This is kind of off topic, but I was interested in what everyone else thought.

Well, after meeting with the NCAA, Mike Fahey pulled another different number out of the air and proposed a new stadium would cost the same amount as renovating Rosenblatt.  Fifty-nine million is the number the Mayor came up with this time, and it magically matched the number of upgrading the historic south Omaha home of the college world series since it came to Omaha in 1950.  Well you probably know where I stand on this issue.  There has been a process throughout this whole ordeal.  Build a walking bridge to Council Bluffs, look into a rail car system, build a downtown stadium.  One of the major beneficiaries of Mike Fahey’s quests always seems to be his Alma Mater, Creighton.  Remember when they said you won’t be paying for the Qwest Center?  Well it’s eerily the same talk now.  That 59 million will soon turn into 75 and then 100 million.  Omaha is currently facing a 1.5 BILLION dollar upgrade to it’s sewer/water systems, which will be paid for by the taxpayers.  Has anyone noticed the condition of our roads lately?  And let’s not even mention the public school system!  The state has said it’s forecast of tax revenue has gone down and programs need to get cut.  This is not very fiscally responsible in my opinion.  I am all for change, but at what expense?  My children’s children will be paying off this debt.  Like I previously stated, the Council Bluffs walking bridge was all part of the plan.  There will be no parking woes, as everyone will park over in C.B. and spend their money at the Casinos, who will probably shuttle them over for free.  Omaha has missed the BOAT (pun intended) on many things and I think this is just a ridiculous idea!  I really hope the City Council does the right thing and shoots this down.  Everyone is so worried about the CWS leaving, and yes it’s nice, but it’s only 14 days out of 365.  We will be paying this off for the next 7,300 days for sure.  I am just not happy about how the whole process was handled, clouded in secrecy, constantly changing numbers, and the “me and my guys just got paid $800,000 to come up with the course of action we already knew we were gonna take” attitude from the Mayor.  He has constantly said it’s the NCAA issuing these requests and the NCAA has said it is not demanding anything from Omaha.  Who do you believe?  It will probably pass because people will not fight for what they want.  I hope it doesn’t, but who knows?

 Let me know what you think!

I found this picture on someone’s sig on Rivals.  I laughed uncontrollably and thought I would share it with everyone else.

 Chris Balham

Nebraska, playing a ranked team for the second game in a row, did something they haven’t done since 1999 by beating a ranked opponent back to back.  The Huskers played one of their most complete games of the season in a 66-59 upset of 22nd ranked Texas A&M at home.  The crowd was taken out the game early as NU jumped to a lead and never let it go until the 8 minute mark of the second half.  Even George Herbert Walker Bush, who was in attendance, couldn’t help the Aggies out as NU just had too much mojo to be beat today. 

NU took an early lead and never looked back, leading 32-25 at the half.  The Huskers received a balanced offensive attack paced by  Ryan Anderson and Chris Balham, both with six points.  Balham tied his career high in points during the first half, but that would soon fall.  C.B. played the best game of his career, scoring 10 points, but none was prettier than the screen and roll dunk that he threw down in emphatic fashion to lead a Husker charge.  Steve Harley, after his career game against K-State,  continued his impressive ways by aggressively going after the basket and hitting key pull up jumpers.  Harley, along with Sek Henry, led all Huskers with 11 points.  Sek Henry played another energetic game and after missing his first two 3 pointers Henry connected on two very important treys late in the game.

