Bio: Quarterback Zac Lee is one of six players who joined the Nebraska progam at mid-year, including four junior college prospects. Lee is one of two quarterbacks in the Huskers' recruiting class and is one of six total junior college players in the 2007 class. He also continues Nebraska's recent tradition of strong recruiting efforts in the state of California. The Huskers have signed a total of 19 players from the state in the past three recruiting classes.

The 6-2, 205-pound Lee joins the Huskers after one season of action at San Francisco City College, the same school that produced Husker wideout Maurice Purify a year earlier. Lee had a standout 2006 season for Coach George Rush, passing for more than 3,400 yards and 35 touchdowns while completing 64 percent of his passes. Lee's performance led San Francisco City College to a 10-2 record and an appearance in the California junior college title game. The San Francisco City College offense averaged nearly 40 points per game under the direction of Lee, who sat out 2005, and enrolled in junior college last January, giving him four seasons to use three years of eligibility at Nebraska. Lee is ranked as the nation's top junior college quarterback according to Rivals.com, Scout.com and SuperPrep Magazine. Rivals.com lists Lee as a four-star prospect and as the No. 10 overall junior college prospect in the country. SuperPrep Magazine ranks Lee as the 16th-best junior college player in the United States. Lee starred in both football and baseball at St. Ignatius College Prep in San Francisco. He was a three-year all-league quarterback in high school, but focused much of his time on baseball, limiting his Division I football scholarship offers out of high school. Lee chose Nebraska after also receiving strong recruiting interest from Oklahoma, Fresno State and Mississippi State among others. Lee is the son of Bob and Janice Lee and was born on April 26, 1987. His father played quarterback for 12 seasons in the National Football League from 1969 to 1980, spending time with the Vikings, Falcons and Rams. The elder Lee had his best season in 1973 when he threw for more than 1,700 yards for the Falcons. Bob Lee also served as the athletic director at University of Pacific.

His Words: "It was all in red and going nuts. The facilities are awesome. It was very impressive. I really enjoyed the visit.."

Picked NU over: Cal and Oregon

Callahan's words: "Zac Lee’s lineage, as we all know, his dad played professional football and is just a wonderful guy and of course Zac is just a tremendous competitor. In junior college, he led an outstanding, talented team at San Francisco City to a California championship. He’s just a vicious competitor in every sense. You watch him run with the ball and make plays with his legs and throw it, I think he has a rope for an arm. He probably has one of the best releases I’ve seen in awhile, out of the guys that we’ve had. He’s accurate, he’s played in the pass system and understands the passing game and understands how to manage a game from the quarterback position. Patrick is eager, he’s smart, he’s intelligent, I look at his makeup and he reminds me a lot of (Zac) Taylor in that regard. He’s smart, he’s tough and he’s dependable and we know what that’s down around here for the past few years. He kind of exemplifies that, he exudes that in his personality and also in his performance. I’m inspired by Witt because he’s a guy that is very intelligent and was in a program in Georgia, transferred to Wylie, Texas, played there and did just a phenomenal job of production and putting up numbers. I think he threw for close to 1,700 or 1,800 yards and did an excellent job for a team that wanted to throw the football. He plugged in as a senior and was accepted. He had nothing but high marks and great comments from coaches there from a guy coming in from out of the blue. So I have a lot of respect for him. He is inspiring and he’s going to be an interesting guy to watch in years to come. "

On the LCL injury of Zac Lee

"He’s had surgery already. After his last game where he was injured, he had surgery about a week or so after. He just got off of crutches so this has not been a lot of fun for Zac Lee. He’s come here on crutches and trying to get around in this mess right now is pretty tough. He’s been great. He’s been by the office quite a few times and have shared some moments with him. He’s been doing good. He’s anxious. It’s tough to be hurt, especially at that position when you want to get out and compete. He’s watching all these other guys throw right now and he wants to get in the mix pretty badly."

"He’ll be here for training camp. He’ll be able to run somewhat I believe by spring but he won’t be ready for contact or competition."

More N-sight:

Lee says: "There's not a thing I don't like about Nebraska. The big thing for me was that, as this process kept going, it just felt like the right place for me."

Coachspeak
" All the variety of throws that he has - the quick out, the slant, the hitch, the fade, the corner, the dig. He was exciting to watch because they had so much in their repertoire. It's very similar compared to what we have. " - Nebraska coach Bill Callahan

The gurus say
"He's a fairly mobile guy who has a strong arm and a sense of how to play the position," said Brad Hoiseth of jcgridiron.com. "And anything he sees at the next level is not going to shock him, because he's out there right now playing with a bunch of Division I guys."

About Lee
"He's a tremendous prospect," said Dan Hayes, the offensive coordinator at CCSF. San Francisco's system is sophisticated by junior-college standards, but Lee picked it up quickly. Lee threw for 304 yards per game, 37 touchdowns and just five interceptions. CCSF head coach George Rush said he doesn't make poor decisions and doesn't often take sacks. "There's a storm raging around him, but he's just got this inner calm," Rush said. The nation's best juco quarterback according to rivals.com.

Omaha.com's take
The 2007 quarterback job appears to be Sam Keller's to lose, even though Lee has already enrolled. But Lee has four years to complete three seasons, so if he can beat out Patrick Witt in 2008, the position could be his for a while.

Bio: Speedy running back and return specialist Marcus Mendoza is one of two high school prospects (also Patrick Witt) who graduated from high school at mid-year and enrolled at Nebraska in January. Mendoza is also one of seven members of the Huskers' 2007 signing class who come from Texas. Mendoza posted impressive rushing numbers for Spring Woods High School in Houston. As a senior, Mendoza totaled approximately 700 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, while also catching 20 passes for better than 250 yards and another four scores. The 5-10, 175-pound Mendoza was also a dangerous return threat for Coach Dwayne Eggerman. As a junior, Mendoza missed three games, but still earned second-team all-district honors after rushing for better than 650 yards and 10 touchdowns. Mendoza is highly regarded by several recruiting services. He is a four-star prospect according to Rivals.com, which also ranks him as the nation's No. 12 all-purpose back and the No. 65 overall prospect in the state of Texas. Mendoza is also ranked a four-star performer by Scout.com, who lists him as the No. 35 overall running back in the country and the 20th-best prospect in the state of Texas. SuperPrep Magazine ranks Mendoza as the No. 38 prospect in the state of Texas, while he was also listed 70th on the Texas Super 200 Senior Playmakers List. Mendoza is also a standout on the track, clocking times of 10.64 seconds in the 100 and 21.6 in the 200 meters as a junior. Mendoza chose Nebraska after also visiting Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. He is the son of Rubi Mendoza and was born on Sept. 21, 1988.

His Words: ""There's so much support for the football team. When we walked into the stadium, they were screaming our names saying 'we want you to be a Husker'. It was amazing. The facilities are great. Everything is top-notch. Like the
weight room is crazy. Everything there is top of the line"

Picked NU over: TCU, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, and Kansas State.

More N-sight:

Mendoza says: "I can do a lot of things. I can run the ball and catch the ball. They'll send me out from the tailback position to catch passes and do a little bit of everything."

Did you know?
Graduated from high school in December, started attending NU classes last month and will go through spring practices with the Huskers. Offers came early and often for the all-purpose back, and from several Big 12 schools. Texas Tech had perhaps the most interest.

The gurus say
SuperPrep Magazine ranks Mendoza as the No. 38 prospect in Texas. Scout.com puts him No. 36 at running back nationally, and rivals.com has him at No. 7 among all-purpose backs.

About Mendoza
All-purpose is the best tag for Mendoza. Not going to be a workhorse back by any means because of his size. Rushed for about 700 yards as both a junior and senior, but also caught 20 passes last season. One description has been that he bounces off defenders like a pinball. It surely will be interesting to see how Nebraska uses a player with a real skip in his step. Mendoza's best track times last spring were 10.64 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 21.6 in the 200.

Omaha.com's take
Nebraska's search for a spark to its return games might lead to Mendoza. Because he can do some unique things - and because NU will have access to him in spring practice - Mendoza might contribute immediately in some form.

Bio: One of three running back prospects in the 2007 Nebraska signing class, Roy Helu committed to Nebraska last September. Helu is one of four signees from the state of California, a group that continues Nebraska's commitment to recruiting in that state. The Huskers have signed a total of 19 players from the Golden State in their past three recruiting classes. Helu possesses good size and outstanding speed and had an impressive prep career at San Ramon Valley High for Coach Dave Kravitz. Helu helped San Ramon Valley to a 10-2 record in 2006, earning first-team all-league honors at running back. He finished his senior campaign with 1,085 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns and added another 300 yards and one more score on 20 receptions. He also had one interception as a free safety. As a junior, Helu rushed for 1,526 yards and 19 scores on 186 carries during the 2005 season, good for an impressive 8.2 yards per carry average. He added 30 receptions for 500 yards and four touchdowns to earn All-East Bay League honors. Helu was also a dangerous return man for San Ramon Valley throughout his high school career. Helu is ranked as the No. 55 running back prospect in the country by Rivals.com, which ranks him as a three-star prospect. Scout.com also ranks Helu as a three-star performer. Helu only visited Nebraska, but also received offers from numerous schools, including BYU, California and Oregon. Helu was born on Dec. 7, 1988 and is the son of Roy Helu Sr., and Christi Helu.

His Words: "When I was walking in the stadium I got goose bumps. During the Tunnel Walk, everyone was going crazy in the sea of red.."

Picked NU over: California, Oregon, and Brigham Young.

Callahan's words: "Looking at the depth chart right now, we may have only one or two guys up for spring ball, as of today. I hope that situation improves. But Quentin, and also Roy Helu, will definitely add to the mix of backs, as will Marcus Mendoza.."

Bio: The final piece in Nebraska's 2007 recruiting class was standout wide receiver Curenski Gilleylen (pronounced kur-en-ski gilley-yen). Gilleylen announced his intentions to join the Husker program less than two weeks before national signing day. He is one of seven Texans in the Huskers' 2007 class, Nebraska's largest group of recruits from the Lone Star State since also signing seven in 1989. Gilleylen boasts an excellent combination of size and speed, and is one of two highly touted wideout prospects in the 2007 class, joining Omaha native Niles Paul. The 6-0, 210-pound Gilleylen earned honorable-mention Texas Class 5A all-state honors as a senior. He was also a first-team All-Centex selection by the Austin American Statesman, was named to the HIll Country News' Dazzling Dozen Team, and was Leander's Outstanding Offensive Player. He helped Leander High School to a 12-3 record in 2006. Playing for Coach Steve Gidden, Gilleylen totaled 30 receptions for 915 yards and nine touchdowns. He also spent some time at running back and had about 500 yards rushing with another four touchdowns on the ground. Gilleylen also posted impressive numbers as a junior, catching more than 40 passes for 850 yards and 12 touchdowns to earn all-district honors and second-team all-state accolades. Gilleylen is ranked as a three-star prospect by both Rivals.com and Scout.com. SuperPrep Magazine lists the speedster as the No. 78 overall prospect in the state of Texas. In addition to his impressive football credentials, Gilleylen is also a standout on the track for Leander, competing in the 100 meters and on his school's 4x100-meter relay team. Gilleylen was also an honorable-mention academic all-state pick by the Texas High School Coaches Association. Gilleylen chose Nebraska over Oklahoma State and Tennessee. He is the son of Stephanie Sullivan and Clarzell Gilleylen and was born on March 15, 1989.

His Words: "I like Nebraska because they're an up-and-coming program. I like that they're known for good athletics and academics.."

Picked NU over: Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Missouri, and Oklahoma State.

