On December 8th, we took a look at the recruiting class and the needs we had yet to fill. We did this by looking a year down the road. Many things have changed since that date so it is time to revisit and reevaluate the class.
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.
Here was our assumptions at that time. 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. We have also made some guesses as to what positions the new recruits will play. On December 8th, our recruits consisted of 14 defensive players and 10 offensive players. Today, we are down to eight defensive players and eight offensive players.
Surprising, considering we just hired a defensive-minded coach. If you are a great defensive player you couldn't find a better place to play than Nebraska as we watch the "Mastermind" Bo Pelini do his work. The biggest loss was the defensive end position where we lost five of out six recruits since 12/8/08.
Let's start with the offense for the 2009 season.
Quarterback
1) Patrick Witt
2) Zac Lee
Recruits
Kody Spano
Picking up Kody Spano is huge for the Huskers. He has passed for 4000 yards, rushed for 900 yards, and has been involved with 75 TD's the past two seasons. He was originally a commit to Oklahoma State. He is 6'2"202 lbs and runs the 40 in 4.7. He has good feet and with two years of development, he could be our QB.
Next week, we have Sean Renfree visiting. He was committed to Georgia Tech and has changed his mind. He is an Elite 11 QB and is rated 10th nationally.
Both of these QB's would be assets to NU. Our original recruit, Blaine Gabbert, had a dismal season last fall. Some of this was caused by issues outside his control but Spano or Renfree may be better fits for NU.
Kody Spano will play at Nebraska in two to three years.
Need 6 (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. Okafor doesn't seem to be 100% certain he is coming to NU. His visit next week may solidify his commitment. We still need one more RB beside Okafor. This could be LaMichael James from Texas.
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. Nothing has changed since 12/8 except Greg Nwoko from Texas is on our radar.
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. The tight end picture is the same.
Need 4
Wide Receiver (X)
1) Menelik Holt
2) Will Henry
Wide Receiver (Y)
1) Niles Paul
2) Curenski Gilleylen
Recruits
None
No longer committed
Norian Hilburn
We need to add two quality receivers. We have none right now. In two years, our depth will be surprising thin. In two weeks, we have two WR's visiting NU. The first one is Adrian Bushell. He may be a long shot, but he is a good one. Runs a 4.4 40. He rates NU as low interest but he is visiting so the interest level may be much higher. He has a lot of interest in Oklahoma State and also shows interest in Florida and Louisville.
That same week, LaRon Byrd visits. He is 6'3"210 lbs and has run a 4.49 40. He has some good interest in NU.
Two JUCO players out of California are Jeremy Lafrance and Tobias Shanks. Lafrance may be a good possibility but Shanks likes NU but no offer has been made to him at this time.
Matt Donahue, who will transfer from Ohio and walk on at NU, is a good. He will redshirt next year and then he should see some playing time.
Nebraska needs two recruits at this position.
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
Rick Henry
Dan Hoch
Baker Steinkuhler
Brandon Thompson
No longer committed
Bryce Givens
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. The loss of Bryce Givens to Colorado is a downer. He was one of our top three recruits with tremendous talent. The good news is that we have four commits. Will Baker Steinkuhler get switched to the defensive line?
Dan Hoch is visiting NU next week. He is a player that we need to keep.
Need 5.
So on offensive, the recruiting needs are quarterback, wide receiver, and possibly fullback. Wide receiver is a major concern at this point.
DEFENSE in 2009
Left defensive End
None
Right Defensive end
1) Pierre Allen
Recruits
Cameron Meredith
No longer committed
Eric Harper
Simi Kuli
Riley Reiff
Doug Rippy
Josh Williams
Five recruits have non-committed in the past month that played for defensive end. Defensive is the key position on defense. John Youboty, out of Texas, will visit next week. Two star but we have learned that doesn't mean much. NU may have to switch some players around to beef up this position if they can't recruit three or four quality players. Cameron Meredith is an NU linebacker recruit that could end up at defensive end.
Need 9
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.
Need 9
Defensive Line
1) Ty Steinkuhler
2) Ben Martin
Recruit
Quentin Toailoa
No longer a recruit
Joseph Townsend
Again, we could use a couple of recruits in the defensive line to shore up this position. Quentin Toaliloa is a fine player out of California. He has been the main addition since we named our new coach. Eddie Brown, out of Texas, is visiting next week. NU has not made an offer to him yet, but don't be surprised if he ends up at NU.
NU may look for a JUCO player or two to fill the immediate need at defensive tackle.
Interior line Need 8.
Sam linebacker
1) Blake Lawrence
Will linebacker
1) Major Culbert
Mike Linebacker
1) Philip Dillard
Recruits
Will Compton soft verbal
Sean Fisher
Micah Kreikemeier
No longer committed
Shaun Mohler
Doug Rippy
Let's hope we keep Compton. NU needs to recruit two quality linebackers to replace Mohler and Rippy. Brian Moore, from Texas, is a possibility. He is presently a soft verbal to Tulsa but is visiting NU next week. Kyler Reed could switch to linebacker. He is presently a tight end recruit.
Need 7
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. Charles Mitchell is visiting from Mississippi next week. He runs a 4.56 and is an excellent prospect.
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. South Dakotan Kyle Martens could be that person. He may even get a scholarship offer.
There are definite needs yet with this recruiting class at quarterback, running back, and receiver on offense. We need to pick up one or two of each. On defense, we need two or three more defensive linemen and two or three more linebackers. Getting a good punter as a walk-on would be beneficial.
The new coaching staff looks to be recruiting Texas VERY hard. Most of the new interest comes from that state. The new running backs coach, Tim Beck is a former high school coach from Texas. He is known as a great recruiter and he will be an asset to the program.
Also the walk on program seems to be back in force as there seems to be interest from many non-scholarship players from our good state to play for the Cornhuskers. The visitors that come to NU in the next three or four weeks will be crucial to Nebraska's success with the 2008 class.
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