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Pelini and crew off to hot start for 2010 recruiting class
Examiner.com
Bo Pelini's first full season recruiting at Nebraska is one that I, and most others would consider a success. Certain experts feel like Nebraska flopped because many high schoolers seem to normally follow that new, young head coach to a program in order to be known as someone who helped turn the program around (see Lane Kiffin at Tennessee). It's pretty obvious that Pelini is polar opposite to Kiffin when it comes to recruiting so that in itself differentiates the type of class each one will have. It's clear Kiffin strictly went after talent alone as he signed a controversial pair of running backs in David Oku and Bryce Brown.
Pelini on the other hand is known for recruiting great player he feels best fits what being a Nebraska football player is all about. Unlike many coaches throughout division-one NCAA football, Pelini has openly admitted he doesn't talk much about the NFL to a potential recruit. The second year head coach stated that he preaches a team first attitude with nothing promised. If the players work hard to earn a spot and do their job, the whole making it to the NFL thing will take care of itself.
When Bo first took the reigns at Nebraska, one of the first things he noted was the importance to recruit out of the state of Texas. Pelini and staff certainly showed their abilities down south this past year by hauling in eight players from the Lone Star State. Of those eight were heralded quarterback and gem of the class Cody Green (Dayton) as well as rivals.com four-star blue chippers Chris Williams (Abilene) and Rex Burkhead (Plano). The class ended up with players from seven different states, a quality which is of the utmost importance for the Huskers due to the sparsity of in state talent.
The class finished 28th out of a total of 140 spots and Pelini's crew wasted little time on starting the 2010 class. The group started off strong all the way back in November when the team received a commitment from Aurora Ne. offensive lineman Andrew Rodriguez. It's not uncommon for Nebraska player or two to be rated extremely high as a high school senior. Players such as Rodriguez, Baker Steinkuhler and Niles Paul were all rivals.com top 100 players over the past few seasons. Currently Rodriguez is listed as the nations number 73 overall players and the twelfth best offensive lineman.
That wave of success grew even larger for the Big Red when they got a surprise commit from four-star defensive back Anterio Sloan. It's still unknown whether the Arkansas native will stick to his commitment, after all he did commit without ever visiting campus. The good news didn't stop there as the team received a commitment from Mike Moudy (Castle Rock Co.) during the weekend of the annual Spring Game.
Then on May 14, Husker wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore got a commitment from a recruit that was desperately needed. That day Blue Springs Mo. receiver Keeston Terry decided it was his turn to pull the trigger. The commitment was huge because not only is wide receiver a position in which the team needs young talent, but Nebraska also pulled Terry away from scholarship offers from Big 12 North foes Kansas and Missouri.
Lastly, and most recently, the Huskers received a huge commitment from Tyler Gabbert, also of Missouri. The in depth story of Gabbert pledging to the Huskers can be found in a previous story at, 'Breaking down Tyler Gabbert's commitment to Nebraska.' The combination of Terry and Gabbert committing is enormous because both are two of the better players in the state of Missouri. Many experts have criticized Nebraska over the past few years because they could no longer take the best players out of the states of Missouri and Kansas and that was needed to get them back into being a perennial power. Times have apparently changed which could pay huge dividends for the Huskers.
There is a long ways to go in the recruiting season but the Big Red are off to as good of start as anyone could of hoped. With Gabbert attempting to lure more of the top talent from Missouri to Lincoln, things could get very interesting throughout the Fall. Either way you look at it, Pelini has proven both he and his staff can recruit with some of the best as the team looks to end up with what appears will more than likely be a top 25 class.
Examiner.com
Bo Pelini's first full season recruiting at Nebraska is one that I, and most others would consider a success. Certain experts feel like Nebraska flopped because many high schoolers seem to normally follow that new, young head coach to a program in order to be known as someone who helped turn the program around (see Lane Kiffin at Tennessee). It's pretty obvious that Pelini is polar opposite to Kiffin when it comes to recruiting so that in itself differentiates the type of class each one will have. It's clear Kiffin strictly went after talent alone as he signed a controversial pair of running backs in David Oku and Bryce Brown.
Pelini on the other hand is known for recruiting great player he feels best fits what being a Nebraska football player is all about. Unlike many coaches throughout division-one NCAA football, Pelini has openly admitted he doesn't talk much about the NFL to a potential recruit. The second year head coach stated that he preaches a team first attitude with nothing promised. If the players work hard to earn a spot and do their job, the whole making it to the NFL thing will take care of itself.
When Bo first took the reigns at Nebraska, one of the first things he noted was the importance to recruit out of the state of Texas. Pelini and staff certainly showed their abilities down south this past year by hauling in eight players from the Lone Star State. Of those eight were heralded quarterback and gem of the class Cody Green (Dayton) as well as rivals.com four-star blue chippers Chris Williams (Abilene) and Rex Burkhead (Plano). The class ended up with players from seven different states, a quality which is of the utmost importance for the Huskers due to the sparsity of in state talent.
The class finished 28th out of a total of 140 spots and Pelini's crew wasted little time on starting the 2010 class. The group started off strong all the way back in November when the team received a commitment from Aurora Ne. offensive lineman Andrew Rodriguez. It's not uncommon for Nebraska player or two to be rated extremely high as a high school senior. Players such as Rodriguez, Baker Steinkuhler and Niles Paul were all rivals.com top 100 players over the past few seasons. Currently Rodriguez is listed as the nations number 73 overall players and the twelfth best offensive lineman.
That wave of success grew even larger for the Big Red when they got a surprise commit from four-star defensive back Anterio Sloan. It's still unknown whether the Arkansas native will stick to his commitment, after all he did commit without ever visiting campus. The good news didn't stop there as the team received a commitment from Mike Moudy (Castle Rock Co.) during the weekend of the annual Spring Game.
Then on May 14, Husker wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore got a commitment from a recruit that was desperately needed. That day Blue Springs Mo. receiver Keeston Terry decided it was his turn to pull the trigger. The commitment was huge because not only is wide receiver a position in which the team needs young talent, but Nebraska also pulled Terry away from scholarship offers from Big 12 North foes Kansas and Missouri.
Lastly, and most recently, the Huskers received a huge commitment from Tyler Gabbert, also of Missouri. The in depth story of Gabbert pledging to the Huskers can be found in a previous story at, 'Breaking down Tyler Gabbert's commitment to Nebraska.' The combination of Terry and Gabbert committing is enormous because both are two of the better players in the state of Missouri. Many experts have criticized Nebraska over the past few years because they could no longer take the best players out of the states of Missouri and Kansas and that was needed to get them back into being a perennial power. Times have apparently changed which could pay huge dividends for the Huskers.
There is a long ways to go in the recruiting season but the Big Red are off to as good of start as anyone could of hoped. With Gabbert attempting to lure more of the top talent from Missouri to Lincoln, things could get very interesting throughout the Fall. Either way you look at it, Pelini has proven both he and his staff can recruit with some of the best as the team looks to end up with what appears will more than likely be a top 25 class.