Callahan's words: "Building a tremendous facility has really been a real bonus and a real factor in this whole process, especially with the early commits. The guys that did commit early, it made an impact on them. Of course with Curenski Gilleylen, I know it made an impact on him when he was here. I think it’s individual but I think collectively if I did my own little poll and survey, all these guys really enjoyed the facility. Not one guy had anything bad to say about it. They all thought it was like the Taj Mahal. They were all really excited."

More N-sight:

Did you know?
His high school coach describes Gilleylen as the most hotly recruited player in school history. He surpasses quarterback Paul Thompson, who picked Oklahoma over Texas and led the Sooners to a Big 12 title as a senior last season.

Coachspeak
"First off with Curenski, you've got to talk about his character. He's a super person. He's straight up with everything. He was a unanimous captain on our team. And athletically, he's just started to blossom." - Leander coach Steve Gideon

The gurus say
Three-star prospect by rivals.com ranked as the No. 52 player in Texas and 49th-best wide receiver nationally.

About Gilleylen
It says something positive about Nebraska's ability to recruit Texas when it can get a player from Leander, which is situated on the outskirts of Austin in the backyard of the Longhorns. UT didn't recruit the speedy Gilleylen, but he still comes from enemy territory. Tennessee, Missouri and Purdue offered scholarships, and Gilleylen picked NU after a courtship by offensive coordinator Shawn Watson and receivers coach Ted Gilmore. Gilleylen accumulated more than 900 receiving yards and almost 1,500 yards of total offense as a senior.

Our take
Receivers with legitimate 10.5-second speed over 100 meters don't come around often. Speed alone, though, won't earn Gilleylen quick playing time as NU returns seven of its top eight receiving threats.

Bio: One of three in-state recruits in Nebraska's 2007 recruiting class, Omaha North product Niles Paul is generally regarded as the top senior in the state. Paul is Nebraska's first scholarship signee from Omaha North since receiver Wilson Thomas inked with the Huskers in 1998. Paul's signing also marks the 13th consecutive year that Nebraska has signed at least one player from Omaha. He is the nephew of former Husker great and current Green Bay Packer running back Ahman Green. The 6-1, 210-pound Paul posted standout receiving numbers for Coach Larry Martin and the North Vikings the past two seasons. Last fall, Paul hauled in 46 passes for 814 yards and 13 touchdowns. He averaged nearly 18 yards per reception, and was also a dangerous return threat averaging better than 18 yards per punt return. Paul's performance helped Omaha North to a 9-2 record and a trip to the Class A state quarterfinals. For his efforts, Paul was named a first-team All-Nebraska and first-team All-Metro selection by the Omaha World-Herald and a first-team Super-State pick by the Lincoln Journal Star. Paul was also one of 58 players nationally who were selected as a Parade All-American. Paul excelled as a junior for Omaha North, when he averaged 19.5 yards on 32 receptions and caught 10 touchdown passes. He also averaged 25.6 yards per kickoff return as a junior and nearly 10 yards on his punt return attempts. His performance as a junior earned him second-team Super State honors from the Lincoln Journal Star and second-team All-Metro honors from the World-Herald. Paul is ranked as one of the nation's top receiving prospects by several recruiting services. Rivals.com ranks Paul as the top overall prospect in the state, the No. 10 receiver recruit in the country and the 73rd-best overall prospect nationally. Scout.com also lists Paul as a four-star recruit and ranks him as the 20th-best receiving prospect in the nation, while SuperPrep Magazine lists him as the No. 5 prospect in the Midlands Region and the eighth-best receiving prospect in the country. Paul was the only Husker signee to play in the U.S. Army All-American Game in San Antonio, and was the leading receiver for the West team. Paul is a multi-sport star for Omaha North. Last spring he led the Vikings to the Class A state track title by winning four gold medals. Individually, he captured the Class A titles in the 110 and 300 meter hurdles and was part of all-class gold medal teams in the 4x100 and 4x400-meter relays. Paul also won the Class A state title in the 300 meter hurdles as a sophomore in 2005. On the basketball court, Paul is among the Class A leaders in scoring at 19.0 points per game and leads the state in rebounding at better than 11 boards per contest. Paul was Nebraska's first commitment in the 2007 class, pledging his intention in January of 2006. He is the son of Nick DeCosta-Paul and was born on Aug. 9, 1989.

His Words: "The best thing is, you can have goals as an individual, but when a player hits that field, it?s all about the team. That?s how Nebraska plays; as a team and they never give up."

Picked NU over: Iowa State and Michigan.

Callahan's words:

On what stood out about him

"Everything about him. You name it. His character. His athletic ability; his presence. He is a great kid. He’s very focused. He wants to be the best. What’s unique about Niles is that he knows exactly what he wants, and that shows tremendous focus for a young man. For an individual to be that locked in to what he wants and where he wants to go in life, I have a lot of respect for that. Niles’ upside is, you name it, he can do anything. We’re going to start him at wide receiver. He can be a return specialist for us. He can do a lot of things, so it’s going to be interesting to see how he develops over the years. But he has just tremendous upside, great lineage, outstanding character and as you talk to his father and you talk to his coach and the people around him up at Omaha North they have nothing but great things to say about him. He’s just a class act.”"

On whether Niles Paul chose Nebraska by default

"He always wanted Nebraska. He always wanted to be here. This is something he wanted to get over. I’m sure this is an individual that could have gone anywhere around the country, he could have gone to any school and taken a trip, and I have great respect for a guy that knows exactly what he wants and where he wants to go in life. And he didn’t confuse the issue, he didn’t make it kind of a dog and pony show, traveling all over the country, and he is a high profile player, but he’s a very humble guy in that regard. He has a great upbringing, his dad did a wonderful job with him. I’m just impressed, totally. When you meet him he’s cheerful, he’s bright, he has a smile on his face, he’s upbeat, he has energy. He’s the type of guy we want to be around and he’s the type of guy we want in this program because he’ll affect so many other guys positively. So we’re looking for great things and we’re looking for great leadership out of Niles Paul."

More N-sight:

Paul says: "I think I can perform at the next level. Basically I'm probably going to be like (Nebraska senior receiver Maurice Purify). I might have to start out taking a back seat, but once I start developing a chemistry with the quarterback it shouldn't take long before I'm on the field."

Did you know?
Along with being considered one of the top football prospects in Nebraska, Paul won four gold medals in the 2006 state track meet.

Coachspeak
"At the position he's at, Niles definitely has the physical ability to contribute right away, being that he's so big and athletic." - North coach Larry Martin

The gurus say
Paul is rated a four-star prospect and the nation's No. 10 wide receiver by rivals.com. He was given four stars by scout.com, which ranked him as the 20th-best receiver in the country. First-team All-Nebraska by The World-Herald, he was also selected as one of eight receivers for the Parade All-American team.

About Paul
While he had already been considered one of the best high school players in Nebraska, Paul's game-high four catches in the U.S. All-American Bowl raised his stock immensely. But it didn't surprise anyone who had to play against him. "If you write down everything you want in a wide receiver, Niles has got it all," former Omaha Central coach Joe McMenamin said.

Omaha.com's take
If he can adjust mentally to Nebraska's West Coast offense, Paul could be a factor next season. Along with his size, he clocked a 4.4-second 40-yard dash.

Bio: Tight end Ryan Hill is Nebraska's lone 2007 signee from the state of Colorado. He is the only player in the class expected to begin his Husker career as a tight end. Hill was an extremely versatile player for Coach Casey Coons at Arvada West High School. The past two seasons, Hill has produced big numbers from his tight end position, while also serving as the team's punter. An extremely athletic player, Hill was often split out wide as a senior and caught 42 passes for 924 yards with seven touchdown grabs. He posted similar numbers as a junior, hauling in 44 passes for nearly 900 yards and an impressive 15 touchdowns, helping his team to a 10-3 record and a state semifinal appearance. Hill was honored for his efforts at tight end, as he was named all-conference both his junior and senior years and was an all-state pick as a senior. In addition to excelling at the tight end position, Hill also served as Arvada West's punter the past two seasons. He averaged 42.8 yards per punt as a senior and was an All-Colorado selection as a punter. Hill is ranked as a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, who also ranks him as the No. 41 tight end prospect in the country and the 13th-best prospect in the state of Colorado. Hill is ranked as a three-star standout by Scout.com and is that service's No. 35 tight end. SuperPrep Magazine ranks Hill as the 10th-best tight end in the country and the No. 22 overall prospect in the Midlands Region. Hill's athletic accomplishments are not limited to the gridiron. He is a standout on his school's baseball team as a pitcher and third baseman and is considered a possible draft pick this June. Hill was one of Nebraska's first commitments in this year's class, and did not take any additional visits. Hill is the son of Doug and Tracey Remley, and was born on Jan. 28, 1989.

His Words: "You could tell how together the team was and that we?re only going to get better as time goes on. Then, when you think about how great coach (Bill) Callahan is, you really get excited about getting to Lincoln as soon as you can."

Picked NU over: Nebraska was the only Division I team to offer Hill a scholarship

More N-sight:

Hill says: "There was no conflict at all. I never even considered going to Colorado. I've wanted to play for Nebraska for as long as I can remember."

Did you know?
Hill is considered one of the premier baseball prospects in Colorado, as a pitcher and third baseman at Arvada West. Though he could be selected in the 2007 Major League draft, Hill said he was still undecided about trying to play baseball at NU.

Coachspeak
"Ryan's one of the better athletes I've coached. He kind of got overlooked by a lot of teams early on in the recruiting process. Once Nebraska started recruiting him, I think everybody knew that's where he was going to go right away." - Arvada West coach Dave Logan

The gurus say
Rated a three-star prospect by both rivals.com and scout.com, Hill was ranked the No. 47 overall tight end by rivals and No. 36 by scout.

About Hill
Hill's athleticism should serve him well at Nebraska, as he's played tight end, quarterback, wide receiver, safety, place-kicker and punter. With his size and a 4.7-second 40 time, Hill could play both tight end and H-back at Nebraska. He racked up 900 receiving yards in both his junior and senior seasons. "He's just a great all-around athlete," Sand Creek coach Mark Fisher said. "Anyone who can be your best receiver and play quarterback is obviously a good football player."

Omaha.com's take
Nebraska has lacked a consistent threat at tight end since Matt Herian was injured in 2004, but Hill could be just that player in a few years.

Bio: Offensive line prospect Aaron Schulte is one of three in-state prospects in Nebraska's 2007 signing class. Schulte is expected to delay his enrollment at Nebraska until January of 2008, and join the Husker program at that time. The 6-6, 320-pound Schulte was a standout performer for Norfolk Catholic High School and Coach Jeff Bellar to a 9-3 record and a trip to the Class C-1 state semifinals. Schulte played on both the offensive and defensive lines for the Knights. Schulte's performance earned him first-team Class-C1 all-state honors from both the Lincoln Journal Star and the Omaha World-Herald. He also dominated on the offensive line as a sophomore and junior, helping Norfolk Catholic to back-to-back state titles and a 25-1 combined record in 2004 and 2005. Schulte earned first-team Class C-1 all-state honors as a junior. He is regarded as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com, which also lists Schulte as the No. 9 player in the state of Nebraska. Schulte was a late addition to Nebraska's class, but did receive strong interest from several other schools including Kansas, Iowa State and Colorado State. Schulte is the son of Jeff and Marge Schulte and was born on May 31, 1988.

His Words: "I just liked it down there. I like the atmosphere and I like the coaches a lot.."

Callahan's words: (On whether Aaron Schulte (Norfolk Catholic HS/Norfolk, Neb.) joined the recruiting class only because of the loss of David Ross)

"No he was always slated to be here. We’re looking at the potential of grey shirting him, so this is a great opportunity for Aaron to come to Nebraska and be a part of this class and also to extend his eligibility as well. We’ve had great discussions with his family in terms of how we want to treat his processes and there’s been great communication and dialogue since day one. I’m very confident that he’ll do a great job. He’s a good kid. He’s one of those big statured Nebraska linemen that you look for and he’s complemented with those two other tackles as well Marcel Jones (Trevor Browne HS/Phoenix, Ariz.) and Jaivorio Burkes (Moon Valley HS/Phoenix, Ariz.), all three of these guys are what you look for in offensive linemen these days."

