Husker Recruiting Under Bo: The Class of 2009

Is there such a thing as a defining class for a coach? If so, many people would agree that it's the one they sign in their first full cycle of a recruiting year. Enough of these players should become regulars that any previous cries of "He's winning with X's recruits" will apply less as coach hits those 1st hot seat years.

(Note: "Winning with the other guy's recruits" is a negative only if you can turn a down program around to 7-9 win seasons with an occasional 10-win thrown in. If you can "win with the other guy's players" to the tune of BCS bowls & national championships, then it's ok. They don't complain about this in Auburn, do they?)

The 2009 class was a smaller one due to some holes and overloads that carried over. It was ranked as the #28 class by Rivals and did not finish in ESPN's top 25. There were no 5-star super recruits or reaches with lower ranked recruits. And it did produce two players who will be talked about for years to come.

Here we go:

Jason Ankrah - **** - 3 year starter, HM All B1G, probably had name called more in 2014 Gator Bowl broadcast than last 3 years combined - ***

Nick Ash - *** - didn't play, graduated in 3 ½ years, left team - *

Rex Burkhead - **** - 4 year player, 2 year starter, 5^th all-time leading rusher, most carries in a single game, 1^st team All B1G. Upgrade for eating the old 96er and asking for dessert, running the 40 in 5.3 while carrying a piano and having the charisma to sleep with any of your women he pleased but being much too nice a person to do so. As far as you know. He's Rex Freaking Burkhead. He gets that 5^th star. - *****

Jesse Coffey - *** - didn't play, fell off face of the earth after 2010, Google is no help, maybe joined Santino Panico in underground MMA career? - *

Dejon Gomes - *** - JC transfer, 2-year starter, 2^nd team All Big 12, probably 1^st team if any of the voters had a clue what to call his position, no upgrade for looking like Predator's kid brother with a football helmet but it WAS cool - ****

It rarely bled & no one killed it.

Andrew Green - *** - 3 year starter, less-ballyhooed but, in the end, better pickup from the Green family - ***

Cody Green - **** - made 4 starts in first two years, transferred to Tulsa after 2010 - **

J.T. Kerr - *** - did not play, transferred to USC after 2011 - *

Brandon Kinnie - *** - JC transfer, 3 year player, 2 year starter - ***

Eric Martin - *** - 4 yr player, started senior season, 1^st & 2^nd team All B1G, notable for suspension & penalties for burying shoulder into soon-to-be semi-conscious dickheads who thought it was a better idea to stare up in the air at the fucking football instead of looking for Eric Martin - ****

Nighty-night

Taylor Martinez - *** - This guy is his own article if not book. Let's just start the list: 4-year starter, 1^st team All B1G, multiple times Nat'l Player of the Week, 1^st Team Freshman All-American, Big 12 Freshman & Newcomer of the Year, Maxwell & O'Brien semi-finalist, Holds NU career records for total offense, passing yards, completions, TD passes and starts despite being injured for most of senior year. Holds single season records for total offense & total TD's. Holds single game QB record for rushing yards. Somehow managed to have substantial percentage of database screaming for the backup anyway. And he dated Lauren Cook. Done & done. - *****

Lazarri Middleton - *** - did not play, transferred to SMU after 2010 - *

Cole Pensick - *** - regular player for final two years, senior starter, 2^nd Team All B1G earns upgrade - ***1/2

Brent Qvale - *** - 4 year player, two year starter. - ***

Thad Randle - *** - 4 year player, 2 year starter, constantly battled through injuries. - ***

Dontrayevous Robinson - *** - spot duty as freshman, transferred to Montana St after 2010 - *1/2

Jeremiah Sirles - *** -4 year player, 3 year starter, 2^nd Team All B1G, resembles a backwoods wilderness dude in both name & appearance - ***1/2

Dijon Washington - **** - spot/special teams play only, transferred to Sacramento St. - *

Chris Williams - **** - suffered knee injury, transferred to McMurray St. - *

C.J. Zimmerer - *** - played regularly but FB position disappearing from playbook - **1/2

TOTAL PLAYERS: 20
PLAYERS WHO OUTPERFORMED THEIR INITIAL RANKING: 6 (30%)
PLAYERS WHO UNDERPERFORMED: 10 (50%)
PLAYERS WHO PERFORMED ABOUT AS EXPECTED: 4 (20%)
TOTAL CAREERS LOST TO INJURIES: 0
TRANSFERS: 5 (25%)
STARTERS: 11 (55% - 6 Off, 5 Def)

QUICK SUMMARY

In actual performance vs. the initial Rivals rankings, the 2009 numbers improved slightly, but given the subjectivity of everything, we can probably call that a push for the two seasons.

There were two noticeable differences, one good and one bad - and maybe the bad wasn't actually THAT bad.

1) 25% of the original class transferred. At first glance, that seems eye-popping, but a look at the five transferees reduces some of the alarm. Three of the five (Green, Middleton, Robinson) appeared to have a roadblock in front of them on the depth chart. Four of the five (add Williams) went to schools that would be considered definite downgrades & Kerr never saw the field at Southern Cal. In the end, no one critical was lost.

2) The 2009 class of 20 actually provided 2 MORE starters than the 2008 class of 27 as well as two of the biggest names to come through the program in years in Martinez & Burkhead.

Given these facts, it is safe to say that, despite being similarly ranked in the beginning, the 2009 class proved superior to 2008 despite its size. However, while it might have crept up and been considered a top 25 class, it wouldn't have done so by much, and for coincidence's sake, it's interesting to note that the Huskers finished #25 this year with the 5^th year seniors from this class.