Texas A&M came out with great energy to start the second half.  The crowd was swaying and getting into the game and the calls were all going the Aggies way.  TAMU closed a once 9 point gap methodically and went on a 7-0 run to lead NU for the first time all game, 53-50.  NU forced a loose ball that Cookie Miller was chasing down when an Aggie barreled into his shoulder, causing Miller to leave the game with an undisclosed shoulder injury.  Bad call number one was the foul the refs called on Miller while  he lay on the floor writhing in pain.   After an unsuccessful A&M offensive sect, NU brought the ball up the floor with Steve Harley who found Aleks Maric on the low post.  Maric, who finished without a double double for the first time in 7 games with 10 points and 5 rebounds, threw the ball back out to Sek on the wing and he knocked down a 3 to tie it at 53 all.  Bad call number two soon followed when after getting some pressure, a TAMU player bounced the ball off his own knee and out of bounds.  The refs didn’t know what to call so they went with the possession arrow, which favored Texas A&M.  Doc Sadler was very livid and, I would say,  pretty close to getting T’d up.  The two teams traded a couple of baskets when, with just over a minute remaining, Sek took a screen and a couple of dribbles and knocked down another 3 to lead for good, 60-57.  Steve Harley added 4 clutch free-throws, while Jay-R Strowbridge added another, and NU had two of their 3 offensive rebounds to close out the game for the Huskers.

WOW, what a game.  I can’t remember the last time I talked to my T.V. so much during a basketball game.  NU finally found out what will work last week when they played KSU.  Aggressive moves to the baskets by our guards will bring the double team and open up the middle all day long.  NU worked the screen and roll to perfection today and some of the passes that came out of those were nothing short of awesome!  Ryan Anderson had some of the best passes I have seen at NU since Tyronn Lue and when Balham was on the court, there was an athleticism that hasn’t been seen this entire year.  Balham continues to impress me, even if he does need knee and shoulder surgery.  Last year, C.B. looked almost scared to shoot and on Saturday he was feeling it all day, well at least for the 11 minutes he was in the game.  Balham, shooting a crazy 74% from the field this year mainly from the paint, even knocked down a 12 footer with 30 seconds left on the shot clock when the game was close late.  Luckily for him, he made it.  I wouldn’t have wanted to go over to Doc Sadler after that shot if it was missed.  Ryan Anderson had a tough assignment today guarding someone four inches taller and forty pounds heavier, but put in another stellar effort with 9 points, all on 3′s.  R.A. had 4 steals to go with 5 assists and 2 boards, but played much bigger than his listed 6’4″, as he gave up nothing easy all day.  It’s nice to see this team put it all together, unfortunately it looks like that might be without Cookie Miller now.  There is still no word on his injury, but it didn’t look pretty.   After watching Miller get up time and time again all year long, for him to stay down, it must be serious.  Cookie has played huge all year long, but had been getting better and better as time has gone on.  A team that doesn’t have him must go on, but it will be tough without him.  Every player had a solid game today and the only bad stat that stands out is the less than 60% shot from the free throw line.  NU finished 13-22 for 59.1 percent.  Luckily for them they shot 59 percent from the field to offset their bad day from the charity stripe.  I guarantee no coach wants to play this team right now and I could see NU making a run in the conference tournament, which starts March 13th in Kansas City.  This team is definitely an NIT team, but it would be nice to get into the main event, not the consolation match.

Up next is Oklahoma at the Devaney Center on Wednesday the 27th.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7 P.M. and there is no T.V. as of yet so a stream from 1110 KFAB might have to do.

[see the box score courtesy of Huskers.com]

Kansas State coach Ray Martin said it best. 

“If you go play for Doc Sadler, you’ll understand that losing’s not acceptable. They had lost two games in a row and they came out playing like a team that wanted to win. They fought us, they punched us in the mouth and we ran away.”

Nebraska did everything right Wednesday night in front of a packed house (almost) and a nationally televised audience.  The result was a very well played game plan that NU executed to perfection in defeating 25th ranked Kansas State 71-64. 

Micheal Beasley, who tied Carmelo Anthony for the Freshman record of double doubles, was never a factor in this game as he was harassed all game long.  His frustration was evident many a times and he finished 9 points under his average with 17.

NU ran a faily uptempo first half, choosing to run with K-State.  There were many screen and rolls and back door cuts, which provided many good looks for Steve Harley.  He turned in a career high 20 points on many uncontested lay-ups.  K-State looked lost on many of his baseline plays and Harley arguably played his best game as a Husker, connecting on 9 of 12 from the field.