More N-sight:

Did you know?
Schulte is a grayshirt, meaning he's scheduled to delay his full-time enrollment at Nebraska until January 2008 and begin the following season with five years to complete four seasons of eligibility.

Coachspeak
"I think (the grayshirt) will be great for him. It will give Aaron an opportunity to get used to the coursework and college life, and then also preserve an extra season." - Norfolk Catholic coach Jeff Bellar

The gurus say
A first team Class C-1 all-state pick by The World-Herald, Schulte was ranked by rivals.com as the No. 9 prospect in Nebraska.

About Schulte
Big and strong, Schulte can get even bigger and stronger after an extra semester next fall to prepare for the start of his NU career. He helped Norfolk Catholic to consecutive state titles in 2004 and 2005 as it won 25 of 26 games during his sophomore and junior seasons. "One of his strengths is that he has great feet for a big person," Bellar said. "(NU offensive line) Coach (Dennis) Wagner liked that. For us, he was able to make plays by getting down the line and powering people."

Omaha.com's take
Schulte certainly has the size to play at Nebraska, but the jump from Class C-1 to the Big 12 is a huge one. He figures to need at least two years to handle the adjustment.

Bio: Prince Amukamara (pronounced ah-moo-kuh-mara) is one of five players from the Phoenix metropolitan area in the Huskers' 2007 signing class. The five players from Arizona marks the largest group Nebraska has ever signed from that state. Amukamara brings an impressive set of credentials to the Husker program and has the ability to play on either side of the football. Amukamara was a dual-threat performer for Coach Zach Threadgill at Apollo High School. During his final two seasons, Amukamara scored nearly 50 touchdowns, while rushing for 3,389 yards and averaging 11.9 yards per carry. As a senior, Amukamara rushed for 2,106 yards and 24 touchdowns, an average of 191.5 yards per game, while catching 22 passes for 252 yards and six touchdowns. In the same two seasons, the 6-1, 180-pounder also had 664 receiving yards and totaled about 125 tackles, including 95 tackles, along with two interceptions in 2006. Amukamara was also a dangerous kickoff and punt return threat, averaging 26 yards per punt return and 20.8 yards on kickoff returns. Amukamara's play helped lead Apollo High to a 7-4 record during the 2006 season. Amukamara's best game came in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs against Scottsdale Chaparral. In a 35-28 overtime loss, Amukamara rushed for 366 yards and four touchdowns, caught four passes and had a 45-yard punt return. He was honored as the state high school player of the year by the Arizona Republic newspaper, which named him a first-team Class 4A all-state pick. He is ranked as a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, which also ranks Amukamara as the No. 12 overall prospect in the state of Arizona and the 56th-ranked athlete in the country. Scout.com lists Amukamara as the nation's No. 47 running back prospect, while SuperPrep Magazine ranked him as the No. 6 overall prospect in the state of Arizona. In addition to his football talents, Amukamara is also a starting guard for the Apollo basketball team, which has captured back-to-back Class 4A state championships the past two years. Apollo was ranked third in Class 4A through January. Amukamara was born on June 6, 1989, and is the son of Romanus and Christie Amukamara. He chose Nebraska over Fresno State and Arizona State.

His Words: " I felt a comfort level there immediately, like right when I checked into the hotel and when I was around the players. I could see myself spending the next four or five years at Nebraska.."

Picked NU over: UNLV, Colorado, Oregon St., Nevada, and Fresno St.

Callahan's words: (On the focus on recruiting defensive backs)

"We went into it with the idea that we wanted to shore up two positions. The positions that needed the most depth were the defensive line and the secondary. We had seven sign. We had a decommitment today, which wasn’t unexpected in a lot of senses. We knew that it was going to be a tough get to begin with. Overall, we’re excited about the seven kids who are coming. They all have excellent potential. When I say seven, I include Eric Hagg and Prince Amukamara into that group. Those players will start at that position as they come into training camp. That’s a fine group of athletes who will give us the depth and the size to help us at that particular spot.”"

More N-sight:

Amukamara says: "I'm a point guard in basketball, the guy who's always got the ball in his hands. And that's the way I see myself as a football player, too. I'm the guy who can make things happen."

Did you know?
The second-oldest of six children, Prince is the only boy. His parents are from Nigeria; Prince was born in Boston.

Coachspeak
"Personally, I think Prince is way too good with the ball in his hands to put him on defense. His vision in space is as good as I've ever seen." - Apollo coach Zack Threadgill

The gurus say
The state's big school player of the year by the Arizona Republic. Rivals.com awards Amukamara three stars and ranks him Arizona's No. 11 prospect.

About Amukamara
Exploded onto the local and national recruiting scene as a senior. Threadgill, a former Nevada QB who threw for 3,400 yards in 2002, decided early in his first season as head coach last fall to showcase Amukamara. "We opened up the offense because of him. They were running the wing-T, and I decided we had to do whatever we could to get Prince the ball in multiple ways." He responded by rushing for 2,106 yards and 24 touchdowns. Also totaled 252 receiving yards and six TD catches, plus 95 tackles as a defender and two kick-return scores.

Omaha.com's take
An elite athlete in the mold of Marlon Lucky and Rickey Thenarse, both of whom earned playing time at NU over the past two years as true freshmen. As multiple Phoenix-area prep coaches say, get Prince the ball and let him go to work.

Bio: One of five players in Nebraska's recruiting class from the state of Arizona, Eric Hagg is a versatile player who could impact the Huskers at multiple positions. A product of Ironwood High School in Glendale, Ariz., Hagg is part of Nebraska's largest ever influx from the state of Arizona, including his high school teammate defensive end William Yancy. Hagg starred at receiver and defensive back for Coach Larry Allen at Ironwood. On offense, he caught 49 passes for 920 yards and nine touchdowns, while making 33 tackles and intercepting four passes on defense. Hagg's efforts as a senior earned him first-team Arizona 5A all-state honors from the Arizona Republic. Hagg's impressive senior season came on the heels of a strong junior campaign, when he had 37 catches, including 12 touchdowns and made better than 40 tackles on defense. He also had seven interceptions and blocked a punt. Hagg is ranked as a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, which also listed him as the No. 15 prospect in the state of Arizona. Scout.com listed Hagg as a three-star wideout, while SuperPrep Magazine ranked him as the No. 14 recruit in the Grand Canyon State. In addition to his outstanding accomplishments on the gridiron, Hagg is also a top basketball player, starting for his Ironwood High team. Hagg only visited Nebraska, but had numerous other offers including Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon and Oregon State. Hagg is the son of Eric Hagg Sr., and was born on Sept. 15, 1989.

His Words: " This place was so nice, the campus was so nice. Oh man, the atmosphere is crazy, and all the coaches are great. Just amazing! Everything's real nice in the new facilities. The fans were crazy and the place was packed. There was no room left anywhere"

Picked NU over: Utah, Arizona, Oregon, Oregon State, and Nevada.

Callahan's words: (On the focus on recruiting defensive backs)

"We went into it with the idea that we wanted to shore up two positions. The positions that needed the most depth were the defensive line and the secondary. We had seven sign. We had a decommitment today, which wasn’t unexpected in a lot of senses. We knew that it was going to be a tough get to begin with. Overall, we’re excited about the seven kids who are coming. They all have excellent potential. When I say seven, I include Eric Hagg and Prince Amukamara into that group. Those players will start at that position as they come into training camp. That’s a fine group of athletes who will give us the depth and the size to help us at that particular spot.”"

More N-sight:

Did you know?
Brother, Skyler, is a freshman wide receiver at Buffalo for former NU quarterback and assistant coach Turner Gill. Gill also tried to recruit Eric Hagg.

Coachspeak
"He got double-teamed most of the time and had to really work to get open. He's very special - the best all-around athlete I've coached at that position in 37 years." - Ironwood coach Larry Allen

The gurus say
First-team Class 5A by the Arizona Republic. Rated by rivals.com as the state's No. 15 player and a three-star prospect.

About Hagg
Hagg was the first of the five Phoenix-area high school seniors to commit to Nebraska. It's of major importance, because if Hagg had selected another school after his November visit to Lincoln, the other four might have followed his lead. The five players have known each other well for several years as a result of their backgrounds in basketball. Hagg caught 49 passes for 920 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior. He also made 33 tackles and four interceptions a defensive back.

Omaha.com's take
A rival Arizona prep coach says Hagg is better off starting on the defensive side of the ball as a strong safety and growing into an outside linebacker. Sounds reasonable. So does a redshirt season.

Bio: Latravis Washington will bring outstanding size and speed to the Husker secondary. The 6-3, 210-pound Washington is one of five players in Nebraska's 2007 signing class slated to begin their Husker career in the secondary. Washington is also one of three native Floridians in this class, but is the only Florida high school signee. Washington is the cousin of former Nebraska cornerback Fabian Washington, who was a first-round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2005. Latravis Washington was a two-way standout for Bayshore High School in Bradenton, Fla., attracting recruiting interest both as a defender and a quarterback. As a senior, Washington split time on defense between the secondary and defensive end, finishing the year with five sacks, in addition to ranking as one of his team's top tacklers. Washington also started at quarterback for Coach Raymond Woodie, and accounted for six passing touchdowns and six rushing scores. Washington also had an excellent junior season, in which he threw for 600 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 800 yards and nine scores. Washington also lines up as the starting power forward for Bayshore's basketball team. In addition to his association with the Huskers through his cousin, Washington attended Nebraska's Elite Quarterback Academy in both 2005 and 2006. Washington is regarded as a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, who lists him as the nation's No. 39 safety prospect and the 65th-best player in the state of Florida. Scout.com also gives Washington a three-star ranking and places him 62nd at the safety position. In addition to attending the same high school as Fabian Washington, Latravis also hails from the same hometown as former Husker quarterback Tommie Frazier. Washington chose Nebraska over Ohio State and West Virginia. Washington is the son of Katrina Andrew and Julius Washington Jr., and was born on April 13, 1989.

His Words: " That's what I like...no distractions. I also love the city of Lincoln. They enjoy their football there. Its not like the state of Florida where every person roots for a different team. Everybody in Nebraska loves the Cornhuskers."

Picked NU over: Ohio State, West Virginia, Louisville, and North Carolina State.

More N-sight:

Washington says: "I looked at my size and thought, 'I look good at defensive back.' I'm ready to get up (to Lincoln) and get working on that."

Did you know?
Washington, the cousin of former Husker and current Oakland Raiders cornerback Fabian Washington, attended Nebraska's quarterback camps the past two summers.

Coachspeak
"He will just knock you out. He will hit you and knock you out." - Bayshore coach Jean Gordon

The gurus say
"He's got amazing athletic ability," Jeremy Crabtree of rivals.com said. "He could be a very solid safety. I think the academic questions kept a lot of big-name schools away. Nebraska, just looking at his size, has to be excited about the different places he could fit in."

About Washington
Although he played quarterback in what Gordon called a "predominately run-oriented" offense, Washington is classified as an athlete. Gordon actually compared him favorably with former Kansas State and current Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Darren Howard, whom Gordon coached. "They're about the same size, and Latravis has that same sort of speed," Gordon said. Ohio State wanted Washington to come in and redshirt next season to learn the offense in the same mold of Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith.

Omaha.com's take
The only thing bigger than Washington's athletic upside may be his wide smile and love of football. Could be a wild card in a defensive backfield much deeper and talented next season.

