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2010 Feb 08
Husker Monday Takes: The 2011 Recruiting Wish List
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*Now that the 2010 recruiting class is in the books, there is two are primary goals for the 2011 class, which needs to be spectacular - not just solid - for head coach Bo Pelini.
Offensive line. You can never, not ever, be too deep there. Mike Smith, Keith Williams, DJ Jones and Ricky Henry are seniors next year. Mike Caputo, Jermarcus Hardrick and Marcel Jones are juniors.
With his reliance on the junior college ranks, Bill Callahan left Pelini to play perennial catch-up in this arena. Expect at least four more next year, with the best of the bunch, Florida prepster Tyler Moore, already committed.
Playmakers. Anywhere on the field is fine, but preferably at wide receiver and kick returner. One Rex Burkhead per class - a versatile guy who doesn’t have to come off the field in spot situations - is ideal.
The Huskers appear to be ready to host junior prospects now through the spring game - and you know NU will roll out the red carpet there. Pelini himself said he expected two or three more commits in the coming months. The question becomes: How does the summer shape up? Last summer, NU took a step forward and arguably two steps back, pursuing verbal commitments from three players (Anterio Sloan, Keeston Terry and Tyler Gabbert) that Nebraska later didn’t want.
One note on quarterback commit Jamal Turner: Let’s just see if Texas or Alabama pushes for him to visit on Junior Day. Those are hard invitations to turn down. Nebraska’s Tim Beck did a whale of a job securing a verbal commit. Now Beck will have to keep him from the wolves of top ten programs.
*Because Drew Brees proved it once again in the New Orleans Saints’ impressive 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl, let us repeat it: Height doesn’t matter at the quarterback position nearly as much three things:
1. Accuracy. Knowing where to throw a ball, and how hard to throw it.
2. Evading pressure subtly, but effectively.
3. Chemistry with your receivers.
Brees, Sunday’s MVP after completing 32 of 39 passes for 288 yards in a 31-17 win, is brilliant in all three categories, and most of that stuff is not physical talent. It’s work ethic, classroom study, and instinct. Yes, of course, Brees has a good motion and is blessed with gigantic hands for a man his size. But the position is so much about being canny, more than it about raw skills.
Who in this year’s NFL Draft reminds me of Brees? Colt McCoy. Provided he’s healthy, McCoy would be my pick over Sam Bradford and Jimmy Clausen if I’m a general manager and needed a quarterback.
*One can only hope Nebraska’s fourth-ranked women’s basketball team gets its shot at top-ranked Connecticut before the season is up. At its current pace, NU will have to reach the Final Four at the very least - and maybe the title game.
Nebraska would match up in several key areas - better, arguably, than No. 2 Standord. The Huskers live and breathe a breakneck pace. So does UConn. The Huskies are tenacious in transition. The Huskers get back better than almost any team in the country. Connecticut throws one big after another at teams. Nebraska boasts a deep, versatile frontcourt that can absorb fouls and punishment.
Where the Huskers may struggle is against a deliberate, methodical team with a strong point guard and a stingy zone defense. Credit NU head coach Connie Yori with beating the Big 12 South at its own speed game. I’m curious to see how well Nebraska handles junk defenses - and the ever-increasing burden of perfection - as the season wears on.
*You heard it here: Nebraska’s men’s basketball team pulls a fast one on Baylor this week. The Huskers are getting closer. You see it in their performances.
*I am completely against the NCAA expanding to 96 teams for March Madness. Ugh. I can live with an expansion to 68 teams - or even 72 teams, which essentially banishes the No. 15 and No. 16 seeds to play-in status - but I’d much prefer the NCAA employ some common-sense rules for the Big Dance:
1. An at-large team must finish .500 or above in its conference. If you can’t do that, you have no business in the Big Dance. It’s not a bowl game.
2. If a team from your league hasn’t won a NCAA Tournament game in five years, no more automatic bid. In other words - if your league can’t prove it’s worth one win in the Big Dance, then the next bid needs to be earned outside the welfare program with an at-large selection. Could take one year. Could take 15.
3. Regular-season conference champs get the auto-bid. Spare me the “what about the conference tournament?” argument. Do it during the grind - or don’t do it.
*I don’t care too much that USC’s Lane Kiffin offering a 13-year-old from Delaware a scholarship to play quarterback for the Trojans. I don’t care that the kid, David Sills, verbally accepted the offer.
What irks me is Sills’ “mentor,” Steve Clarkson, trying to book the kid on Oprah and Ellen. And Sills’ dad willingly allowing Clarkson, who funneled several quarterbacks - including Matt Barkley - toward the Trojans - to fly his son to USC games, meet Pete Carroll and make the kid’s decision essentially for him.
We talked about the rise of handlers and street agents just before Signing Day, and here’s a lovely example. Oh, Clarkson may have impressive connections and pupils, sure. And he uses those connections and pupils to get his name in the news. Sills’ father appeared to have his argument all planned for ESPN Los Angeles two days ago, and he makes his fair share of points when it comes to immersing his son in college football.
Just one thing: Who said USC was the best place to send a quarterback? Who’s Kiffin star project? Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart belong to Norm Chow. Mark Sanchez? Steve Sarkisian, Kiffin’s “name” is John David Booty. Some fun.
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Tags: husker monday takes, recruiting, wbb, mbb, super bowl, bo pelini, jamal turner
Home > Blogs > Official Husker Locker Blog > Husker Monday Takes: The 2011 Recruiting Wish List



I'm glad that you pointed out that Drew Brees does in fact have lots of natural talent. (His feet are simply amazing in the pocket, once he settled down yesterday it was a clinic. And yeah, it took him two series in his first Super Bowl to calm down. WOW.) A lot of times these NFL coaches/coordinators/gms I think start to believe that it is all above the neck.
Can we all just agree that Lane Kiffin is a horrible person, completely arrogant without cause and incredibly good at finding desperate situations with dubious people making decisions. (Al Davis, UT after the Fulmer debacle and Mike ha-ha Garrett.) Things that he does aren't trendsetting or shocking, it's sad for the kid, but ultimately if his parents have signed off that has to end the "moral outrage" segment of our response. And also, let's all count on that friend to all of us, "Teenage rebellion" which ultimately is the best weapon we have against parents and/or leeches getting these kids too early. Can't wait until he says, "Nah, I think I'll go to Georgia because they have better girls, dad." Not that anyone should believe Kiffin will even be there when this kid is 17. That would be a staggering development given his track record.
– Feb 8, 2010
I have nothing against the kid - some are more mature, and some aren't - mentally. What kid who dreams of college and NFL football greatness wouldn't jump at signing with a dream school if given the opportunity? But, what happens if this kid ends up a terrible player by the time he is a senior? Does Lane Kiffin pull his offer? That would look pretty stupid, and it loses recruiting credibility. That would be unfair to the kid. A lot can happen between now and then. You could change offensive coordinators or systems, or a whole coaching overhall, and then where are you? "Commits" in college football are becoming less and less concrete and meaningful. Just like it is smart to leave college early for the NFL if you have the talent so that you don't miss out on millions if you get injured, it also makes sense for high school athletes to commit to a college that they would be satisfied with just to secure a scholarship in case better offers don't come or don't pan out. They can still keep looking under the radar, and if things look like they can get a better offer elsewhere, then they open up their recruiting again. It is kind of like reserving a spot without putting down a deposit, and there is nothing wrong with cancelling your reservation if you have a better one in the bank.
– Feb 8, 2010