NEBRASKA RECRUITING SUMMARY FOR 2002
The Huskers finished the recruiting season with one of the fastest and most athletic groups in memory. Yet to be seen is whether this will translate on to the football field in 2 or 3 years, or if it will just make headlines in winter testing. For the second year in a row, Nebraska started off slowly, getting only 5 verbal commits through the summer months. However, the Huskers also got 2 surprises in the fall as Ross Pilkington decided to end his pro baseball career and attend Nebraska, after being recruited 2 years previously. Then the Huskers gained a commitment from Junior College player DeMorrio Williams in a fairly quiet manner. December turned out to be a disappointing month as the Huskers suffered several decommits and near misses with blue chip prospects. However, they still gathered momentum into the final months of the recruiting season, tallying 4 verbals in December and 7 in January.
After concentrating on defensive players the past couple of years, the Huskers went on the offensive so to speak. They refilled the cupboards at wide receiver, wingback and running back with athletic and gamebreaking type of players. They also got numbers on the offensive line in an effort to stem a recent depletion in that group, a process that will have to continue this next recruiting season. On defense, the Huskers got good numbers along the line that were needed. Somewhat dissappinting was the lack of numbers at linebacker. After getting only 1 linebacker in 2001, Nebraska only got 2 linebackers this year. That assumes Grant Miller will be placed at linebacker, he could very well stay on offense. For grading purposes I have placed him at linebacker where my best guess says he will end up. Nebraska also ended up getting a quality cornerback and safety, which is about what we needed. However, at this time, the safety, Antoine Bagwell does not appear like he will qualify.
Here is a breakdown on grading of this recruiting season:
Quarterbacks--- Curt Dukes (B+)
The Huskers went out and got a bonafide option quarterback in Curt Dukes, going as far as promising not to take any other quarterbacks for the class despite having a decent shot at Avalos and a few others. Dukes is a large and powerful runner, much in the same mold as Scott Frost. He has good speed and is a north-south type runner; not many juking or spinning moves, but with good straight ahead power. He also has run an offense similar to Nebraska's for 3 years. His passing is still somewhat unknown, though his film shows he has some nice touch on softer passes. It remains to be seen how good of velocity he will display on crisp passes such as out and curl patterns. Curt will be looked at seriously to forgo his redshirt year, depending on how Mike Stuntz does this fall. If Stuntz performs well, look for him to assume the backup duties, and Dukes to redshirt with Joe Chrisman handling the third spot. If Stuntz is less than adequate, look for Dukes to step right into the mix. It may have been a mistake to forgo any other QB recruiting after Dukes, but if that was the only way to secure Curt then so be it.
Runningbacks--- Dane Todd, David Horne, Ronnie Smith (A)
Nebraska got a nice mix in running backs, garnering a fullback, and everydown runningback and an all purpose scatback. Horne was one of the top rated backs in the nation. He has decent speed, but his forte appears to be as a patient runner, setting up his blockers and then finding daylight. Todd appears to be another home grown talent at fullback. Though not flashy at either running or blocking, he appears to be solid at both. His running is more upright like Judd Davies, as opposed to the cannonball style of Steve Kreiwald. Smith is a very fast and dangerous runner, the prototypical "jitterbug scatback". He has great speed and balance, and shows alot of elbows and knees. Though his size will preclude him from being a workhorse I-back, he will be able to give you the homerun threat at runningback and likely could see action at wingback; perhaps in a role similar to Thunder Collins. With the great depth at I-back and fullback, I see all 3 redshirting--with Horne in the running for a top 3 spot in 2003 along with Davis, Simmons and Ross. With only 3 scholarship fullbacks in 2003, Todd will likely see a bit of action. Smith's situation is not as clear. He would have a chance to see the field quicker in 2003 at wingback if he can make the adjustment. He likely will be in the mix for kick return duties also.
Receivers/Tight Ends/Wingbacks--- Mark LeFlore, Isaiah Fluellen, Matt Herian, Ross Pilkington (A+)
The Huskers signed what could potentially be their best and most dangerous receiving corps in sometime. LeFlore was one of the top 15 rated receivers in the nation. He has great speed and leaping ability, and though not as tall as Wilson Thomas, with his leaping ability should pose problems for many defensive backs. Fluellen was a surprise, recruited from a military family in Germany. He has great speed, a very effortless style thanks to his track background. He also appear to have good hands. His main question will be his coaching and competition he was exposed to. Pilkington, though not officially in this class due to initially walking on, was included for grading purposes. He has good speed with long strides, and very good hands. He will be more of a possession receiver, much like Matt Davison, though with better speed. Herrian potentially may be one of our most athletic tight ends ever. He has good speed and hands, and uses his body well in warding off defenders. He could probably play defensive end too, but his athleticism screams for tight end. I look for LeFlore to very likely forgo his redshirt year and backup Thomas. Pilkington also has a good shot at contributing in 2002. He has 2 years of minor league baseball under his belt and is more like a sophmore/junior in terms of physical and mental maturity. Fluellen most likely will need a redshirt year to get his feet under him. Herrian most likely will redshirt, but with a good fall could crack the top 4. Some experience would be nice because in 2003 there will be no proven tight ends with experience.