Bio: Shawn Sullivan is part of an impressive group of defensive back recruits in Nebraska's 2007 recruiting class, and part of large influx of players from the state of Texas. Sullivan is one of five Husker recruits scheduled to begin their Nebraska careers in the secondary. He is also one of seven signees from the Lone Star State, Nebraska's largest group of players from that state since also signing seven in 1989. Sullivan was one of the first players to commit to Nebraska, pledging his intention last June. The 5-10, 190-pound Sullivan was a standout two-way performer for Coach Glen West at Brenham High School. He helped the Cubs to the third round of the Class 4A state playoffs and a 12-2 record in 2006. Sullivan earned all-district honors for his defensive work, where he showed his versatility by often lining up at outside linebacker. He finished the year as one of the team's top tacklers, while registering five sacks and four interceptions. On offense, Sullivan played wideout for most of the season and scored three touchdowns, but also served as a running back in Brenham's state playoff run. Sullivan was an all-district and all-conference selection as a junior, when he recorded 43 tackles, seven tackles for loss and four interceptions. Sullivan is listed as the No. 89 player on the Dallas Morning News’ Texas Top 100. SuperPrep Magazine ranks him as the No. 79 player in the Lone Star State, while Rivals.com lists him as a three-star prospect and the 43rd-ranked cornerback in the country. Scout.com ranks Sullivan as a three-star prospect and the nation's No. 52 cornerback, while his is listed as one of the top 150 players on the Texas Super 200 Senior Playmakers list. Sullivan boasts outstanding speed and is planning to participate in sprints for the track team this spring, after posting a personal best of 10.6 in the 100 meters last year. Sullivan only visited Nebraska, but also received offers from TCU, Wisconsin, Oklahoma State and Colorado among others. Sullivan is the son of John Sullivan and Wynn Adams, and was born on May 20, 1989.

His Words: " The visit went great. The highlight was going around and seeing everything. The new facilities were great. There wasn't anything I didn't like."

Picked NU over: Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma State, and Wisconsin.

More N-sight:

Sullivan says: "I think I can make a big impact there."

Did you know?
Sullivan was a high school teammate of quarterback Jarrett Lee, targeted heavily by Nebraska before he committed to LSU.

Coachspeak
"He's 5-9 or 5-10, but he looks a lot taller than that because of the way he's built. On film, you'd swear he's 6-foot." - Brenham coach Glen West

The gurus say
Ranked as a three-star prospect by both scout.com and rivals.com. Scout lists Sullivan at No. 53 among cornerbacks. He's No. 89 on the Dallas Morning News Texas 100.

About Sullivan
Committed to Texas Christian last spring before changing his mind to Nebraska in June, becoming the first of the Huskers' seven recruits from Texas in this class. Excellent 40-yard dash speed in the 4.4-second range and capable as a kick returner. Also plays with a physical and aggressive nature.

Omaha.com's take
As Nebraska's situation at cornerback has improved, it takes urgency away from pushing players like Sullivan. Most likely a candidate to redshirt and then start his bid for playing time once Cortney Grixby, Zack Bowman and Andre Jones have moved on.

Bio: Junior college standout Armando Murillo is a key part of an impressive group of secondary recruits in the Huskers' 2007 signing class. Murillo is one of five players recruited by Nebraska to play defensive back, and is also one of six junior college performers in the class. Murillo, who has three years to complete two seasons of eligibility, enrolled at Nebraska for the spring semester and will take part in spring drills. Murillo joins the Huskers after a standout two-year stint at Eastern Arizona Community College in Thatcher, Ariz., where he was coached by John O'Meara, who also coached current Husker Zackary Bowman at New Mexico Military Institute. Murillo originally hails from Tampa, Fla., but is one of six Nebraska signees with Arizona connections, joining five Phoenix area prep standouts. Murillo helped Eastern Arizona to a 7-4 mark in 2006, by intercepting three passes and making about 30 tackles, while teams generally threw to the other side of the field. In his first season at Eastern Arizona in 2005, Murillo earned first-team All-America honors from the National Junior College Athletic Association. He helped Eastern Arizona to a 6-4 record by recording seven interceptions, including two that he returned for touchdowns. Murillo is regarded as a four-star prospect by Rivals.com, which also ranks him as the nation's No. 21 overall junior college recruit. Murillo is listed as a four-star player by Scout.com, while SuperPrep Magazine ranks him as the No. 38 overall junior college prospect in the country. Murillo was a standout high school performer at Robinson High in Tampa, before enrolling at Eastern Arizona. Murillo was a two-way player for Mike DePeu at Robinson High, playing wide receiver and defensive back. Murillo chose Nebraska after also visiting Arizona State and West Virginia, while he also received offers from Oklahoma and Louisiville among others. Murillo was born on Feb. 1, 1986, and is the son of Facunda Arenas. His brother, Javier Arenas, was a freshman defensive back for Alabama last season, and Murillo is a cousin of NBA star Gilbert Arenas.

His Words: " I like that they are a big family. Everybody. The players, the coaches, the trainers, the fans and everything are all one big family"

Picked NU over: West Virginia, Oklahoma, Louisville, and Hawaii.

More N-sight:

Murillo says: "The coaches, the faculty, the facilities, the team, they were all great. I was signing autographs before the game. They told me that was going to happen, but I couldn't believe it."

Did you know?
Murillo played for the same junior-college coach as NU corner Zack Bowman. "Armando's a lot further along than Zack at playing the football," said John O'Mera, who coached Bowman at New Mexico Military Institute.

Coachspeak
"He's the best cornerback in JC football. He's got great feet and great hips. At cornerback, that's what you're looking for." - Phoenix Community College coach Dale Wolfley

The gurus say
A four-star prospect, according to jcgridiron.com, Murillo ranks 21st among all juco players.

About Murillo
Murillo's strength is man coverage, said rival coach Wolfley. His freshman season, Phoenix threw at him. "Then we learned better," Wolfley said. He can bench press 340 pounds and can squat 450. He's not as fast as Bowman, but "he's a lot more physical than Zack Bowman was at this stage." Bowman's a little taller and faster, but doesn't play as big as Murillo. "When the ball's in the air, he truly is a receiver," O'Mera said. Murillo signed his letter of intent in December and is already in Lincoln.

Omaha.com'sr take
A troublesome position will get a big boost from Murillo, who should compete with Andre Jones, Bowman and Cortney Grixby for a starting spot. Even if he's not as good as advertised, he'll give NU a chance to use nickel and dime options that were unavailable last year.

Bio: Defensive back Anthony Blue was one of the first commitments in the Huskers' recruiting class, announcing his intention to join the Husker program last June. Blue is one of seven Texans in Nebraska's recruiting class, the Huskers' largest recruiting haul from the Lone Star State since also signing seven in 1989. The 5-10, 175-pound Blue is also a key part of an impressive class of defensive back recruits in the Husker class. Blue was a standout at Cedar Hill High for Coach Joey McGuire. Cedar Hill captured the Texas Class 5A state title with a perfect 16-0 record. Blue was a second-team all-state selection, first-team all-district pick and second-team all-area in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Blue made 60 tackles and intercepted two passes as a senior, while breaking up another 20 passes. Blue is a three-star prospect according to Rivals.com and is ranked as the nation's No. 62 safety prospect by the recruiting service. Scout.com also gave Blue a three-star rating and ranked him as the nation's 73rd-best defensive back prospect. In addition to his outstanding play on the gridiron, Blue is a track standout for Cedar Hill and he is expected to be among the top contenders in the 200-meter dash at the Texas state track meet. Last spring Blue posted a time of 21.4 in the 200 meters. Blue only visited Nebraska, but received a number of offers from other Division I schools, including Baylor, Purdue and Wisconsin. Blue was born on Feb. 6, 1989, and is the son of Shawndra Blue and Anthony Blue Sr.

His Words: "It's just the academic support, the graduation rate, and they get all of their players taken care of with school first and then athletics are second. My dad really liked that."

Picked NU over: Baylor, Houston, Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana, and UNLV.

More N-sight:

Did you know?
Played on the Class 5A state championship team that finished 16-0 and is expected to have 10 players sign Division I-A letters of intent.

Coachspeak
"One of the best tacklers that I've ever coached at that position. He'll definitely strike your tail." - Cedar Hill coach Joey McGuire

The gurus say
First-team all-district and second-team all-area in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. A three-star prospect, according to both scout.com and rivals.com

About Blue
Can play cornerback or safety, according to his high school coach. Great speed will make him among the favorites for the 200-meter dash at the Texas state track meet. Two-year starter made 60 tackles, intercepted two passes and broke up 20 others as a senior. Offers were wide-ranging - three came from Big Ten schools - but did not include Texas or Texas A&M before he committed to Nebraska in late June. Blue's repertoire includes skill as an amateur movie maker, helped by his talents with a computer and other electronics.

Our take
According to McGuire, Blue is physically ready to play right away but would benefit in the long run from redshirting. That likely will hinge on health of the Huskers' secondary when preseason camp starts in August.

Bio: Safety prospect Larry Asante was one of six players in the 2007 Husker class to enroll at Nebraska in January. He is one of six junior college players in NU's signing class and part of a group of six players who are slated to begin their Husker careers in the secondary. Asante comes to Nebraska from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, the same school that produced the Huskers' 1983 Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier. Asante was one of the most highly regarded junior college prospects in the nation. He played linebacker for Coffeyville CC, using his speed and ball-hawking abilities to register 76 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, three blocked kicks and an interception as a redshirt freshman in 2006. Asante's performance earned him All-Jayhawk League honors, and honorable-mention All-America honors from the National Junior College Athletic Association. Asante is ranked as the No. 9 overall junior college prospect in the nation by Rivals.com, who lists him as a four-star prospect. Asante also earned a four-star rating from Scout.com, and was ranked as the No. 32 overall JUCO prospect nationally by SuperPrep Magazine. Asante originally hails from Alexandria, Va., where he attended Hayfield High School. As a prepster, Asante starred on both sides of the ball. He earned all-league honors as a running back in the AAA Patriot Division according to the Washington Post. Asante will have three seasons of eligibility with the Huskers. He chose Nebraska over Clemson, and also visited Kansas State and Iowa State. Larry is the son of Paul and Jewell Asante and was born on March 7, 1988.

His Words: "I just felt deep down that it was the right school for me and the right place. I'm going to work hard to make sure that I live up to what the Blackshirt defense expects. I can't wait to carry on the tradition."

Picked NU over: Texas A&M, Iowa State, Clemson, and Kansas State.

Callahan's words: "He’s a big guy. He’s 210 pounds. He’s fast, quick and physical. He has all the attributes you look for in a big-time safety. Interestingly enough, we started to compare his measurables to Daniel Bullocks, and they are pretty similar, except for the height. But the weight, the size, the performance and what he does on the field are very good. That’s what generates the excitement from our staff—the fact that he’s an impact hitter, a collision player, and that he has a lot of upside in terms of his intelligence, his savvy and his knack for the different roles that we can put him in. That’s a good element for him to be part of, whether we can put him in the nickel, at the strong safety position, interchange him in some roles and really utilize and maximize his skills.”"

More N-sight:

Asante says: "I felt like I fit into what they want to do on defense. That's what put Nebraska over the edge. Their safeties, they like to bring them up, give them a linebacker look. That way, I'm going to make some hits."

Coachspeak
"That was our guy. He was the best safety in the country, so we're excited about him. We know a lot about him, but we'll know a lot more after winter conditioning." - Nebraska safeties coach Bill Busch

The gurus say
"Larry Asante is one of the most dominant junior college players I've ever seen," said analyst Jeremy Crabtree of rivals.com. "Not this year. I mean ever. This kid is a special, special player. He's got the ability to play in the NFL."

