The Nebraska Recruiting Story

Just for fun, we are going to look a year down the road. Joe Ganz, Marlon Lucky, Nate Swift, Zach Potter, Barry Turner and the many others are graduated. These are the guys that generally you want this year's recruits to replace and or move up the depth charts. Who is left and are we bringing in the right players. Of course with this analysis, we have to make some assumptions that the recruits we have now will all end up coming to NU. We have also made some guesses as to what positions they will play. The recruits include 14 defensive players and 10 offensive players.

Let's start with the offense for the 2009 season.

Quarterback
1) Patrick Witt
2) Zac Lee

Recruits
None

This is a concern. Can we convince a top notch QB to run the offense. When coaches change, this is the hardest position to recruit because of the uncertainty of what the new offense will be. What kind of quarterback will fit the new offense? Nebraska needs to identify at least one quality QB to be part of the 2008 class. There is an opportunity for a good QB to have a year of learning the system before the 2009 class is in the books. Need 9 (A high number reflects the need to recruit this position yet this year.)

Running Back
1) Quentin Castille
2) Roy Helu

Recruits
Collins Okafor

Only one running back has verbally committed. We have good talent at this position but it is a position where you could lose two or three to injuries. Nebraska needs to recruit another running back. Need 8

Fullback
1) Justin Mackovicka

Recruits
None

We have three other walk-on FB's that will be on the team. The fullback needs to touch the ball by running or receiving 5-8 times each game. We have 11 men on the field and we need to utilize all of them. Remember the time Steve Kriewald ran the ball in 2004? He went 55 yards on one play against Oklahoma. He ran three times that year for 54 yards. An 18 yard average. Dane Todd ran one time in 2006 and that is four attempts for 54 yards the past four years. Need 8

H-Back/Tight End
1) Mike McNiel
2) Dreu Young

Recruits
Ben Cotton
Tyson Hetlzer
Kyler Reed

The addition of Cotton boost this position. McNiel and Young should develop well. We need to keep Hetzler and Reed as recruits. Need 4

Wide Receiver (X)
1) Menelik Holt
2) Will Henry

Wide Receiver (Y)
1) Niles Paul
2) Curenski Gilleylen

Recruits
Norian Hilburn

If we continue to run a west coast offense, we need another quality receiver in this recruiting class. In two years, our depth will be surprising thin. Need 8

Left Tackle
1) Mike Smith

Left Guard
1) Keith Williams

Center
1) Jacob Hickman

Right Guard
1) DJ Jones

Right Tackle
1) Jaivorio Burkes

Recruits
Bryce Givens
Rick Henry
Dan Hoch
Baker Steinkuhler
Brandon Thompson

We have some good talent in the line in two years. We also have a good recruiting class in this area. Let's hope we keep them.

So on offensive, the recruiting needs are quarterback, wide receiver, and possibly fullback.

DEFENSE in 2009

Left defensive End
None

Right Defensive end
1) Pierre Allen

Recruits
Eric Harper
Simi Kuli
Cameron Meredith
Riley Reiff
Doug Rippy
Josh Williams

Five recruits are projected to play defensive end. We should have this very important position covered. The defensive ends are the key position on defense.

Nose Tackle
1) None

Recruits
None

We will need to depend on other existing players to develop. It is possible that a defensive end recruit will develop into a line position. Also there could be a switch of an offensive lineman to defensive lineman.

Defensive Line
1) Ty Steinkuhler
2) Ben Martin

Recruit
Joseph Townsend

Joseph Townsend is an excellent player but he has to get himself eligible. Again, we could use a couple of recruits in the defensive line to shore up this position. Trouble is we don't have that many more spots open.
Interior line Need 8.

Sam linebacker
1) Blake Lawrence

Will linebacker
1) Major Culbert

Mike Linebacker
1) Philip Dillard

Recruits
Will Compton
Sean Fisher
Micah Kreikemeier
Shaun Mohler
Doug Rippy

We have a good bunch of linebackers coming in with the 2008 class. Let's hope we keep Mohler and Compton. Need 3

Left Cornerback
1) Anthony Blue

Right Cornerback
1) Anthony West

Recruits
David Whitmore

Blue and West will be exceptional players. Adding Whitmore will help. Prince Amukamaru is the fastest man on the team and will be a factor on special teams and defense in 2008. Need 5

Strong Safety
1) Larry Asante

Free Safety
1) Ricky Thenarse
2) Ricky Hagg

Recruits
Keelan Johnson
John Leverson

Can you imagine how good Thenarse will be for Bo Pelini? Talk about the perfect fit. Two good recruits to go with some great talent. Need 4

Kicker
1) Alex Henery
2) Adi Kunalic

Punter
None

We will need to recruit a punter in the next year or so. A walk-on this year would give us some experience.

In 2008 we will have seven defensive and seven offensive players back.

However for the purposes of analyzing the 2008 recruits, we have actually moved forward to the 2009 season.

There are definite needs yet with this recruiting class at quarterback, running back, and receiver on offense. We need to pick up one of each. On defense, we need two defensive linemen. Getting a good punter as a walk-on would be beneficial.