Offensive Lineman--- Kurt Mann, Jermaine Leslie, Jamayel Phillips, Corey Timm (B-)
Nebraska needed some numbers here desperately, after only getting 2 lineman in 2001 and suffering a series of injuries and non-successes in the previous several years. Most disappointing was losing Daniels as a de-comitt on signing day. Leslie showed good qualities at both run and pass blocking on his film, and also appears to have good footwork on pulling. Phillips is huge, and may need to get serious in the weight and nutrition room in Lincoln to shed body fat while maintaining strength. On film he is just a mismatch with all his opponents and should be a pretty good lineman if he applies himself per above. Timm has the kind of size I like in our prospects--around 290 pounds and can add on the rest within our weight program. Mann looks solid at run blocking but is undersized and will likely take some time to get physically ready. I look for all 4 of these players to redshirt. I wouldn't be surprised to see Phillips and Leslie ready to contribute some in their second year, especially if Leslie can play center, where we will only have one scholarship player in 2003. Timm and Mann are likely to go into their third year before realistically having a shot at contributing.
Defensive Lineman--- Brandon Greeson, Jay Moore, Adam Carriker (C+)
Nebraska got 4 defensive tackles in 2001 so they really only needed one. Losing Ngata in a de-committ was very disappointing but getting Greeson is a nice second option. Defensive end is another matter. Nebraska needed to get one or two in 2001 and failed to pick up any. We needed 2 or 3 this year, and at least one of them that could step in as a freshman for playing time. We got 2 very good athletes in Moore and Carriker, but I don't believe either one will be able to contribute heavily in 2003 when we will be down to 1 scholarship athlete at each end spot. Carriker is a good athlete with a long arm span but from his film, will have to improve his speed in the open field, especially running down quaterbacks and running backs in the flat. He also is new at the spot and will take sometime to get used to the end position. Moore is a great athlete, who could probably play tight end or even fullback, but is needed at defensive end. He has good speed and hopefully can develop into the pass rusher we need. Normally, I would say both of these players would redshirt, but as mentioned before, these two will be looked at as second string in 2003, so perhaps getting one of them a bit of playing time this year would be wise. My guess is Moore would be that player if this situation does indeed happen. Greeson will likely redshirt, but could see some playing time in his second year. Note: the lower grade is due to really needing a player that could provide some backup in their first year--either a prime time freshman or junior college player.
Linebackers--- Demorrio Williams, Grant Miller. (C)
Williams, a Junior College pickup, is a good catch and will be expected to play early. He has very good speed and has a good nose for the ball. He potentially is a great playmaker at weakside linebacker that the Huskers have been searching for the past couple of years. Grant Miller could play offense but my guess is he will eventually end up at strongside linebacker. He was a late find and a quality athlete. His film showed him with good speed and very aggressive on defense. Nebraska could have used a middle linebacker out of this class and lost two great prospects (D'Andrea and Davis) late in the process. Lacking the middle linebacker, the Huskers could have really used another athletic weakside linebacker as 3 players at that spot will graduate after 2003. Look for Williams to get plenty of playing time in 2002, if not starting at some point during the season. Miller likely will redshirt and then possibly see playing time in 2003 as the Huskers will only have 2 scholarship players at that position. The low grade is due to continued poor recruiting at the linebacker spots. The Huskers actually needed a bigger haul last year and didn't get it, making this year imperative to get 3 or 4 linebackers. What we actually ended up with is one, since Miller likely will stay on offense, at least early on.
Defensive Backs--- Fabian Washington, Antoine Bagwell. (C+)
The Huskers got a great prospect in Washington, and he will get a serious look in 2002 at cornerback, as the Huskers are thin there after the loss of Willie Amos for 2002. Fabian has great speed and breaks well to the ball. He also has return potential, being a fast north-south runner with a minimum of juking. Bagwell was a great find, being listed as a running back but likely playing safety in college. He showed good physical play and aggressiveness on film. Unfortunately, Antoine did not qualify and will attend Joliet Junior College. Hopefully he will make it to Lincoln in 2004. I look for Washington to get some playing time early and possibly starting by mid season. The Huskers needed one more cornerback and a safety out of this class, hence the low grade.
Kicker/Punter---None (NA)
Nebraska didn't really need a kicker from this class, but look for them to take one with the 2003 class.
In summary....I give this class an overall (C+). Though we really got some good athletes, the Huskers still are not recruiting to fill some obvious holes. And there is a big question in my mind whether we could use some of these great athletes (Smith, Fluellen) effectively given the type of offense we run. On defense it was essential that we get numbers at linebacker and cornerback and failed badly on both. The lack of numbers at both these spots will be readily apparent in the next few years. Elsewhere on defense, we got two players (Williams, Washington) that should compete this year, but I don't see any other big time players needed to get back to the swarming, hard hitting defenses of the 90's.