About Asante
If you're going to play defense, "violent" is not a bad description for your style. That's what Busch called Asante, the only safety NU recruited for 2007. Asante, the ninth-ranked JC player in the country by rivals.com, moved from safety to linebacker at Coffeyville and made 76 tackles as a redshirt freshman. He'll line up at safety at NU and has three years to play three seasons. The strength of Nebraska's class influenced Asante's decision to come to Lincoln. "They were saying to me a couple weeks back that if they got me, they were going to have a top-five class in the nation. I thought about that, and it was a big part of the reason I wanted to go there."

Our take
Asante, who has already enrolled, likely ranks as the leading candidate to start at strong safety, providing Nebraska with the run stopper in the secondary it desperately needed in 2006.

Bio: Linebacker prospect Austin Stafford is part of an impressive influx of defensive talent in Nebraska's 2007 recruiting class. The 6-2, 205-pound Stafford hails from Hayward, Calif., and is one of four signees from California in this year's class, continuing Nebraska's committment to recruiting the Golden State. Stafford played defensive end for Coach Casey Moreno at Hayward High School, but projects to linebacker on the collegiate level. Stafford had a dominant senior season, helping Hayward to a 12-2 record by recording 14 sacks and better than 80 tackles. He was a first-team all-league selection for his performance. As a junior defensive end, Stafford posted impressive numbers, accounting for 83 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and two fumble recoveries. He also earned first-team all-league honors as a junior. Scout.com ranks Stafford as a four-star recruit and the No. 10 weakside linebacker prospect in the country, while SuperPrep Magazine lists him in the top 100 prospects in the state of California. Stafford is a three-star prospect according to Rivals.com, which lists him as the No. 26 outside linebacker prospect in the country and the 45th-ranked overall player in the state of California. Stafford is also a starter on Hayward's basketball team. Stafford took his lone visit to Nebraska, but also received strong recruiting interest from Utah and San Diego State among others. Stafford is the son of Joyce Stafford and was born on Sept. 11, 1989.

His Words: "When I visited Nebraska, I was impressed with their facilities. I felt very comfortable in the environment that they put me in. I felt that everybody - the players and the coaches - got along well with each other and were very friendly and welcoming. It felt like a family."

Picked NU over: Utah and San Diego State.

More N-sight:

Stafford says: "At the high school level, I was bigger than most other players. At the college level, I think my speed and ability to react to the ball will help me make plays," he told rivals.com.

Did you know?
Stafford's Hayward team finished 12-2, the most wins in the 105-year history of the school. It was also the school's first section championship in 27 years.

Coachspeak
"The casual observer wouldn't realize how low-key and level-headed Austin really is. He doesn't let a lot of things bother him." - Hayward coach Casey Moreno

The gurus say
"He's one of the biggest sleepers in all of California," Jeremy Crabtree of rivals.com said. "He kind of went under the radar for much of the process. He's got such a great head-hunting mentality, though."

About Stafford
Stafford piled up 10.5 sacks while primarily playing defensive end through the regular season. He tacked on three more during the playoffs. Moreno believes that one of Stafford's biggest attributes may be his "very, very strong, big, quick hands." A coachable kid in a beast's body, Stafford could make an impact at linebacker for Nebraska. A year of tutelage with the Huskers' solid core of returning linebackers also won't hurt.

Our take
Stafford played defensive end without hesitation, Moreno said, even acknowledging that his time on the line would be the best for the team. Projected as a linebacker at Nebraska, Stafford's physical nature and ability to get sideline to sideline excited the NU coaches.

Bio: Linebacker Blake Lawrence comes to Nebraska after an impressive prep career at Shawnee Mission West High School in Kansas. Lawrence was named the Gatorade Kansas High School Player of the Year after an impressive senior season for Coach Tim Callaghan. Lawrence was a dominant two-way player at Shawnee Mission West, starting at quarterback as a senior, while continuing as a defensive stalwart. On defense, Lawrence played both safety and linebacker and had 60 tackles, a pair of sacks and three interceptions. On offense, Lawrence completed 68-of-131 passes for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns, while throwing just three interceptions. Lawrence was also a running threat, picking up 483 yards on 71 carries, while reaching the end zone 15 times on the ground. His performance led Shawnee Mission West to the state Class 6A title game. In addition to his Gatorade Player-of-the-Year honors, Lawrence earned all-state and All-Metro honors from the Kansas City Star. Lawrence is ranked as a four-star prospect by Rivals.com and is listed as the top overall recruit in the state of Kansas. Rivals also ranks him as the nation's No. 18 outside linebacker prospect, while Scout.com lists him the 17th-best prospect at weakside linebacker. SuperPrep Magazine ranked Lawrence as the No. 30 linebacker in the country and the No. 26 prospect in the Midlands Region. As a junior, Lawrence served as the backup quarterback for his older brother, Tyler, and starred on defense. Blake tallied 90 tackles, including 13 tackles for loss, while recording four sacks and forcing four fumbles. For his efforts, the top-notch linebacker received all-conference, all-county, all-metro and all-state honors. Lawrence is also one of the top scholars at his school, maintaining better than 4.0 cumulative grade-point average. Lawrence received numerous scholarship offers and chose the Huskers after also visiting Kansas. Lawrence is the son of Lisa Heath and Mike Lawrence and was born on March 21, 1989.

His Words: "It came down to going where the heart is. I made a great decision and I look forward to the future. There are certain things that you just can't replace. That is the feeling I got when I was at Lincoln for the game."

Picked NU over: Texas Tech, Michigan State, Kansas, and Kansas State.

More N-sight:

Lawrence says: "There's going to be competition everywhere, but there's going to be great competition at Nebraska. I'm looking forward to that challenge and getting the chance to grow into my full potential."

Did you know?
Because of his size, Lawrence said his biggest goal this offseason will be to gain weight through Nebraska's training program. By the start of next season, Lawrence said he hopes to reach 225 to 230 pounds.

Coachspeak
" He's a smart kid who has a real sense for the game and knows to get to the ball-carrier in a hurry." - Shawnee Mission coach Tim Callaghan

The gurus say
Lawrence was named a four star prospect and the No. 18-ranked outside linebacker by rivals.com, and a three-star player and the No. 17 weakside linebacker by scout.com.

About Lawrence
Lawrence, who also played quarterback for Shawnee Mission West, racked up 90 tackles in both his junior and senior season. "He can come up and stop the run and he can drop back into coverage," said Shawnee Mission East coach John Stonner. "He's a very versatile player."

Omaha.com's take
Other than his size, which should change soon after he begins training at Nebraska, Lawrence looks like a fairly well-rounded player. Not only does he hope to gain 20 to 30 pounds by next fall, he also wants to maintain his 4.65-second 40 time. If he can do that, he should see the field on special teams if nowhere else.

Bio: California native Joseph Townsend is one of five players in the Huskers' 2007 signing class set to line up on the interior defensive front. The 6-3, 285-pound Townsend is also one of a group of six players to join the Huskers from the junior college ranks and one of four Californians in the 2007 class. Nebraska continues to make California one of its key recruiting priorities, as the Huskers have signed 19 players from the Golden State over the past three seasons. The 6-3, 285-pound Townsend is coming off a standout campaign for Coach Marshall Sperbeck at Foothill (Calif.) Community College. Townsend was a first-team all-league pick in the Northern California Conference in 2006, helping Foothill to a 10-1 record and a victory in the Silicon Valley Bowl. With most teams staying away from his side of the field, Townsend registered approximately 30 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks, 10 hurries and a fumble recovery. Townsend is ranked as a four-star prospect by both Scout.com and Rivals.com, which ranks him as the nation's No. 40 overall junior college recruit. SuperPrep Magazine lists him 18th nationally among junior college prospects.Townsend played both ways as a prep at Valley Christian High School in San Jose. He was mainly recruited as an offensive tackle out of high school. Townsend only visited Nebraska, but Washington State, Arizona State and Mississippi State were among other schools vying for his services. Townsend sat out the 2005 season, and will have four years to complete three seasons of eligibility at Nebraska. Townsend is the son of Larry and Alice Townsend, and was born on Dec. 16,1987. Townsend's older brother, Larry Jr., lettered for the Huskers as a defensive tackle for Nebraska's national championship teams in 1994 and 1995.

His Words: "The opportunity to get to the NFL, and the 94 percent graduation rate and the academic all-Americans-that is what sold me.."

Picked NU over: Arizona State, Mississippi State, and Washington State.

Callahan's words (On making the defensive line a priority this year in recruiting): "I think it’s huge, because of the fact that we lose (in effect) five defensive linemen. I’ve always considered (Stewart) Bradley as the fifth defensive lineman, because he played on the line of scrimmage. He was a stand-up SAM linebacker that played right there, off-tackle. So, I really felt the urgency to add and build depth at that position. You can never have enough good players, especially internally. I look at (Ndamkakong) Suh, (Ty) Steinkuhler and all those guys coming back this fall, and with the departure of Ola (Dagunduro) and Barry Cryer, I felt it was crucial that we get a couple of big guys and run-stoppers inside that can help us continue our success against the run. That’s where Kevin Dixon and Shukree Barfield come into play. I thought we had to replace those pass rushers, Adam Carriker and Jay Moore, so we went after some great athletes like Will Yancy and Joseph Townsend. Those players are outstanding players who you can’t pass up on. They’re just too good to say we don’t want them in this class. They were there, the need was there, and we just added a few more as we moved along."

More N-sight:

Did you know?
Townsend's older brother, Larry, played defensive tackle for NU in 1994 and 1995 - he never lost a game.

Coachspeak
"You look at him and see a major-college football player. And the way he plays, he goes 100mph." - Foothill coach Doug Boyett

The gurus say
Townsend, a four-star prospect with three seasons of remaining eligibility, was ranked the second-best junior-college defensive tackle by scout.com.

About Townsend
Townsend originally signed with Washington State two years ago, but a poor SAT score made him a non-qualifier. He didn't attend college in the fall of 2005, hoping to attain a passing score and enroll at WSU. He ended up at Foothill in January and played one season for Boyett. He has added at least 20 pounds since high school. Townsend was one of several recruits who felt an emotional attachment to departed defensive line coach John Blake. He played junior-college ball for the Northern California Conference champions - their only loss came against Zac Lee's City College of San Francisco. Townsend was all-NorCal Conference and ranked 30th in the nation among juco players, according to rivals.com.

Omaha.com's take
There's no better place at Nebraska to make an immediate contribution than defensive tackle. Townsend appears to be a key addition after Ola Dagunduro and Barry Cryer left. He's one of several recruits with a chance to come in and start.

Bio: Terrence Moore is part of an impressive group of signees for the Husker defensive line. Moore is one of seven 2007 NU recruits who are slated to begin their Husker careers on the defensive front. Moore is Nebraska's first signee from the Louisiana prep ranks since the 2002 Husker signing class. The 6-3, 275-pound Moore was an impact performer for McDonogh 35 Senior High School in New Orleans in 2006. Moore comes to Nebraska from the same high school as former Husker star and NFL All-Pro defensive lineman Neil Smith. Moore totaled 81 tackles, including 31 tackles for loss, 14 sacks and a pair of fumble recoveries as a senior. His performance earned him first-team New Orleans all-metro honors and first-team all-district honors. Moore helped Coach Wayne Reese and McDonogh 35 to a 7-3 record and a trip to the second round of the Louisiana 4A state playoffs. Moore returned to New Orleans this past summer after being displaced to Spring, Texas, in 2005 following Hurricane Katrina. Moore was able to play in only a handful of games in 2005 after arriving in Spring, but remained on the recruiting radar of numerous schools. Moore is ranked as a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, which ranks him as the nation's No. 41 defensive tackle prospect and the No. 22 overall prospect in the state of Louisiana. Moore also received a three-star rating from Scout.com and was the No. 31 prospect in Louisiana according to SuperPrep. Moore only visited Nebraska, but received strong recruiting interest from Alabama, Missouri, Oklahoma State and Tulane among others. Moore is the son of Judy Hunter and was born on Jan. 31, 1989.

