Big 12 Recruiting Roundtable: Corn Nation's Edition
by BoVandy on Feb 9, 2009 11:09 AM CST
in Nebraska Husker Recruiting
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PrintThe guys over at the "Ralphie Report" came up with the very good idea of putting together a conference round table, with SB Nation's various Big 12 sites putting together reviews of their team's recruiting efforts.
My review of Nebraska's signing day follow after the jump
Ralphie Report: With some commentary, grade your coaches' performance this recruiting cycle.
The Husker coaches brought in some talent, but really closed the recruiting cycle with a bit of a thud. We had exactly one commit over the last two months. Apparently there were also a few recruits who really liked us, but we got in on them much too late. Myles Wade, the defensive tackle who committed to Texas Tech seemed to show some interest in us, but in the end, didn't want to delay his signing. Why we waited until late January to really pursue him is beyond me. As far as a letter grade, can't give them much higher than a C+
RR: What were some of the major needs this year and did your coaches' adequately address them?
Linebacker and defensive line were two huge needs, and we hauled in two linebackers, and three defensive lineman. Not terrible, but a head coach who made his bones as a DC should be attracting some of the better defensive players in the country.
RR: Who are the three prospects that we all should know about? Are their any players that you feel have a chance to play from Day 1 and contribute?
Quarterback Cody Green has a chance to be very special, and with his ability to run AND pass, teamed with an open roster spot at quarterback for us next year, could POSSIBLY be a starter his freshman season. He's also already enrolled, so he'll get the benefit of a full spring practice in the system.
Rex Burkhead is an all-purpose back who could see some action next season, much like Michigan's McGuffie saw this year. Won't get 20 carries a game, but 5-10 carries, along with passes out in the flat, and some return duty might be a possibility. Jason Ankrah is a DE that could see snaps as a freshman as well.
RR: We all had a couple players that got away that we really wanted. Who were those players and what attributes made those players hard to lose?
There were two defensive lineman I wanted, and seemed like we could have had them, had the coaches worked just a bit harder. Jason Pierre-Paul was a d-end who ended up committing to South Florida (despite being from Kansas) who would have had a chance to start for us next season.
Myles Wade was the other. A four star defensive tackle who actually said the night before signing day that he was going to delay his signing and visit Nebraska. He ended up signing with Tech afterall. That stung
RR: Who is the guy that no one is really talking about or not as much but you feel will be a sleeper when his career is said and done? What are the reasons?
Taylor Martinez is a three star athlete we signed out of California who played quarterback in highschool but who the coaches think projects as a division 1 defensive back. He might turn out to surprise some coaches and actually play some quarterback. He could also turn into a pretty good college safety.
RR: I know it's early, but what are the biggest needs to be filled with the 2010 recruiting class?
Wide receiver. We have quite a stable of good, but not great receivers. Since Nebraska has transitioned over to a passing offense we have not had a game breaker who other defenses feared. That should be the #1 goal of the 2010 recruiting class, and with the numbers our quarterbacks are putting up without that gamebreaker, it really shouldn't be as difficult as it has been to lure one here.
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Pretty fair.....
assessment of the Husker recruiting class. I agree with the fact and a little surprised that Bo hasn’t been able to lure some more “top quality” defensive prospects, why I don’t know. Especially when our defense has some holes to fill next year. But I also believe in waiting to grade a recruiting class till it starts to contribute on the field, maybe he did fill the holes we’ll have to wait and see. They just didn’t seem to land that one prospect that everybody says is a “lock” to be a big time performer. Cody Green would be the closest to that in this class. And having him for the spring is going to be a huge benefit for him and the team.
Question: Who was the one recruit that we went after hard that went somewhere else?
Oku
Was a runningback we went after pretty hard, who ended up committing to Tennessee (although now hasn’t signed yet)
I agree that you can’t accurately lay out exactly how good a recruiting class is until they step on the field, this is a grade based on all the information we have at this point.
I think that the staff
learned some lessons about recruiting this year.
I really think next year you’ll see a staff targeting kids sooner, and working as a while better.
You can't possibly be a scientist if you mind people thinking that you're a fool.
~Wanko the Sane
I guess it depends on whether they feel they need to improve
Coach Ekler apparently made a comment like “Rivals doesn’t know $#&^”
If they feel they know better than the recruiting services, and are 100% happy with the class, we may never see a top 10 class with this group.
So you think
that your C+ graded class, which BTW ESPN agrees with you on, will be good enough to get Nebraska to where they want to go?
I really don’t want to fall into the recruiting services suck argument, please no, but I really think that the staff will handle recruiting differently next year. Bo is a first year coach so you should expect some evolution.