Nebraska held leads at 7-6, 14-12, 20-19, and led by as many as eight before scoring four points to close the half and take a 34-31 lead going into the locker room.  KSU came out swinging and tied the game at 34 off a 3 pointer by Clent Stewert.  The Wildcats took their first lead of the second half, off a 3 by Blake Young, and led 45-44.  The Huskers went on a 7-0 run sparked by a well placed elbow from Ade Dagunduro, and never trailed again.  Leading only by one at 65-64, Cookie Miller went to the free-throw line.  He made one of two and Ryan Anderson grabbed the rebound away from Beasley, who was visibly upset.  The Huskers couldn’t capitalize on the extra possession and after Maric pulled down one of his season high 17 rebounds on the other end, he was fouled.  Shooting 2 free-throws, Maric made them  both, to push the lead to four at 68-64.  Beasley put up an airball down at the other end and NU added three more points from a free-throw from Ryan Anderson and two from Harley.  Up next is Texas A&M at College Station on Saturday.  The game will be televised locally on KXVO and nationally on ESPN Plus.

My thoughts on this game are very simple.  Where has this team been?  NU showed some athleticism tonight I didn’t even know they had.  Chris Balham had a wicked dunk off a back pick and played the best I have ever seen him play.  Maric, who is not the fleetest of foot, took Beasley off the dribble for a lay up and knocked down a 20 footer right before that.  Harley was going baseline all game long, and Ade even took some drives to the hole.  NU has lost 7 games, but of those 7, 4 could easily have been wins.  NU realistically could be sitting at 8-3 in conference due to the fact they have the league’s leading defense.  This brings a slight smile to my face, as next year, they will be 10x’s more athletic.  I wish Doc Sadler would toy with having Balham move to the power forward spot while having Maric in the game.  They played tonight together for a few minutes, but I think with Balham coming into his own as of late,  getting him on the move and away from the center will help him.  He is very good with the ball when he gets it within 10 feet and is starting to move without the ball even better lately.  If the Huskers had 2 big bangers on the inside, this will help out Maric, as he has to fight quite a bit on the inside by himself.  Also, I think NU was at it’s best tonight when Ade was sitting.  Ade did make a couple nice drives but no one can match the energy Sek Henry brings.  He can also create off his dribble, penetrate and control the ball slightly better.  His defense has been getting better and better and I think it’s time to play him more.   It was a refreshing win tonight which, at the same time, makes me irritated that this team is 4-7 in conference.  A few more games like this and NU could easily  be in the top 3 of the conference.  Baby steps, I know. 

[see the box score courtesy of Huskers.com]

Omaha World Herald has an interesting story on the winter preparations now taking place on the second floor of the Osborne Athletic Complex.

In addition to six hours of strength and conditioning per week, the NCAA allows for two hours of watching and reviewing film directly with the coaching staff. Players can do more on their own.

Ndamukong Suh is one player maximizing his time.

“One of my goals is to be up there, be a football rat, and pick the coaches’ brains and see what they’re like,” said Suh, a junior nose tackle. “Obviously you want to interact and you want to get to know them and get a feel for them before you get into football.”

Defensive coordinator Carl Pelini said, “They have classes, they do have social lives, they have their weight training. You’ve got to kind of let them come to you at this point — and the nice thing is that’s happening.”

In other news, offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said Joe Ganz will have to compete for his position this fall. Watson said Ganz, who started the last three games of the 2007 season, will enter spring as the No. 1 quarterback. “You don’t take that away from a guy. But he’s going to have to — and he knows this — keep working, because he’s got a lot of good players behind him.”