His Words: "I knew Nebraska was the place for me once I got up there. The hospitality of the people and the academics are just what I was looking for in a school."

Picked NU over: Tulsa, Missouri, Oklahoma State, and Georgia Tech.

More N-sight:

Moore says: "I feel (underrated) a lot. I think I'm one of the top defensive lineman in the South. Obviously you're going to use that as motivation when people don't respect the things you work hard to get done."

Did you know?
Moore played at the same high school as former Huskers great Neil Smith, a six-time NFL pro bowler.

Coachspeak
"Newspapers only zero in on certain guys to begin the season. Terrence didn't play around here last year, so not a lot of people were talking about him. But teams like Nebraska saw what he could do on tape." - McDonogh 35 coach Wayne Reese

The gurus say
With only a two-star rating by rivals.com for the majority of the process, Moore needs to add some weight, said Jeremy Crabtree of rivals.com. "Obviously he moves well. He could be one of those sleepers that turns out to be a really good lineman."

About Moore
Following Hurricane Katrina, Moore played his junior season at Spring High School in Houston. "It was hard. Not knowing where my family was at or if they were even alive," Moore said of the season away from Louisiana. Moore garnered a third star from rivals.com in their final rankings and was part of a major recruiting haul in mid-December.

Omaha.com's take
Moore, after not getting many accolades from recruiting experts, saw late interest from top-tier SEC schools such as Alabama, Arkansas and LSU. His strength is his ability to move along the line. A redshirt season and a year in the strength program could make him a viable stopper.

Bio: Kevin Dixon is one of two defensive line standouts from Garden City (Kan.) Community College in the Huskers' 2007 signing class, joining teammate Shukree Barfield. A native of Vero Beach, Fla., Dixon is one of seven defensive line signees in this year's class and one of six players to join the Husker program from the junior college ranks. In 2006, Dixon recorded 42 tackles, eight sacks, another nine tackles for loss and forced a pair of fumbles in helping the BroncBusters to a 6-4 record. For his efforts, Dixon earned honorable-mention All-America honors from the National Junior College Athletic Association. In his first year at Garden City, Dixon racked up 34 tackles, including 22 solo stops, five sacks and seven tackles for loss. Dixon is ranked as a four-star prospect by Rivals.com and the No. 40 overall junior college recruit by the service. Scout.com lists Dixon as a three-star recruit, while SuperPrep Magazine ranks him as the 79th-best JUCO prospect in the country. Before his career at Garden City CC, Dixon was a standout for Sebring High School in Vero Beach, Fla. In addition to his football accolades, Dixon was an all-county selection in basketball. Dixon and Barfield come to Nebraska from a school with past connections with the Huskers. Among the Garden City products to join the Husker program were Kareem Moss and Eric Alford, who both went on to professional careers. Dixon has two seasons of eligibility with the Huskers. He is the son of Tonya McCoy and was born on May 7, 1987. Dixon chose Nebraska over Louisville, South Florida and Texas A&M.

His Words: "I liked the fans, man, the fans are crazy. I like that this town is all about football. They are really, really supportive of their players. That was probably the biggest thing. I loved the game. The atmosphere was good."

Picked NU over: South Florida, and Louisville.

Callahan's words (On defensive tackles Shukree Barfield and Kevin Dixon): " You can never have enough of the guys who can deal with the run, play physical inside in the one-gap and two-gap, and create a presence inside and problems for the center and guard in not allowing them to block linebackers. We see power, size and explosiveness. It’s exciting to see and we’re anxious to see get them on campus. We’re especially excited about Dixon playing the three-technique. Barfield can play nose tackle and the three-technique, as well. We’re going to put Barfield at the nose and Dixon at the three-technique and bring them along from there. Both these players have tremendous upside and a strong, physical presence about them."

On making the defensive line a priority this year in recruiting

"I think it’s huge, because of the fact that we lose (in effect) five defensive linemen. I’ve always considered (Stewart) Bradley as the fifth defensive lineman, because he played on the line of scrimmage. He was a stand-up SAM linebacker that played right there, off-tackle. So, I really felt the urgency to add and build depth at that position. You can never have enough good players, especially internally. I look at (Ndamkakong) Suh, (Ty) Steinkuhler and all those guys coming back this fall, and with the departure of Ola (Dagunduro) and Barry Cryer, I felt it was crucial that we get a couple of big guys and run-stoppers inside that can help us continue our success against the run. That’s where Kevin Dixon and Shukree Barfield come into play. I thought we had to replace those pass rushers, Adam Carriker and Jay Moore, so we went after some great athletes like Will Yancy and Joseph Townsend. Those players are outstanding players who you can’t pass up on. They’re just too good to say we don’t want them in this class. They were there, the need was there, and we just added a few more as we moved along."

More N-sight:

Did you know?
Dixon was set to attend a different junior college until Garden City coach Lucas Aslin sold him on a little town in Kansas. Aslin's sales pitch came in an unusual setting: the library in Sebring, Fla. He talked to Dixon, his mother and high school coach for six hours. The librarian moved them to three rooms because they talked too loud.

Coachspeak
"He's going to be a special player. His motor is extremely high and he's very, very quick." - Aslin

The gurus say
Dixon was a first-team all-Jayhawk Conference pick. He's rated a three-star prospect by scout.com.

About Dixon
Two things about Dixon stand out, according to his coach. He's got a strong lower body, and he's more explosive than most defensive tackles. Dixon didn't get many recruiting offers in high school, partly because of his grades, but also because he hadn't physically developed. He didn't start lifting weights seriously until he came to Garden City. "He blew up from 255 to 290, and he got faster," Aslin said. Many college coaches discovered Dixon this season after he moved from defensive end to tackle. "He really flourished this year when we moved him inside," Aslin said. Kevin Steele and others have consistently called Aslin the past month to inquire about Dixon, who originally committed to South Florida before switching to Nebraska in January.

Omaha.com's take
NU may have found a starting defensive tackle when it snagged Dixon. He won't arrive until summer, which makes his transition difficult, but all signs point to a quick impact.

Bio: Demetrious Davis is part of an impressive crop of defensive linemen in the Huskers' 2007 recruiting class. A native of St. Joseph, Mo., Davis is one of seven players in the class slated to begin their Nebraska careers on the defensive line. The 6-2, 285-pound Davis comes to Lincoln from Benton High in St. Joseph, the same high school that produced former Husker Mike Rucker, now a standout defensive end with the Carolina Panthers. As a senior, Davis helped Benton High and Coach Derek Wilson to an 8-4 record and a trip to the state quarterfinals. For his efforts, Davis earned Class 4A all-state honors by the Missouri High School Coaches Association. Davis was selected to play in the East Meets West All-American Game in Florida in June, teaming up with future Husker defensive linemate Jared Crick. Davis was impressive in the game, registering five tackles in the West's victory. Davis burst onto the recruiting scene after an impressive junior season in which he had 70 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss and six sacks, while also recovering a pair of fumbles. Davis is ranked as a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, which also listed him as the No. 10 overall prospect in the state of Missouri and the 39th-best defensive tackle in the nation. Scout.com ranked Davis as the No. 32 defensive tackle in the country, while SuperPrep Magazine listed him as the 52nd-best overall prospect in the Midlands Region. Davis committed to the Huskers last June and did not take any other visits, but did receive numerous scholarship offers. He is the son of Carmen Lankford and was born on Feb. 14, 1989.

His Words: "It was an easy choice. I've been wanting to play for Nebraska since I was a little kid. I've dreamed of playing for them forever and finally got my chance to do it...so I did it. "

Picked NU over: Iowa, Missouri, Alabama, Kansas, and Kansas State.

More N-sight:

Davis says: "I have a chance to come in there and start right away. That's what I'm going to shoot for. I'm not going lie down for anybody."

Did you know?
By committing to Nebraska, Davis now will have played at the same college and high school as former Husker and current Carolina Panther Mike Rucker. Davis actually weighed close to 310 pounds as a high school freshman.

Coachspeak
"Demetrious is the real deal. You see his skills, the power, explosion and wingspan, etc., but he's also a very hard worker. It doesn't take long to see that he's going to be a good player at the level." - Benton coach Derek Wilson

The gurus say
Davis was named a three-star defensive tackle and is ranked No. 39 and No. 32 nationally at his position by rivals.com and scout.com, respectively.

About Davis
Davis has become known for his explosive strength off the line of scrimmage. He recorded 30 bench reps of 225 pounds and squatted 575 pounds at the Greater Kansas City combine last year. On the field, he registered 70 tackles and six sacks as a junior in 2005, helping him earn first-team all-city and all-conference honors. "He's a very disruptive force," Savannah (Mo.) coach Dave Kuhl said. "He's so strong and quick that you have to double-team him almost every play."

Omaha.com's take
Davis should be able to provide immediate depth on a defensive line that lost all four starters from last season. He will need a couple years to develop but could become a solid starter for the Huskers.

Bio: Shukree Barfield is one of six junior college prospects in the Huskers' 2007 signing class, and part of an influx of defensive linemen. The 6-4, 310-pound Barfield enrolled at Nebraska at mid-year and is one of seven players in the class who will begin on the defensive line, including Barfield's Garden City CC teammate Kevin Dixon. Barfield starred on the defensive line for Coach J.J. Eckert at Garden City CC, registering 54 tackles, including five sacks and also an interception in helping his team to a 6-4 record. He also totaled more than 50 tackles and had five sacks during his freshman season in 2005. Barfield is a three-star prospect according to Rivals.com and was ranked as the No. 40 overall junior college prospect in the country. He is also a three-star prospect according to Scout.com. Barfield originally signed with Rutgers out of high school, after also visiting Kentucky and Miami (Fla). He was an all-state selection for Camden High and had 55 tackles, seven sacks, nine tackles for loss and two interceptions during his senior season. Barfield was ranked as one of the top 20 prospects in the state of New Jersey out of high school. Barfield, who has two seasons of eligibility at Nebraska, chose the Huskers after also visiting Louisville, South Florida and Kentucky. He is the son of Anette Barfield and was born on Oct. 23, 1984. Garden City Community College has produced two former Huskers–Kareem Moss and Eric Alford–that went on to play professionally. In addition, Barfield hails from the same hometown as Husker Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier.

His Words: "I like the people and the fans are very loyal to the team. You have got to love something like that. I like that they have a good education and you want to come here and graduate and it is not all football."

Picked NU over: South Florida, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisville, and Rutgers.

Callahan's words (On defensive tackles Shukree Barfield and Kevin Dixon): " You can never have enough of the guys who can deal with the run, play physical inside in the one-gap and two-gap, and create a presence inside and problems for the center and guard in not allowing them to block linebackers. We see power, size and explosiveness. It’s exciting to see and we’re anxious to see get them on campus. We’re especially excited about Dixon playing the three-technique. Barfield can play nose tackle and the three-technique, as well. We’re going to put Barfield at the nose and Dixon at the three-technique and bring them along from there. Both these players have tremendous upside and a strong, physical presence about them."

On making the defensive line a priority this year in recruiting

"I think it’s huge, because of the fact that we lose (in effect) five defensive linemen. I’ve always considered (Stewart) Bradley as the fifth defensive lineman, because he played on the line of scrimmage. He was a stand-up SAM linebacker that played right there, off-tackle. So, I really felt the urgency to add and build depth at that position. You can never have enough good players, especially internally. I look at (Ndamkakong) Suh, (Ty) Steinkuhler and all those guys coming back this fall, and with the departure of Ola (Dagunduro) and Barry Cryer, I felt it was crucial that we get a couple of big guys and run-stoppers inside that can help us continue our success against the run. That’s where Kevin Dixon and Shukree Barfield come into play. I thought we had to replace those pass rushers, Adam Carriker and Jay Moore, so we went after some great athletes like Will Yancy and Joseph Townsend. Those players are outstanding players who you can’t pass up on. They’re just too good to say we don’t want them in this class. They were there, the need was there, and we just added a few more as we moved along."