I really hope that this staff has an eye for talent, and that they can develop players. I guess we’ll see in the coming seasons.
Coach Ekler apparently made a comment like "Rivals doesn’t know $#&^"
Was this Ekler, or Husker Mike?
You can't possibly be a scientist if you mind people thinking that you're a fool.
~Wanko the Sane
I don't know
I really don’t know if this kind of class will get them where they want to go. Nebraska won a couple of titles with RECRUITING classes that weren’t that hyped. Diamonds in the rough permeated those teams. If the recruiting services truly don’t know anything, and this class is better than advertised, then who knows?
People point to the 2005 class as having been monstrously overhyped. #5 ranking, almost entirely a bust. But was that because the class was overhyped, or because Callahan’s coaches didn’t have a clue as to how to develop talent?
Did someone mention my name?
:-)
As for the 2005 class, the answer is “both”…and then some. Some guys were huge busts (see Harrison Beck). Some guys weren’t quite as good as hyped (Marlon Lucky). And some guys never got developed properly (Cody Glenn).
But also keep in mind that NU’s #5 rating that year was a complete farce based more on the numbers of players Billy C signed than the quality of those players. We signed 30 players, and the Rivals ratings are a cumulative thing. Schools that finished below NU simply had fewer numbers of better players: #12 Ohio State, #15 Florida, #20 Texas, #22 LSU. Go check out the average star rankings on those squads.
BWAHAHAHAAHAHA
Was this Ekler, or Husker Mike?
What a great comment…. nearly spit up on that one!
Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!
by Jon Johnston on Feb 9, 2009 11:38 PM CST up reply actions
What about the walk-ons?
When we were winning titles good ole Nebraska farmboys were filling some pretty big holes complimenting our good recruits. Terry Conneally and several other linemen came from small town schools. I guess I am asking the question: Is this staff just paying lip service to the walk-on program or are they out there evaluating the small town talent looking for the “Diamonds in the Rough” as Vandy calls them. I think those diamond type players, who are usually over achievers, really can make up the heart of a team.
I don't think
they’re playing lip service to the walk-on program at all, but they’re using it to expand the number of players they bring in.
Other college programs aren’t going to come into Nebraska looking for players unless they’re someone who’s made a name for themselves through the ratings systems. And that’s much more difficult for a guy who’s playing eight man football, or out in western Nebraska where the miles are long and the towns are far apart.
So, given that statement I think you can understand that the coaches don’t have to offer scholarships to some of the Nebraska kids. They just have to allow them the opportunity to make the team. Those players are going to come to Lincoln because it’s where they want to be, and see if they can earn a spot on the team.
Whether or not the walk-on program will reap rewards…. well it already has, hasn’t it? We started a number of walk-ons this season and while the point could be made that the defense wasn’t great, we still had a pretty fair season with a defense put together with baling wire and duct tape. That should be reason for optimism about the future, eh?
Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!
by Jon Johnston on Feb 9, 2009 11:44 PM CST up reply actions
Walk-ons:
I posted this on the ‘Double Nickel’ blog, just aorta playing devil’s advocate. Would like to here more thoughts on this subject:
"…I’m always a little confused about the walk on program: those connected with the program all say it is central to NE FB, the ‘heart and soul’, etc, to the team and an inspiration/connection to rural NE.
Yet, at the same time Jason says that most CFB players won’t achieve any great success in CFB, rather, they may work their butts off and at best see the field some their senior seasons.
Isn’t that what’s in store for most of the walk ons, to carry the torch of Big Red fever within the team, work their butts off for 4-5 years, rarely see the field, and function primarily as a ‘punching bag’ in practice for all the touted players from other parts of the country that get all the playing time?
I know it sounds bad to say all that, but isn’t their some truth to what I’m saying?"
"...dOn'T tAZ3 m3, brO'..."
by BO-urne Supremacy on Feb 10, 2009 2:25 AM CST up reply actions
yes
there is a lot of truth to that. there’s nothing wrong with it either.
if you take the bottom level of whatever organization you’re a part of, and make it perform better, it pushes the rest of the organization to perform better as well.
And if you’re thinking – “they’re not getting anything out of it” – you’re wrong. They get to be a part of Husker football. That’d be pretty cool.
Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!
by Jon Johnston on Feb 10, 2009 7:35 AM CST up reply actions
Yea,
if that’s the way they wanna spend their time, got no problem with it. Just hope they aren’t mislead and are ‘real’ about things, in their own minds.
I guess the whole ‘mythos’ of how the walk-on program effects the morale of the rural areas of the state is a bit, how can I say, ‘unique’(to NE).