Nebraska has placed a whopping total of 298 student athletes on the Big 12 Commissioner’s Fall Honor Roll. Of those 298, 114 are native Nebraskans, so there is some definite homestate flavor involved.  Thirty-Nine football players were on that list, which included LaTravis Washington.  This name stuck out to me a little bit.  I remember him being recruited last year and people did not know if he was going to qualify academically to enroll at NU.  Well he did at the last minute and this speaks volumes to the kind of help and support these students receive.  In order to be on the honor roll, one must carry a GPA of 3.0 or higher.  Of those 39, six received a perfect GPA of 4.0.  Those students were Patrick Witt, Thomas Grove, Brett Byford, Ryan Hill, Jay Martin, and Wes Cammack.

Doc Sadler and the basketball team saw more than half it’s players earn a spot on the Fall Honor Roll with 10.

I have tried unsuccessfully to find who leads the Big 12 for the fall honor roll.  If someone finds something, please post it up.  I have to think NU is close, if not in the lead.

The story remains the same this week in Huskerland.  Two games played, one at home and one away, but both games, Nebraska either held the lead or had the momentum to drive them to victory, but in the end, came up short.  The problem is no one told that to Iowa St. or Missouri and NU’s lack of a true shooting threat, sealed the fate of Nebraska.

Alecs Maric was playing in front of his parents again Wednesday against Missouri and arguably had his best game for NU this year.   Maric finished with 32 points on 10-18 shooting, collected 16 boards , and drilled 12-14 from the FT line.  NU clawed all game long and Steve Harley, with 9 seconds left, made an aggressive move to the basket, drawing a foul and setting up possibly the game tying free-throws.  NU was down 71-69 when Harley cooly sank his first free-throw.  Mizzou, trying to ice him, called a timeout.  Steve calmly sank the second free-throw to tie the game at 71.  In overtime, Nebraska forgot that Alecs Maric was on the floor and had dominated the Tigers on the inside.  Maric only touched the ball once in overtime and NU just couldn’t shoot itself to a win.  Ryan Anderson hit two late 3′s to make it respectable at 86-78.  NU had the momentum, but still couldn’t capitalize, much in the same way against Iowa St on Saturday.

Iowa St. honored all it’s basketball alumni in a ceremony to commemorate 100 years of Cyclone basketball.  During the first half, NU decided to dishonor them by holding them to an all time Iowa St. low of 11 points.  The 11 points is also a Big 12 conference low, and Nebraska looked like they could be on their way to a series sweep of Iowa St.  The only problem?  NU scored only 24 first half points and seem to think their defense would be able to shoulder the load all game.  Iowa St. quickly jumped on the Huskers to start the half and went on a run of 19-3 to start the half and turned a 13 point deficit into a 3 point lead at 30-27.  The Cyclones never looked back and played some inspired ball after being humiliated during the first half.  NU’s once stifling defense turned to mush and gave up 49 points to the Cyclones over the course of the second half.  The result was an embarrassing loss for Nebraska, 60-52.

Not really much can be said about these two games.  Up and down is the best way to describe this team.  One minute they can shoot, the next they can’t.   They make free-throws, they don’t.  Next year will be much more promising, and it can’t get  here soon enough.  Thankfully, spring football practice starts next month, so that should cushion the blow of this disappointing season.  Up next for NU is a nationally televised game on ESPN2 Wednesday against Kansas State.  Tip-off is scheduled for 8 P.M.

[see the Iowa St. box score courtesy of Huskers.com] 

[see the Missouri box score courtesy of Huskers.com]

How many times have you been encouraged to let bygones by bygones?

According to Lincoln Journal Star it’s a maxim Bo Pelini knows well.

“I’ll watch a little bit of tape (from last fall),” Pelini said Wednesday. “But you can get tainted watching it. You can develop a misleading sense of these guys (players) before you even work with them. I’d just like to make my judgments after we’ve had a chance to work with them and see them in our system.”

Bottom line: spring practice, which begins March 26, will be a crucial player-evaluation period. Husker coaches will enter with open minds, Pelini said.