More N-sight:

Did you know?
Barfield is from the same town as former Husker and Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier. NU's all-time leading rusher also played in the Jayhawk community college league, at Coffeyville.

Coachspeak
"He's got a lot of size and ability. He moves very well. He's got a great work ethic." - Garden City coach Lucas Aslin

The gurus say
Barfield was an honorable-mention all-league pick in the Jayhawk Conference. He is a three-star prospect, according to scout.com and rivals.com.

About Barfield
The junior-to-be originally committed to Rutgers in 2004. That February, he prophetically said this of Greg Shiano: "I think Coach Schiano is one of the best coaches in college football." Grades prevented him from enrolling at the Big East school, though. Schiano recruited Barfield again last year, but Barfield chose NU in December over Louisville, Kentucky and others. He's already on campus and enrolled in classes after graduating from Garden City. The past month, he has helped Nebraska recruit Kevin Dixon, a teammate in junior college. Barfield told Dixon he liked his first month in Lincoln and encouraged him to sign. The pair were interested in completing their college careers together. "Tackles like them are very hard to find," Aslin said. Coffeyville coach Jeff Leiker said Dixon and Barfield "were just tough to move."

Omaha.com's take
Barfield doesn't appear as talented as juco teammate Dixon, but he'll be in Lincoln for spring practice, an advantage in his bid to contribute next fall.

Bio: Defensive end William Yancy is part of an impressive recruiting haul by Nebraska in the state of Arizona. The Huskers inked five prep standouts from the Grand Canyon state, NU's largest ever recruiting influx from Arizona. Yancy is joined in the 2007 NU class by his Ironwood High School teammate Eric Hagg. Yancy is also one of seven players in the 2007 class who are slated to begin their careers on the defensive front, and is one of two defensive ends in the class. Yancy helped Ironwood and Coach Larry Allen to a 7-4 record in 2006 by registering 32 tackles and seven sacks from his strongside defensive end position. For his efforts, Yancy earned honorable-mention Class 5A all-state honors from the Arizona Republic. Yancy earned all-region honors as a junior when he racked up 66 tackles and 11 sacks while playing the weakside defensive end spot. Yancy participated in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl in Florida following his senior season. Yancy is ranked as a four-star prospect by Rivals.com, which lists him as the No. 4 overall prospect in the state of Arizona and the 19th-best strongside defensive end prospect nationally. Scout.com ranks him as a three-star prospect, while SuperPrep Magazine listed Yancy as the No. 10 overall prospect in the state of Arizona. Yancy is also a standout performer on Ironwood's basketball team. He splits time starting between center and power forward and has helped his team to a 14-4 record through late January. He averages double figures in rebounds and leads his team with four blocked shots per game. Yancy chose Nebraska after also taking visits to Arizona State and Purdue, and turning down an offer from Oklahoma. He is the son of Clark and Joyce Yancy and was born on Jan. 9, 1989.

His Words: "The people in Nebraska are so personable, from the coaches to the players to the fans. Everybody in Nebraska supports the football team. That's the most impressive thing to me."

Picked NU over: Oklahoma, Arizona State, Oregon, and Oregon State.

Callahan's words (On making the defensive line a priority this year in recruiting):

"I think it’s huge, because of the fact that we lose (in effect) five defensive linemen. I’ve always considered (Stewart) Bradley as the fifth defensive lineman, because he played on the line of scrimmage. He was a stand-up SAM linebacker that played right there, off-tackle. So, I really felt the urgency to add and build depth at that position. You can never have enough good players, especially internally. I look at (Ndamkakong) Suh, (Ty) Steinkuhler and all those guys coming back this fall, and with the departure of Ola (Dagunduro) and Barry Cryer, I felt it was crucial that we get a couple of big guys and run-stoppers inside that can help us continue our success against the run. That’s where Kevin Dixon and Shukree Barfield come into play. I thought we had to replace those pass rushers, Adam Carriker and Jay Moore, so we went after some great athletes like Will Yancy and Joseph Townsend. Those players are outstanding players who you can’t pass up on. They’re just too good to say we don’t want them in this class. They were there, the need was there, and we just added a few more as we moved along."

More N-sight:

Yancy says: "I'm a silent assassin. I've got a high-energy motor. I'm never going to quit on a play. I'm relentless."

Did you know?
His brother, Quincy, a 6-7, 270-pound defensive end, spent time with the Detroit Lions after a college career at hometown Arizona State that ended in 2000.

Coachspeak
"He's got the potential to be huge, just like his brother. William will be 6-7 by the time it's over with. And he's got an armspan that even's bigger than that." - Ironwood coach Larry Allen

The gurus say
Four-star prospect and the No. 4 player in Arizona, as rated by rivals.com. Honorable mention all-state by the Arizona Republic.

About Yancy
Made 80 tackles and 10 sacks while fighting through constant double teams as a senior at Ironwood. At his size, Yancy is just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential, according to Allen. He dabbled at wide receiver and tight end last fall but settled back into a role that featured him solely on defense. "He's got one of the best first steps I've seen in a long time," the Ironwood coach said. "Combine that with his size and versatility, and you're looking at a monster in a few years."

Omaha.com's take
Yancy is the kind of recruiting gamble that most any college coach will take. Another likely redshirt candidate who needs to add weight, his upside is high after a year or two in the NU program.

Bio: Jared Crick is one of three in-state prospects in Nebraska's 2007 signing class. The Cozad native will begin his Nebraska career as a defensive end, one of seven Husker signees slated to begin on the defensive front. The 6-6, 260-pound Crick earned second-team All-Nebraska honors from the Omaha World-Herald and second-team Super State honors from the Lincoln Journal Star as a senior, while earning first-team Class B honors from both papers. His performance helped Cozad and Coach Ron Bubak compile an 8-3 record and reach the second round of the Class B state playoffs in 2006. Crick made 68 tackles from his defensive end position, including six tackles for loss. On offense, Crick played tight end and caught 15 passes for 284 yards and four touchdowns. During his junior season, Crick recorded 75 tackles and five sacks en route to Class C-1 all-state honors from the Omaha World-Herald and honorable-mention all-state accolades from the Journal Star. Crick is also a key member of the Haymaker basketball team, leading the team in scoring at 12 points per game and rebounding with eight per contest. Crick is ranked as a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, who placed him as the No. 4 overall prospect in the state of Nebraska and the No. 45 strongside defensive end nationally. SuperPrep ranked him as the No. 46 defensive line prospect in the country and the 27th-best player in its Midlands Region, while Scout.com ranks him as a three-star recruit. Crick participated in the East Meets West All-American Game in Florida in January. Crick committed to the Huskers last summer and only visited Nebraska, but did receive numerous other scholarship offers. Crick was born on Aug. 21, 1989, and is the son of David and Cindy Crick.

His Words: "Just being a Nebraska boy and always wanting to be a Husker, this is perfect. That's what's really kept me solid through and through.."

Picked NU over: Iowa State, Kansas, Ohio, Wyoming, and Colorado State.

More N-sight:

Crick says: "Being a Nebraska kid, it's obviously been a dream of mine to be a Husker. This is a goal I've had for long time, and it's amazing that it's happening."

Did you know?
Crick is the first Nebraska-born player not from Omaha or Lincoln to ever be offered a scholarship by Huskers coach Bill Callahan. He also roomed with fellow defensive-line recruit Demetrious Davis during their time at the East-West All-American game.

Coachspeak
"Jared didn't get the attention from recruiters that maybe he should have, but he's a great football player and a great athlete. He benches around 400 pounds, and he's one of the better shot throwers in the state. There's no doubt in my mind that he can play Division I college football." - Cozad coach Ron Bubak

The gurus say
Crick is listed as a three-star prospect by rivals.com and the No. 45 defensive end in the country. Scout.com also ranks him a three-star recruit and the No. 55 player at his position.

About Crick
Crick provides the Huskers with another athletic and versatile defensive lineman that should help provide depth for an inexperienced defensive front. Also a tight end at Class C-1 Cozad, he recorded 70 tackles and four sacks and hauled in 20 receptions. While Crick said he'll likely start out as a "base" defensive end, there's still a chance he could move to tight end or even defensive tackle.

Omaha.com's take
Crick should benefit from the Huskers' lack of depth on the defensive line. He'll likely gain more weight and strength over the offseason.