"...dOn'T tAZ3 m3, brO'..."
by BO-urne Supremacy on Feb 10, 2009 1:00 PM CST up reply actions
I hope
that they come in thinking that at some point they may get to play. If not how hard are they going to try? Who is going to step onto the field if they think “real” and think they dont have a chance to play.
Everybody's given the opportunity to compete,
but a relatively small % are going to see action. So, I think alotta them just enjoy being part of the team, can tell their grandkids…
"...dOn'T tAZ3 m3, brO'..."
by BO-urne Supremacy on Feb 11, 2009 11:47 AM CST up reply actions
C+?
C’mon, that’s ridiculous, this is a very good class, B+ at least. We’re getting 50 rs frosh coming in, so it’s like getting 3 for the price of 1. We are getting deep at all positions except maybe DT. We have like 12 returning DE’s from last year’s roster. After ‘09 we will be well into ’reload’—not rebuild—mode.
No, I like what I’m seeing with this class, wish we coulda got Wade and JPP, but whatever. Personally I give them an A-. Team players all around it appears.
C+?!…lol…wtevr…
"...dOn'T tAZ3 m3, brO'..."
by BO-urne Supremacy on Feb 10, 2009 2:10 AM CST reply actions
Honest question
what would it take for you to be disappointed in the class? You say these are team players all around. What exactly are you basing that on? Have you seen them play? The bottom line is quite a few of these players are plan B pickups. Not my plan B, but the coaches’
This class might turn out to be great, I’m not trying to crack on the class or the staff, but people act like every single player we signed was our #1 target at every position. Some of them were (Cody Green, Jason Ankrah) but a lot of them weren’t
A bunch of "2 *" guys in there,
wouldn’t make me feel too good about things. I’m just going on the assumption that BO has the whole ‘team’ mentality going in the program and integral in his recruiting evals—not pure speculation, based on last year’s team performance on the field.
But C+, how can you go there? Have YOU seen them play? I just figure BO is not an idiot I guess. But from all the stuff I’ve read articles and blog commentary about, I get a good sense that this is a strong class.
"...dOn'T tAZ3 m3, brO'..."
by BO-urne Supremacy on Feb 10, 2009 1:07 PM CST up reply actions
J. Crabtree's brief 'take' on the '09 NE class(c/o Denver Post):
Rivals.com national recruiting editor Jeremy Crabtree said Pelini met a lot of his needs with his first full recruiting class.
Rivals.com had the class ranked 27th in the nation and fourth in the Big 12. Scout.com ranked Nebraska 33rd and fifth, respectively.
“They got their quarterback of the future, they added depth on the lines, they have defensive back help,” Crabtree said. “Overall, just a lot of things to be really happy about if you’re a Husker fan.”…………..
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Green already is enrolled and will participate in spring practice. Green passed for 3,265 yards and 37 touchdowns and ran for 1,610 and 25 touchdowns as a senior. Green verbally committed to Nebraska last July, picking the Huskers over Texas A&M and Texas Tech, among others.
“He’s got some tremendous size—no doubt about that—but he also is one of the nation’s best scramblers,” Crabtree said. “He’s also deadly accurate. That’s one of the things that’s underappreciated about him.”
______________________________
He goes on to talk about Burk, Ankrah, Chris Williams and some of the other stand outs… Guess he gave no actual ‘grade’ for the class.
"...dOn'T tAZ3 m3, brO'..."
by BO-urne Supremacy on Feb 10, 2009 1:39 PM CST up reply actions
I came up with a C+
Based on the guys the staff went after, and the guys they ended up getting.
Again, most of the guys they got were the coaches’ “Plan B” Not just mine. I also rated it a C+ because of things I heard from different people seriously questioning the coaches method during the season.
Do you have any links
to back up this ‘Plan B’ hypothesis? I haven’t seen that assessment anywhere…
"...dOn'T tAZ3 m3, brO'..."
by BO-urne Supremacy on Feb 10, 2009 6:39 PM CST up reply actions
I mean, I always wanted to marry JLo,
but had to resort to ‘Plan B’, and it’s probably worked out for the better. Look at Marc Anthony, do you think he was a satisfied customer? ;)
"...dOn'T tAZ3 m3, brO'..."
by BO-urne Supremacy on Feb 10, 2009 7:14 PM CST up reply actions
Hear's one of my fav thoughts
regarding ‘star’ analysis: O’Hanlon, originally a walk-on, jacks up Spiller in the end zone to help seal the Gator Bowl.
Spiller/Davis, 4 net yds rushing. Wasn’t Spiller at least a 4, if not 5, star guy? Even with a poor O-line Spiller should have gotten at least 50 yards against our no name(exception Suh) D. Spiller doesn’t like to get hit is his problem.
