2009 Signing Class - Initial Reaction
9 comments so far
February 4, 2009 by
The ink is dry on the letters of intent, and the Nebraska roster is heavier by 20 players today. There was a little bit the typical signing-day drama. But, for the most part, things went according to plan.Here are my initial thoughts and reactions to the class, now that it is officially complete.
Great Day For the Kids
Let me first just say what a great day this is for these young men and their families. I don't know if you remember being this age, or if you choose a college. But, seriously, this is the most important choice that most of these kids have made in their lives so far. It's a big day.
Maybe they are local Nebraska kids who grew up dreaming of Red and White, with all kinds of ties to the University. Or maybe some of these kids are the first members of their family to go to college. It's a fantastic day for these young men, whether they are stars, contributors or just on the roster. They are going to college, for free no less.
Class Make Up
The 2009 class is a good balance of both offense and defense. There is a lot of flexibility, too. There are a number of players who could play on either side of the ball. Cole Pensick could play either side of the line. Rex Burkhead could play any number of positions on offense or defense. Taylor Martinez will get a shot at quarterback, or could play safety.
Geographically, it is not as diverse. Nebraska recruited Texas and California heavily, and it shows. Nine members of the class are from the Lone Star state, and six are from California. That's a majority of the 20-member class. In his press conference, Pelini acknowledged that there are a lot of players in those states and that it will continue to be an area of emphasis.
Only two players came from Nebraska. Pelini said that they evaluate every player in the state. And, while they only gave scholarships to two, the state did produce many walk ons. He said that NU is emphasizing the state as a recruiting area.
There were only two junior college players in the 2009 class. This is a shift from the previous staff's philosophy. It also shows that the team didn't have quite as many real or preceived immediate needs.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Just my un-qualified two cents on what the relative strengths and weaknesses of the class:
Strengths - I would have to say the offensive line. Believe it or not, NU really needed to close on 4 or 5 guys. And, they got 4 very quality (and big) scholarship guys, to go along with some preferred walk ons. Of course, there are some high profile offensive players, particularly Burkhead and quarterback Cody Green. Linebacker Josh Williams is a personal favorite among many observers.
Weaknesses - I don't like using this term. But, NU really could have used another defensive tackle and another wide receiver in this class. The Huskers made a late run at Myles Wade to try and shore up the defensive tackle spot. And, 2008 recruit Antonio Bell became eligble this year and is finally on campus. So, he could be considered "found money" at the wide receiver spot, and helps to soften the blow.
What's In a Ranking?
Earlier this week, my BRN colleague Brandon gave us an excellent understanding of how much to weigh recruit star ratings. So, I think you can take the class rankings from those services with the same grain of salt.
The current Husker class ranks somewhere between 20 and 30, depending on who you ask. That's a solid spot. The last few years have shown us locally and nationally that player development matters. How a staff can develop these players from what they are projected and in to their on-field reality will be worth watching.
Still, while developing players better may mean that you don't have to be in top 5 or 10 in the recruiting rankings every year, you also can't slip back all the way to the mid-40s in the rankings. Talent matters. It's up to the coaches to determine how much it matters.
Pelini Mum on Individuals
Coach Pelini addressed the media this afternoon. He was positive. But, true to his habit, he didn't discuss individual players. Nor did he address the Shawn Bodtmann situation directly. He did acknowleged that it is a talented group that has high character. I'll take him at his word on both counts.
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bnahusker Feb 04 09
From what I have found on blogs and other sites, the Shawn Bodtmann issue will soon evaporate.
The Spring game is this Saturday...........right?
Hehehehe
GBR!
Bob
skerz09 Feb 04 09
With the character of this staff, I have to believe there was just cause. They would not just pull it like some other schools would.
Um, ya...this Saturday...go early, Ill see you there...
teamster Feb 04 09
Glad we've got the recruiting for the class of 2009 in the books. Now, we can start recruiting highschool juniors for the Husker class of 2010 about...........oh............tomorrow! We've got a spring game coming up to invite them to!
JBLING22 Feb 04 09
So I saw that Andrew Green has a little brother that can play some running back hes a sophomore why haven't we offered yet?? lol .... Lets just let these kids get dressed in some pads before we start worrying about the next class, let the coaches do that, because right now means literally jack in terms of ratings for next year....