K	:: Adi Kunalic :: (top)
	(North Crowley HS) Fort Worth, TX 6-0/175 Message Board Discussion
Courtesy Huskers.com Bio: Place-kicker Adi Kunalic is part of an impressive class of seven Husker recruits from the state of Texas, the Huskers' largest haul from the Lone Star State since 1989. Kunalic is the only kicker in Nebraska's class and comes to the Huskers after an impressive prep career for Coach Mike Papas at North Crowley High School in Fort Worth. Kunalic attempted just six field goals as a senior for a 3-7 North Crowley team, and connected on four of those attempts. He also nailed 29-of-31 extra-point attempts. Kunalic owns a powerful leg, which allowed him to boot 22 kickoffs for touchbacks during his senior season. Kunalic also served as the team's punter and averaged nearly 40 yards on 46 punts, with a season long punt of 72 yards. As a junior, Kunalic had more place-kicking opportunities for a 9-2 North Crowley squad. He connected on 7-of-9 field goal attempts, including a pair of field goals from better than 50 yards. Kunalic is ranked among the top 20 kickers in the country according to Rivals.com and is listed as a two-star prospect by both Rivals and Scout.com. Kunalic chose Nebraska after also taking a visit to Washington State. He also received offers from Miami, Kansas and Utah among others. He was born on June 1, 1989, and is the son of Meho and Ivana Kunalic. His Words: "It is a great football program and it is not as far from home. I'm ready to play football and Nebraska will be perfect." Picked NU over: Utah, Kansas, Washington State, and Miami (Fla.) More N-sight: Kunalic says: "You don't want to peak too early. I think I've improved over the years, but I just definitely have to keep working. There's never a time where you want to say, 'Hey, this is the best I can be.' " Did you know? Kunalic was born in Bosnia before the family escaped war by moving to Germany. Coachspeak "He's just blessed with a really strong leg. We'd love to say it's something we did for him that made him that way, but he came to us with that. We just tried to coach him the best we could." - Mike Papas, North Crowley head coach The gurus say Rivals.com ranks Kunalic as the No. 18 kicker in the nation. About Kunalic Kunalic started on the varsity soccer team as a freshman at Southwest High in Fort Worth, then moved to North Crowley and started playing football as a sophomore. "People always told me I had a great leg and said I should go and try it," he said. Kicked a 57-yard field goal as a junior, one of four that season from beyond 50. Nagged by an injury, Kunalic got a late start to his senior season and made just two field goals. Still, he has a high ceiling, considering his newness to the sport. An interesting note: It's all visual with Kunalic, who never wants to know how long a field goal is until after he kicks it. Omaha.com's take Everything changed when Jordan Congdon left school. Kunalic has as good a shot as anybody to win the place-kicking duties, instead of just being called on for kickoffs or long field goals. Vanderbilt transfer Daniel Lee gets a head start in spring practice, but Kunalic will get his shot come August. Walk-Ons DB :: Austin Cassidy :: (top) DB, 6-1, 205, Lincoln, Neb. (Lincoln Southwest HS) Message Board Discussion Bio: Cassidy was a standout performer for Coach Mark King at Lincoln Southwest High School, and is projected as a defensive back prospect for the Huskers. He was a first-team Super State pick by the Lincoln Journal Star and a secondteam All-Nebraska selection by the Omaha World-Herald. Cassidy compiled a 14-1 record as the Silverhawks' starting quarterback over the past two seasons, including a perfect regular season in 2006. The 6-1, 205-pound Cassidy rushed for 1,507 yards as a senior, averaging a Class A best 8.3 yards per carry, with eight runs of 40 or more yards. A captain on the football team, Cassidy is also a track standout. He has qualified for the state meet in six events over the past two years, and was the Class A gold medalist in the pole vault as a junior. Cassidy also attracted recruiting interest from Northwestern, Air Force, Buffalo, Princeton, Cornell, South Dakota, Northern Colorado and UNO. Callahan's Words (On the walk-ons): "I like their makeup. I like the fact that a lot of them have been recruited to go to other places, so there’s an unselfishness and selfishness with these guys. Of course, Coach Cassidy’s son Austin is coming here. He could have gone to the Ivy League, he could have gone to the military academy if he so desired and he has elected to come here and has made some tremendous sacrifices to be a part of this program. I truly appreciate that. Of course the Thomsen boy from Elkhorn. There’s a number of them. I think we’ve got 14 or 15. And I know there’s more coming but we couldn’t announce them because their papers haven’t been finalized yet. But I’m really thrilled about the excitement that they have generated about coming to Nebraska. I met with a lot of them throughout the fall. And of course we have our junior day and had our walk on day here a couple weeks ago. A lot of their families came up and I had an opportunity to visit their moms and dads and it was a great touch to let them know that we really want them here.”" WR/DB :: Matt Donahue :: (top) WR/DB, 6-2, 175, Fremont, Neb. (Fremont HS) Message Board Discussion Bio: Donahue was a three-year, two-way starter for Fremont, starring as a wide receiver and in the Tiger secondary. Donahue tied for the Class A lead as a senior with five interceptions, helping Fremont High to a state playoff berth. He also caught 42 passes as a senior, and ranked second in Class A with 91 receiving yards per game. Donahue, who owns six school records, caught seven touchdown passes as a senior. For his efforts, Donahue was a firstteam Super State selection by the Lincoln Journal Star and an All-Nebraska pick by the Omaha World-Herald. Callahan's Words (On the walk-ons): "I like their makeup. I like the fact that a lot of them have been recruited to go to other places, so there’s an unselfishness and selfishness with these guys. Of course, Coach Cassidy’s son Austin is coming here. He could have gone to the Ivy League, he could have gone to the military academy if he so desired and he has elected to come here and has made some tremendous sacrifices to be a part of this program. I truly appreciate that. Of course the Thomsen boy from Elkhorn. There’s a number of them. I think we’ve got 14 or 15. And I know there’s more coming but we couldn’t announce them because their papers haven’t been finalized yet. But I’m really thrilled about the excitement that they have generated about coming to Nebraska. I met with a lot of them throughout the fall. And of course we have our junior day and had our walk on day here a couple weeks ago. A lot of their families came up and I had an opportunity to visit their moms and dads and it was a great touch to let them know that we really want them here.”" DL :: Taylor Escamilla :: (top) DL, 6-1, 275, Fremont, Neb. (Archbishop Bergan HS) Message Board Discussion Bio: Escamilla was a two-way star on the offensive line and defensive line for Archbishop Bergan High School in Fremont, Neb. Escamilla's play helped his team to a 9-2 record in 2006, and a trip to the Class C2 state quarterfinals. Escamilla was the honorary captain of the Lincoln Journal Star's Class C2 all-state team as an offensive lineman. His dominance on both sides of the ball was evident by him being named the honorary captain of the Omaha World- Herald's Class C2 all-state defensive unit. The World-Herald also named him a second-team All-Nebraska pick on defense after a senior year in which he had 63 tackles, five sacks and 23 tackles for loss. Escamilla turned down scholarship offers from several smaller schools to walk on at Nebraska. Callahan's Words (On the walk-ons): "I like their makeup. I like the fact that a lot of them have been recruited to go to other places, so there’s an unselfishness and selfishness with these guys. Of course, Coach Cassidy’s son Austin is coming here. He could have gone to the Ivy League, he could have gone to the military academy if he so desired and he has elected to come here and has made some tremendous sacrifices to be a part of this program. I truly appreciate that. Of course the Thomsen boy from Elkhorn. There’s a number of them. I think we’ve got 14 or 15. And I know there’s more coming but we couldn’t announce them because their papers haven’t been finalized yet. But I’m really thrilled about the excitement that they have generated about coming to Nebraska. I met with a lot of them throughout the fall. And of course we have our junior day and had our walk on day here a couple weeks ago. A lot of their families came up and I had an opportunity to visit their moms and dads and it was a great touch to let them know that we really want them here.”" DL :: Ben Franzluebbers :: (top) DL, 6-4, 245, Dodge, Neb. (Dodge HS) Message Board Discussion Bio: Ben Franzluebbers was a first-team Class D2 all-state selection by both the Omaha World-Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star. He was also the honorary captain of the Class D2 defensive unit by both papers. Franzluebbers helped Dodge to a 12-1 record and the Class D-2 state championship. In the 28- 20 state title win over Stapleton, Franzluebbers caught a touchdown pass and added a sack and two fumble recoveries on defense. For the season, Franzluebbers caught 24 passes and scored 12 touchdowns on offense, while registering 110 tackles, five sacks and six fumble recoveries on defense. Callahan's Words (On the walk-ons): "I like their makeup. I like the fact that a lot of them have been recruited to go to other places, so there’s an unselfishness and selfishness with these guys. Of course, Coach Cassidy’s son Austin is coming here. He could have gone to the Ivy League, he could have gone to the military academy if he so desired and he has elected to come here and has made some tremendous sacrifices to be a part of this program. I truly appreciate that. Of course the Thomsen boy from Elkhorn. There’s a number of them. I think we’ve got 14 or 15. And I know there’s more coming but we couldn’t announce them because their papers haven’t been finalized yet. But I’m really thrilled about the excitement that they have generated about coming to Nebraska. I met with a lot of them throughout the fall. And of course we have our junior day and had our walk on day here a couple weeks ago. A lot of their families came up and I had an opportunity to visit their moms and dads and it was a great touch to let them know that we really want them here.”" RB/LB :: Thomas Grove :: (top) RB/LB, 6-2, 190, Arlington, Neb. (Arlington HS) Message Board Discussion Bio: Thomas Grove was a two-way standout for Coach Steven Gubbels at Arlington High School. Grove helped Arlington to an 8-2 record and trip to the second round of the Class C-1 state playoffs. Grove rushed for 1,133 yards and 17 touchdowns for the Eagles as a running back. On defense, he recorded 29 tackles, two sacks and a pair of fumble recoveries from his linebacker spot. For his efforts, Grove was an honorable-mention Class C-1 all-state pick by the Omaha World-Herald. Callahan's Words (On the walk-ons): "I like their makeup. I like the fact that a lot of them have been recruited to go to other places, so there’s an unselfishness and selfishness with these guys. Of course, Coach Cassidy’s son Austin is coming here. He could have gone to the Ivy League, he could have gone to the military academy if he so desired and he has elected to come here and has made some tremendous sacrifices to be a part of this program. I truly appreciate that. Of course the Thomsen boy from Elkhorn. There’s a number of them. I think we’ve got 14 or 15. And I know there’s more coming but we couldn’t announce them because their papers haven’t been finalized yet. But I’m really thrilled about the excitement that they have generated about coming to Nebraska. I met with a lot of them throughout the fall. And of course we have our junior day and had our walk on day here a couple weeks ago. A lot of their families came up and I had an opportunity to visit their moms and dads and it was a great touch to let them know that we really want them here.”" OL :: Cory Iske :: (top) OL, 6-2, 260, Omaha, Neb. (Millard West HS) Message Board Discussion Bio: Cory Iske is expected to begin on the offensive line at Nebraska. The 6-2, 260-pound prospect has been a key performer up front for Millard West over the past two years, including helping the Wildcats to a Class A state semifinal appearance in 2005 as a junior. Callahan's Words (On the walk-ons): "I like their makeup. I like the fact that a lot of them have been recruited to go to other places, so there’s an unselfishness and selfishness with these guys. Of course, Coach Cassidy’s son Austin is coming here. He could have gone to the Ivy League, he could have gone to the military academy if he so desired and he has elected to come here and has made some tremendous sacrifices to be a part of this program. I truly appreciate that. Of course the Thomsen boy from Elkhorn. There’s a number of them. I think we’ve got 14 or 15. And I know there’s more coming but we couldn’t announce them because their papers haven’t been finalized yet. But I’m really thrilled about the excitement that they have generated about coming to Nebraska. I met with a lot of them throughout the fall. And of course we have our junior day and had our walk on day here a couple weeks ago. A lot of their families came up and I had an opportunity to visit their moms and dads and it was a great touch to let them know that we really want them here.”" WR :: Ben Lester :: (top) WR, 5-10, 160, Tecumseh, Neb. (Tecumseh HS) Message Board Discussion Bio: Ben Lester joins Nebraska as a wide receiver following an outstanding senior season as a wideout/defensive back for Tecumseh High School. The 5-10, 155-pound Lester was named to the Lincoln Journal Star’s All-Class C-2 team as an athlete in 2006, while he garnered honorable-mention honors from the Omaha World-Herald. Lester is the grandson of former long-time Husker offensive line coach Milt Tenopir. Callahan's Words (On the walk-ons): "I like their makeup. I like the fact that a lot of them have been recruited to go to other places, so there’s an unselfishness and selfishness with these guys. Of course, Coach Cassidy’s son Austin is coming here. He could have gone to the Ivy League, he could have gone to the military academy if he so desired and he has elected to come here and has made some tremendous sacrifices to be a part of this program. I truly appreciate that. Of course the Thomsen boy from Elkhorn. There’s a number of them. I think we’ve got 14 or 15. And I know there’s more coming but we couldn’t announce them because their papers haven’t been finalized yet. But I’m really thrilled about the excitement that they have generated about coming to Nebraska. I met with a lot of them throughout the fall. And of course we have our junior day and had our walk on day here a couple weeks ago. A lot of their families came up and I had an opportunity to visit their moms and dads and it was a great touch to let them know that we really want them here.”" DE :: Luke Lingenfelter :: (top) DE, 6-4, 240, Plainview, Neb. (Plainview HS) Message Board Discussion Bio: Luke Lingenfelter earned first-team All-Class C-2 accolades from both the Lincoln Journal Star (offensive line) and Omaha World-Herald (defensive line) in 2006. The 6-4, 240-pound Lingenfelter helped Plainview High School earn a state playoff appearance as a senior. As a junior, Lingenfelter helped Plainview to the Class C-2 state title, earning all-state honors. His cousin, Newton Lingenfelter, recently finished his Husker career as an offensive lineman in 2006. Callahan's Words (On the walk-ons): "I like their makeup. I like the fact that a lot of them have been recruited to go to other places, so there’s an unselfishness and selfishness with these guys. Of course, Coach Cassidy’s son Austin is coming here. He could have gone to the Ivy League, he could have gone to the military academy if he so desired and he has elected to come here and has made some tremendous sacrifices to be a part of this program. I truly appreciate that. Of course the Thomsen boy from Elkhorn. There’s a number of them. I think we’ve got 14 or 15. And I know there’s more coming but we couldn’t announce them because their papers haven’t been finalized yet. But I’m really thrilled about the excitement that they have generated about coming to Nebraska. I met with a lot of them throughout the fall. And of course we have our junior day and had our walk on day here a couple weeks ago. A lot of their families came up and I had an opportunity to visit their moms and dads and it was a great touch to let them know that we really want them here.”" FS/RB :: Matthew May :: (top) FS/RB, 6-1, 195, Imperial, Neb. (Chase County HS) Message Board Discussion Bio: Mathew May joins the Huskers following a standout senior season at linebacker