
They took a ton of DBs. I guess they try them ALL at corner, see who has the hips for it, and then move those that don't to safety. In terms of "true" safeties, they took 2, if you count Martinez (as I do). Again, lots of these guys on the roster right now, too. All 4 of their 2-deep at safety returns for 2009.
They only took the one WR, which is a concern. But, an academic casualty from the 2008 class (Bell, a good prospect...) just got qualified and is now on campus. So, that softens the blow. He's like "found money" as my friend Steve likes to say.
Redeucer Feb 04 09
"half empty" no. The O-Line and D-Line which will both need the bodies in the next couple years will develop nicely with these additions. The DBs look great. A great looking TE in Kerr. Three RBs seem like a bit overkill though.
Mea culpa on the LB typo. That was supposed to be 2. With the injuries we've had, and the need to have good three good LBs for Bo's defense, it's always a concern to make sure you have good players there that can both plug the run gap and drop back to cover. Maybe with all the CBs, one could move up to play LB. Either that or a lot of Nickel.
The WR situation is the one that really concerns me. Hopefully Bell will work out.
I don't consider Martinez a Safety yet. I see him as competition for Cody to make sure he earns his position and as a Safety second if CG works out (which I hope he does).
So "Half empty"? No. I was just trying to keep it brief and express my concerns.
darren Feb 04 09
Redeucer
Hey, I didn't mean to take you out for a ride, there. We totally agree on the O-line. Solid class. Personally, I think NU could use another DT. They made that late run at one today...
Bodtmann not being in the class created a hole at LB, I agree. But the two NU got are *studs*.
We'll see on Martinez. He's a fantastic athlete... I agree with you about the WR depth. Everyone currently on the roster will need to work out to prevent us from being thin there in the future, especially if we stay with multiple WR packages.
Ryan Feb 06 09
"we want to develop a relationship, and that relationship is going to be built on trust. That’s how our relationship with our players is going to be built once they become part of our program, so we want to make sure we get off on the right foot with them."
Direct Quote from Coach Pelini's press conference, however,hedoesn't seem to live up to his words.
After getting a Solid verbal from Shaun Bodtmann a 4-Star recruit from Pennsylvania, Mr. Pelini rescended his scholarship 2-weeks before signing day.
The kid committed early hoping this program and coaching staff stood by their word, turning away dozens of D1 offers and now has to scramble for something less promising.
I understand the process and the business of recruiting, but what coach Pelini did to this kid is inexcusible.
Bodtmann was ready to run through a wall for this program after returning from his official visit and everything was ripped away from him after one phonecall.
This is the type of story that no one hears about and the one coaches seem to not mention.
Class Act move coach Pelini! You should have stayed at LSU, this football program deserves better than what you have to offer, or atleast that is how it use to be.