Emerson Evans woke up Wednesday morning and felt like he had a decision made. And he didn't waste time.
The 6-foot-1, 235-pound defensive end from the Houston area promised Wednesday to sign with Nebraska, giving the Huskers their eighth known pledge for the 2009 recruiting class, and second in as many days.
Evans followed the commitment of fellow Texan Jesse Coffey on Tuesday.
"It's exciting," Evans said. "Nebraska is a good school."
Evans, who recorded 87 tackles and 16 sacks as a junior at Alief Taylor High School, said he started thinking seriously about Nebraska after an offer came this summer. He got a few helpful pointers about the Huskers from his position coach, Nebraska native Derek Johnk.
"His whole truck has Nebraska Cornhuskers all over it," Evans said with a laugh. "I think he might have been more excited than I was."
Johnk, who grew up in Schuyler and played at the University of Nebraska at Kearney from 1998 to 2002, is the linebackers coach for Alief Taylor.
"He's a very explosive athlete," Johnk said of Evans. "He's very talented. He has one of those attitudes where he doesn't stop. His motor always runs, and that's the type of player that every coach wants.
"He's a very exciting player to see."
Evans' pledge gives NU five commitments from Texas already, after pulling in nine from the Lone Star State on signing day last February.
Evans called linebackers coach Mike Ekeler after a call to his mother, and said he got to talk to the entire NU staff before it was over.
"I read up on Nebraska and wanted to be a part of it," Evans said. "Tradition is a big thing for me."
Having a defensive-minded head coach at Nebraska also played a major role, Evans said.
"I know he came from LSU and they play defense," he said. "And every school I came from and every school I see is about offense. To see a head coach that's coming from a defensive standpoint, that's something I like."
Evans said he's being projected as a rush end or outside linebacker at Nebraska. Although he's played defensive end exclusively since the seventh grade, Evans expects the Husker staff will get him in the right spot.
"I think I can play any position they put me in," he said.
Evans picked Nebraska over offers from UTEP, Utah and Mississippi.