Husker recruiting

[Benard]

Just two days after reality slammed into Nebraska by delivering the first November morning in 36 years without a football game still to be played, the ultimate paradox unveiled itself Monday.

 

NU ascended to the No. 1 position, according to rivals.com, in the national ranking of recruiting classes.

 

It hardly seems possible following a 5-6 season that dragged the Huskers to their lowest level since 1968. But this much is clear now: The NU program has pinned its future to an unfinished class of recruits filled with players Nebraskans seem to know well but have never seen play.

 

The Nebraska coaches were back at it Monday. Receivers Coach Turner Gill and Secondary Coach Phil Elmassian worked in the South Stadium offices while seven others, including Coach Bill Callahan, hit the road.

 

"We have changed the climate of recruiting here at Nebraska over the past 11 months," said Tim Cassidy, NU associate athletic director for football. "That's not a statement to mean what they were doing in the past was good, bad or indifferent. It's just the approach that Coach Callahan wants to take.

 

"And it's put us in good position with a lot of recruits."

 

Sunday marked the first of 36 days before Jan. 30 in which coaches are permitted six in-person, off-campus contacts with a prospective recruit. The head coach gets just one such meeting.

 

According to Cassidy, Callahan was "headed west" early this week, certain to visit, among others, coveted Nebraska running back commitment Marlon Lucky of North Hollywood, Calif.

 

The Huskers employed a successful strategy of loading up on campus visits during the season. Of the 19 players known to have given Nebraska oral commitments, 14 made official visits to one of the Huskers' six home games.

 

 

rest here