A ways back when John and I were still pumping out podcasts of MidWest Coast Bias, we spoke about Tim Beck combining his Texas resources with Shawn Watson.  These are beginning to bear fruit in the form of three commitments in the past three days.  Offensive linemen Jess Coffey and Nick Ash join Emerson Evans as the three newest members of the 2008-2009 recruiting class.  What do they bring to the table?  Aside from a budding Texas pipeline, let’s have a look:

Coffey gets to go first since he committed first.  At 6’7" 270 pounds, those numbers immediately tell me that there’s some work to be done.  S&C Coach Dobson can easily put 30-50 pounds of muscle on the frame and if we go to the video tape, my suspicions are confirmed.  For 6’7", Coffey’s a lanky dude and doesn’t have the power he can with more beef on his bones.  He stands his man up okay but when you come into the Big XII conference, you have to be ready for a defensive lineman whose main objective is to rip your quarterback’s heart out and feed it to him coming off of the line.  Right now I don’t see that in Coffey, however I do see a very "heady" player.

While Coffey’s weight and blocking may not be up to snuff just yet, his movements and motions are.  He knows where he needs to be and he knows the force he needs to deliver, but again we run into the issue of not having the physical tools necessary to compete jumping in.  I look at Coffey and I think "project" but not in a bad way.  If Dobson can get his hands on him, he is coached properly and gets a few snaps in his initial freshman and sophomore years. Coffey could turn out to be a solid prospect.  He’s got a way to go before he reaches that peak, but he could get there.

Emerson Evans then pulled the trigger giving Nebraska a 6’1" 230 "defensive end".  Note the quotation marks I used there.  I don’t see Evans as a defensive end at all.  I see him as a hybrid and not just in the way that he gets 50 miles per gallon and runs off of stuff grown in the ground.  I think Pelini could utilize Evans as a very special sort of MIKE.  We’re talking about a guy that could do just as much damage in pass coverage as run stopping not to mention bringing him straight through the middle on an all out blitz.

Nick Ash is a very good pick up for the Cornhuskers looking to regain offensive line "Pipeline" status.  At 6’5" and 261 pounds, Ash presents a more polished Coffey in my eye.  Watching him from the guard position, he has good push, plays like his hair’s on fire and can get downfield in a hurry.  Coffey and Ash also carry the same brightness.  Very smart guys both of them.  I suppose when Harvard offers you as they did Coffey that’s an indication of something, but that could just be me.

Ash holds his own as a pass-blocker as well.  He can keep his man at arm’s length and the thing I REALLY like about Nick is his footwork.  Constantly grinding, constantly moving.  I would also like to note that Barney Cotton was assigned to Nick.  Originally it appeared that Cotton had been striking out left and right with the past year’s recruits and now this year’s, but with the Ash commitment, Barney definitely did good so a tip of the cap today to Coach Cotton.  Whether he can get Ash and Coffey where they need to be we’ll find out later on down the road.

Dollah dollah bill, ya’ll, NU is seein’ nothing but Green.  Cody Green that is.  Dayton, Texas’ own has committed to the Cornhuskers over Texas A&M to play quarterback in Shawn Watson’s Nebraska (Don’t call it that other term) Offense.  A dual-threat from under center, Green is a threat to several other schools on Nebraska’s radar.  Why?  I believe Cody Green could have the same effect this year as Blaine Gabbert did last year.  The best part is we know Cody won’t lose his coach.

What’s so special about this kid?  He’s got a strong arm and gazelle-like maneuverability.  For those of you who have played the EA Sports NCAA Football title, you’ll be reminded of when your quarterback almost gets sacked but he’s mobile enough to step out of the reach of the oncoming defensive player.  That’s Green.

I will warn you though: Cody has an awkward throwing motion that will make some of you cringe.  Don’t question it.  He gets the ball there.  He’ll be fine.  He tosses both the lovely arc across the field to a speedy wide receiver or a frozen rope on a line for a seven yard gain.  Don’t worry he can also hit the feather touch and in some instances the ball pops out of his hands before you have the time to acknowledge that it’s gone.  It freaks me out like the ball’s on a string or something.

When running Cody’s vision is superb.  He knows when he’s not getting a ball to any receiver and will get you seven to ten yards on the ground in a flash.  This might excite some of you to the point of adult erotica: Green gives Watson the option to run some option.  No we’re not talking Solichesque or even Osbornian levels.  Just enough that you know it’s there.  With Cody you will see the pass and you will see the run and oh it could be fun to watch if he develops nicely.

With all of that said is Cody Green the next Vince Young?  Probably not.  Does he project well into the NFL? I don’t care and neither do you at this point.  He’s a frickin’ senior in high school.  Is he perfect for Watson’s MidWest Co-I mean Nebraska Offense?  Absolutely and he’ll make that point very clear when he enrolls early in December.  Watch out in January, Nebraska co-eds.

As an aside I felt this was appropriate:

What? I needed to get one more cash joke in.

LATE ADDITION (It ain't much but watch #21):

Got a second opinion?  Hit me up at blankman17@gmail.com