Some guys stayed, some guys went, and some guys even came back.  It was a crazy recruiting year for Nebraska, but when it was all said and done, I think defensively, they did just fine.  Of course, the top of the defensive class goes to none other than Baker Steinkuhler, the state of Nebraska’s first 5 star rated player.

 Baker Steinkuhler

1. Baker Steinkuhler- (6’6″/290/4.88) The cream of the crop, and arguably the best prospect ever to come out the state of Nebraska.  Dominated both sides of the ball in high school, and during the Army All American game, showed why he is considered the best lineman in the country.  Watching him on film, I would put him on defense but, Baker might be able to make millions more on offense.  Hard working, unselfish, and leads by example.  You couldn’t ask for a better Husker.
2. Cameron Meredith- (6’4″/230/4.6)  Many analysts like another DE in this spot, but with his size, speed, motor, and combine that with playing some of the best talent in the country in California, this guy could easily be a SLB while we let him grow into his frame.  As a senior he tallied 92 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 2 FF and one fumble recovery all while missing 4 games.  Committed to the old staff, but never wavered and stuck to his word.
3. Will Compton-(6’2″/215/4.5)  When others from the state of Missouri were dropping out of this class, Compton showed some by not pulling his verbal.  He got to know the new staff and the “Will Compton Future Blackshirt” tattoo by Ekler was priceless and instrumental in re-landing this talented prospect.  A hard hitting linebacker with some speed, Compton will be able to take in as much as he wants, as early as he wants. 
4. Alfonzo Dennard-(5’10″/185/4.4)  Dennard, a CB from Georgia, was once committed to North Carolina.  After the two parted ways, Marvin Sanders convinced Dennard to commit to UNL after checking out the Huskers on the internet.  Dennard is Courtney Grixby with size and more speed.  His leaping ability is the best in this class and he could be a dangerous receiver or return man.  A lock down and physical corner, look for early playing time.
5. John Levorson-(6’4″/185/4.55)  Anyone who followed Nebraska high school football knows this name very well.  Levorson played QB and safety for Crete and amassed well over 4,000 yards the past two seasons on offense.  On defense he was a hard hitter with excellent center field vision.  Candidate for a red-shirt.
6. David Whitmore-(6’2”/190/4.5)  Whitmore, from Port Arthur, TX, was committed to NU since April of 2007.  Whitmore never wavered in his pledge to be a Husker.  Whitmore has the size and ability to come in as a true freshman and contribute right away.  Has good vision and break on the ball in the air.  Three or four years with Sanders and he’ll be playing on Sundays.
7. Josh Williams- (6’4″/220/4.8)  A relentless pass rusher that shows a quick burst of speed out of his stance.  Williams might be used the way Barry Turner was his Freshman year.
8. Mason Wald- (5’11″/195/4.6)  Mason is one of my favorites in the whole class.  Two months ago, Mason only held an offer from Samford College in Alabama.  Since his family was handling all his recruiting, tapes were late to get sent out.  Lucky for him, NU was looking at offering his teammate, Justin Rodgers.  Mason is a seriously hard hitting safety.  Think Mike Brown!  This kid must have held the record for most kids knocked out of a game as hard as he hits.  More impressive are the angles he takes on some of these tackles.  Sometimes you think there is no way he is making that play and out of nowhere, he does. 
9. P.J. Smith-(6’2″/205/4.65)  Another hard hitting safety prospect that Bo Pelini familiarized himself with while at LSU.  P.J. Smith played on a championship football team last year in Louisiana where he was known for his competitiveness and hard hitting ways. 
10. Courtney Osborne- (6’2″/170/4.5)  Video of Courtney is just downright vicious at times.  Courtney takes good angles and tackles well, something this defense can use right away.  Is a safety prospect, but with his length and athleticism, could play in a nickel package as well.
11. Alonzo Whaley-(6′/215/4.55)  An underrated LB prospect out of Texas, Whaley was overshadowed by his younger brother, Chris, a talented RB.  A sure tackler who will fly to the ball may be used similar to the way Demario Williams was.
12. Sean Fisher- (6’5″/210/4.6)  Talented 2 way standout at arguably the best football developing high school in Millard North.  Very athletic and deceptively quick.  A sure tackler, who will benefit from a red shirt.  Very lean at 210 lbs, Fisher could develop into a SLB with 30-40 lbs of added weight.
13. Justin Rogers-(5’11″/180/4.4) Rogers ran for over 4000 yards, as a teammate of Mason Wald, for Vestevia High in Birmingham, AL the past 2 seasons.  Rogers is very very quick and has expressed his desire to play CB at the college level.  A gifted athlete, Rogers might be best suited to red-shirt, if not needed on offense.
14. Quentin Toailoa-(6’5″/275/5.2)  Quentin was Bo Pelini’s first verbal commit after taking the helm of the Husker ship.  Quentin is a big guy, probably more in the 300-315 range than his listed 275lbs.  Toailoa is able to stop the run by shedding his blocks easily ,  and with NU’s middle being questionable last year, is also looking at some early playing time.
15. Micah Kreikemeier-(6’4″/215/4.8)  It is easy to see why Tom Osborne offered Micah a scholarship after watching his film.  Micah is relentless in his pursuit to the ball and will take out whoever is in his way while getting to the point of attack.  A smart player, who can contribute early and often via special teams, Kreikemeier is the epitome of the Husker athlete of the past.  Live, breathe and die for Nebraska.  Micah has the frame to be a Jay Moore sized rush end, or a Stewart Bradley linebacker, either way, I am sure he will turn out to be a good one down the road for the Huskers.