So, I’ll take a TEAM of 2-3 star, overachieving guys and walk-ons who are well coached over a buncha underachieving, prima dona, 5 star guys any day of the week.
But we have talent in this ’09 class, no doubt about it….
"...dOn'T tAZ3 m3, brO'..."
by BO-urne Supremacy on Feb 10, 2009 2:17 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
All due respect to O'Hanlon
but the man was beaten like a rented mule all season. He was a large part of why our pass defense was so abysmal. His play in the Bowl game was spectacular but hardly indicative of what he did this season
Totally disagree.
Our pass D was NOT ‘abysmal’, it started out mediocre and got gradually better. Wasn’t perfect by any means, but how many times did we get burned deep? Not too many. I have DVDs for most of the games, IMO, the secondary didn’t do that bad and was pretty good toward the end.
O’Hanlon did a respectable J O B, IMO.
"...dOn'T tAZ3 m3, brO'..."
by BO-urne Supremacy on Feb 10, 2009 1:12 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
MU/OU lit us up(the secondary)
and we had that DB breakdown to start the CU game. Other than that, TY Taylor shouldn’t have got so many passing yds on us.
My main criticisms of the 2ndary.
"...dOn'T tAZ3 m3, brO'..."
by BO-urne Supremacy on Feb 10, 2009 1:15 PM CST up reply actions
we may not have gotten burnt deep "all that much"
Though I think that’s in what you determine “a lot” but if you truly watch most of the passing plays, O’Hanlon (and Asante) are woefully out of position.
I can recall quite a few plays where we would have gotten burnt a little more often had the opposing offenses actually done THEIR jobs.
There was a pass in the Colorado game to their tight end, which was overthrown. Both O’Hanlon and Asante had allowed him to get past them.
Can happen
to the best of them…
"...dOn'T tAZ3 m3, brO'..."
by BO-urne Supremacy on Feb 10, 2009 6:35 PM CST up reply actions
yes but the better ones don't let it happen so often
Men write many fine and plausible arguments in support of monarchy, but the fact remains that where every man in a state has a vote, brutal laws are impossible.
Skinny walk-on dude:
"...dOn'T tAZ3 m3, brO'..."
by BO-urne Supremacy on Feb 10, 2009 2:26 AM CST reply actions
kickers
are frequently put in a walk-on status, then given scholarships later. same with punters.
Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!
by Jon Johnston on Feb 10, 2009 7:36 AM CST up reply actions
Seems like
if a h.s. kicker shows up and is booting 50+ ydrs in practice he should have a schollie right outta the gate.
"...dOn'T tAZ3 m3, brO'..."
by BO-urne Supremacy on Feb 10, 2009 1:16 PM CST up reply actions
look around
the nation – I think you’ll find a lot of programs doing this these days.
Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!
by Jon Johnston on Feb 10, 2009 2:09 PM CST up reply actions
Yea
well, when a kicker wins you 3-4 games it’s worth it.
"...dOn'T tAZ3 m3, brO'..."
by BO-urne Supremacy on Feb 10, 2009 6:36 PM CST up reply actions
recruits
com’on guys u have to have some star recruits.. walk ons will only get u so far.. An Ahman Green, Jonny Rogers, Eric Crouch… only come on once in awhile..once in awhile u need a A. Peterson.. and this years class has talent.. but to take us to the top NC.. it will be a little while.. Bo knows.. but it will take a few years to get the real top players and back to the real feard Big Red..
a True
Big Red Fan
Cody Green is probably as good as it gets,
Ankrah is no slouch, nor are Burk and Chris Williams. All the rest are solid 3* guys.
Really, this class has no less ‘star power’ than our NC teams in the 90s. So, it’s just a matter of time ’til Bo gets the program hitting on all cylinders.
"...dOn'T tAZ3 m3, brO'..."
by BO-urne Supremacy on Feb 11, 2009 11:51 AM CST up reply actions
and Asante
Asante is better suited for what was called a monster Back.. and not at safety.. weak side linebacker.. cant cover a deep pass to save his .. u know..
early season
or later?
Seems to be Asante played much better later in the season, like a light bulb went off or something.
Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!
by Jon Johnston on Feb 11, 2009 4:49 AM CST up reply actions
Assante is getting it together, yes,
I think he’s going to be real good next year.
"...dOn'T tAZ3 m3, brO'..."
by BO-urne Supremacy on Feb 11, 2009 11:53 AM CST up reply actions
hope u r right
but if he isn’t.. there will be a lot of redshirt freshman .. licking their chops
I'm sure it won't take long to find out.
"...dOn'T tAZ3 m3, brO'..."
by BO-urne Supremacy on Feb 11, 2009 8:05 PM CST up reply actions
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