As for this class it looked pretty promising, a bunch of hard nosed kids, that work their tails off, and for the most part do pretty good in school... (We will probably have problems getting one or two eligible after Byrd, but there are some real intelligent guys in their like , KERR I think he had a better SAT score than most of nebraska's academic scholars///) Well see how they all develop, but Im beggin you all to let them have a few years before we start talking about how great or not so great this class is... They are signed now, RANKINGS MEAN JACK, WEIGHTROOMS MEAN EVERYTHING
Gerald Ball Feb 05 09
bnahusker:
No, the Shawn Bodtmann issue will not evaporate. Every recruiter in the country will use it against Nebraska's early commits next season, and probably the year after that. Nebraska made their own bed by pulling 3 weeks before signing day the offer of a kid who verballed in April, leaving him to scramble for Division I - AA schools.
This idea "he didn't send in the tape like we asked" ... look, the kid had a visit in November. They should have told him in November to to come with the tape or don't come at all. They didn't. And if Bodtmann's failure to meet his obligations was such an issue, then why call back a day later with a "you can accept a grayshirt but let's face it, you are never going to get on the field for us so you might as well go someplace else" offer? Or should I say "offer"? PR purposes. Nebraska decided that Bodtmann wasn't that good and moved on. Fine, but do that in November when he can still go on visits and latch on at Temple or Cincinnati.
Look, even a healthy 4 star recruit that had offers from a bunch of SEC, ACC and Big East schools had to settle for a losing Conference USA program after being dropped by South Carolina two weeks earlier than Bodtmann was dropped. So what on earth was an injured borderline 3 star recruit going to find?
So next year, when practically every staff in the country is telling Nebraska's early commits "be loyal to Nebraska and find yourself at Western Carolina!", you will see that the Bodtmann issue has not evaporated. And you will also see the same the next time Nebraska tries to get players from a recruiting region that has a great high school tradition and still produces more than a few good players. I believe that even Bodtmann's very high school had a 4 star prospect that Nebraska also offered who wound up going to Penn State. So, no, rather than evaporate, it will cost Nebraska players that it never should have, all because they cut this kid loose in mid - January instead of early November.
malcolmkass Feb 05 09
Its a solid class for Pelini second year. To be frank, it is really no better or worse that KU or Missou, but I am OK with that for this year. But he will need better players to compete with UT and OU, that is just the fact. And to be honest, other services like Scout has this class closer to 40th than 20 and ESPN has this as the 7th best class in the Big XII, with tech, OSU, MU ahead of it, so lets not sugar coat. But right now, Neb. just needs to start seperating themselves from the other programs in the north, and in the next two to three years Pelini needs to big the north consistently. With the wins, come the recruits who want to be developed by a top notch coach/program, helping us overcome geographic issues.
Bill in Iowa Feb 05 09
Hats off to Pelini and staff putting together this class. We all would like to see more 4 star and 5 star recruits, but until we re-establish a winning tradition again, it just ain't going to happen. So, here is what I see:
3 Players that are 4 star and maybe 5 star players who are not getting their due on most recruiting sites - Burkhead, Martinez, and Williams
Players from winning programs where they play very serious football.
Lots of speed. We have a handful of recruits that are in the 4.4 range.
HUGE offensive lineman who can still move their feet.
Pelini in his speech, reinforced what they were looking for...character and work ethic. Guys who want to come in and compete for a job. That's going to go a long ways.
Walkons. Who can't get excited about taking a chance on a 5'7" speedster and a 6'8" tight end?
Greg Morrow Feb 05 09
I'm satisifed with how the Bodtmann deal ended, for one key reason. Kid himself, said Ekeler called to offer the greyshirt. As Steve pointed out, Jacob Hickman was a greyshirt, who actually was a highly touted HS senior.
It simply gives a guy a chance to phyically heal and mature, before he competes with his teammates for playing time.
Bodtmann "played himself". I don't feel like explaining what that means- it just is what he did, or, didn't do. Youthful mistake, unless he finds a team and develops to his potential.
Btw, you counteract potential negative effects of this, by telling the truth- without disparaging the player. I'm going to assume Bo and Co. will handle this just fine. They'll want to avoid a repeat, natch. This circumstance makes sense, now. If it didn't, I'd be a criticizing away!
Other than that, I like the class! It's got what good Nebraska classes have. Top athletes at qb and IB, developmentals along the offense and athletic defenders with room to grow. It adds quality numbers to a roster that already has competitive depth, into the future.
But again, Nebraska will have to do just a touch better, next year. Just a touch, a discernable improvement. Like a big time "Ralph Brown" type cornerback, or a "LeKevin Smith" type prospect in the interior. You plug one or both in this class and it's a top 20 class, easily.
This is a smallish class, too. Allowing for the most deserving walkons, obviously. Which, is a big morale booster, in the locker room. Can't underestimate that, as a motivator.
M.J. Kennedy Feb 08 09
There was a very good class of players in Illinois this year - some outstanding. Why do we let the Big 10 and the SEC have them all??
mjk