After all the de-commits in the month of December, Nebraska’s new staff hit the ground running and in a little over a month’s time, showed the promise of what recruiting will be next year.  The addition of Tim Beck really helped in Texas, as his connections helped to secure Steven and Courtney Osborne and bring back Josh Williams to the Husker’s class.  Combine him with Shawn Watson and next year, Texas will be very good to the Huskers.  Linebacker’s coach Mike Ekeler became famous for putting on his “Will Compton” tattoo and showed he will pull out all the stops to get the players we want.  Thinking outside the box is key in recruiting and this showed what kind of a recruiter he will be.  In only his first coaching gig, Coach Ekeler pulled one of the biggest surprises out of his bag of tricks.  Marvin Sanders showed he can pull some speed all the way out of Georgia just by talking to him and looking at pictures online.  Alfonso Dennard, a cornerback from rural Georgia, committed to NU after talking to Sanders and then looking on NU’s homepage for recruiting.  Sanders is all energy all the time, and if he can sell this university without ever showing it, just think what will happen when recruits have the ability to come and check out the campus.  Ron Brown didn’t miss a beat after being out of coaching for 5 years, with landing Khiry Cooper, a talented WR/baseball prospect out of Louisiana.  Brown went head to head with Arkansas and new coach Bobby Petrino, and showed that sometimes, honesty wins in the end.  One thing I was impressed with was how every recruit said how much they thought of all the coaches.  How much they appreciated their honesty.  They said they felt they could believe what the coaches were saying and just weren’t telling them what they wanted to hear.

Here I will break down offensive players who signed and  I will rank them as I think they  are.  It will be height. weight. and 40 time.

OFFENSE:

 Kyler Reed

1. Kyler Reed- (6’3″/215lbs/ 4.5) Reed will grow into an H-Back for NU and will certainly cause some mismatches with  his running back speed.  He has great hands and some very nifty moves in the open field, but shows to be very strong after he makes a catch, often punishing the defenders who take him on.
2. Steven Osborne- (6’4″/182lbs/ 4.5) A tall and rangy receiver who shows great hands and  his ability to be a dominant blocker.  As a senior he tallied 38 catches for 601 yard and 10 TD’s in one of Texas’s most dominant classes.  According to his coach, he is the best blocking receiver he has ever had in High School and praised Osborne for the amount of pancake blocks he got last season.
3. Khiry Cooper-(6’2″/175lbs/4.45)  Cooper is an outstanding prospect not only in football but baseball as well.  Ron Brown developed a strong relationship with Cooper, who caught 110 balls for 1,800 yards the past 2 seasons in Louisiana, while scroring 31 TD’s.
4. Ben Cotton- (6’6″/217lbs/4.7) Coach Barney Cotton’s son, this elusive TE with WR moves is grounds for a redshirt, but after remembering Matt Herian’s FR year, this kid could be the second coming of Matt.  A definite field stretching TE,  the majority of this staff was present to witness what Herian brought to the game, and I expect Ben to be used exactly the same way.
5. Brandon Thompson- (6’6″/280lbs/–)  Talented tackle prospect who was out with a staph infection for most of his senior year, but still garnered 3 stars from Rivals.  On film, this guy is non-stop and pulverizes whoever is in front of him.  Richie Incognito in a tackles frame comes to mind when watching Brandon play.
6. Kody Spano- (6’2″/200lbs/4.7)  Kody was once committed to Oklahoma State, but after over signing on JUCO’s a scholarship was not available until the fall.  Kody, a spring enrollee, quickly made a visit to NU and committed shortly after.  Shows a strong arm and good pocket presence.  Deceptively quick and Shawn Watson’s main QB target after Gabbert left the class.
7. Antonio Bell- (6’2”/175lbs/4.5)  Bell, from Florida, possesses all the moves and speed in a wide receiver you would want on your team.  Once committed to Tennessee, Bell fell off the radar his senior year because of an injury.  Many teams came in late on him, but NU is where he wanted to be. 
8. Tyson Hetzer-  (6’7″/265lbs/4.75)  Does the name Jeremy Shockey ring a bell?  Well, he is not him, but with his combination of size and speed,  Tyson should make an immediate impact on the edge of the line next year for the Huskers. 
9. Lester Ward- (6’3″/186lbs/4.45)  Another player who’s senior year was short due to an injury.  Lester showed much promise after his junior campaign and will come in as a RB who has the ability to catch passes as a WR also.  Is NU’s second straight recruit from Brenham, Texas, joining Shawn Sullivan from the 2007 class.
10. Collins Okafor- (6’1″/210lbs/4.54)  North/south runner who after break-out JR year backed it up with a great SR campaign.  Averaged almost 8 yards a carry his last year in HS, but needs to improve on speed and vision.  Could be offensive sleeper in this class if developed into classic NU I-Back.
11. Ricky Henry- (6’4″/300lbs/5.2)  Ricky, after signing with the Huskers after the 2005 season, attended North Dakota State College of Science the past two years.  Is a very aggressive guard or center prospect that will bring some physicality with him to Lincoln.  Candidate for some early playing time, as guard is one of the thinnest positions on the roster. 
12. David Grant- (6’6″/278lbs/5.0)  A for sure redshirt candidate, David has only played football for 2 years, but according to his high school coach Sam Jones, he could definitely see him playing on Sundays. “Get him to the training table and in the weight room, the sky is really the limit.  I think he’s probably improved the most of any player we’ve had from the time he came in to now. He’s grown by leaps and bounds and he’s one of our top weight lifters. He’s really raw but we’re talking about a kid who has jumped tremendously in how he plays. He’s got a chance to play on Sundays. It’s a long way off, but with the same kind of progress over the next four or five years as he’s had the last two, he could be there.”
13. Tim Marlowe- (5’9″/165lbs/4.5)  Marlowe, a relative of Bo Pelini, did it all for Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, OH.  He played some receiver, running back, and even QB for his team, but NU is looking at him as a slot receiver and return man.

After watching film on all of these prospects, this is the ranking I come to.  This is only my opinion, and might not be indicative of anything to come in the future. Up next will be the defense highlighted by Nebraska’s first five star player, Baker Steinkuhler.