In-State Talent - or Lack Thereof

[Stumpy1]

Kids who are angling for a college football scholarship would be all over a couple of weeks of spring ball, just like the do down south.

That very small percentage of kids can do all the practice and training they want on their own, in a camp, or hire a trainer, or make their own spring league or a club team, same as wrestlers do. They can even drop out of school and their parents could home school them to tailor their lives around their potential football careers.

Here in Columbus, some of the football coaches were also track coaches...how would that work?

Club teams? Really? Want to take a swing on the price tag on that idea? The kids who can afford that, are not the ones desperate for a scholarship. Drop out of school in order to get a scholarship? This makes no sense. We are not talking pro-prepping kids, only college prepping them. As to the coaches in Columbus, I'm sure they can figure something out with scheduling. And none of these seem to be issues in other states. So why would it be an issue here? It is all politics with these Olympic Sport coaches.

Club teams are usually sponsored so it doesn't really cost the kids anything. As far as kids leaving school and going the home school route to work on athletics, it is pretty common, especially when it comes to wrestling and baseball.

With Nebraska, we just do not have the talent in state like many other states do.

What has changed from the 90's is the rise of off season football in other states, is they do have spring football, we don't. We had a hell of a lot more in state kids when the playing field was even. We still have athletes, they just don't have the same quantity of coaching, making them bigger projects, and the compounded problem of there being 'lesser level football' being played in state, making people even disregard the film they see. No one is making a case for having a full roster of Nebraska kids, but the idea that there were only 3 D-1 level male athletes in the state is beyond idiotic.

I agree with everything except your last sentence. There could've been more then 3 but apparently D1 coaches didn't think so which speaks volumes to me. That got me to wondering, how much of that is due to Nebraska high school coaches not knowing how the recruiting game works? Do the coaches help these kids with recruitments? Do they instruct the kids on how it works? I hope they know how it goes because if they don't, they could be costing some kids a chance at a bright future.

 

[girlknowsfootball]

Kids who are angling for a college football scholarship would be all over a couple of weeks of spring ball, just like the do down south.

That very small percentage of kids can do all the practice and training they want on their own, in a camp, or hire a trainer, or make their own spring league or a club team, same as wrestlers do. They can even drop out of school and their parents could home school them to tailor their lives around their potential football careers.

Here in Columbus, some of the football coaches were also track coaches...how would that work?

Club teams? Really? Want to take a swing on the price tag on that idea? The kids who can afford that, are not the ones desperate for a scholarship. Drop out of school in order to get a scholarship? This makes no sense. We are not talking pro-prepping kids, only college prepping them. As to the coaches in Columbus, I'm sure they can figure something out with scheduling. And none of these seem to be issues in other states. So why would it be an issue here? It is all politics with these Olympic Sport coaches.

Club teams are usually sponsored so it doesn't really cost the kids anything. As far as kids leaving school and going the home school route to work on athletics, it is pretty common, especially when it comes to wrestling and baseball.

With Nebraska, we just do not have the talent in state like many other states do.

What has changed from the 90's is the rise of off season football in other states, is they do have spring football, we don't. We had a hell of a lot more in state kids when the playing field was even. We still have athletes, they just don't have the same quantity of coaching, making them bigger projects, and the compounded problem of there being 'lesser level football' being played in state, making people even disregard the film they see. No one is making a case for having a full roster of Nebraska kids, but the idea that there were only 3 D-1 level male athletes in the state is beyond idiotic.

I agree with everything except your last sentence. There could've been more then 3 but apparently D1 coaches didn't think so which speaks volumes to me. That got me to wondering, how much of that is due to Nebraska high school coaches not knowing how the recruiting game works? Do the coaches help these kids with recruitments? Do they instruct the kids on how it works? I hope they know how it goes because if they don't, they could be costing some kids a chance at a bright future.

I think there are more than 3 D1 level athletes in Nebraska, no doubt. But D1 schools include schools like Iowa State, Colorado, etc. Nebraska wants kids that are good enough to play for Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, USC, etc. We need the high ceilings... which is why I think you only see us take 3ish a year historically. If they can go to Texas and get kids with higher ceilings or better hips or faster 10yd times or better film, then they need to take those kids over the instate kids that are being recruited by Wyoming/SD State because we need the talent level to compete with the Ohio States of the world.

Yes you can develop kids, but when the competition is finding kids that need less development, they get more years on the field from those kid and more playing ready depth on their teams. Now days you need some freshmen and sophomores who are playing a lot to have the depth and talent level to stick with the top 10's.

 

[girlknowsfootball]

Here are the classes during the Osborne days:

I have made note of how many from each class were in state recruits.

On Average from 1992-1997, only 25% of each class were in-state players and the rest were not all within the 500 mile radius, many came from coast to coast like they do now. The Red Names are within the 500 Mile Radius.

1992 - 9/24 from Nebraska

Larry Arnold, OLB, 6-5, 215, Copley, OH

Damon Benning, RB, 5-10, 175, Omaha, NE (Northwest)
Willis Brown, WB, 5-8, 165, Edmond, OK
Clinton Childs, RB, 6-0, 200, Omaha, NE (North)
Chris Dishman, OL, 6-4, 275, Cozad, NE
Tommie Frazier, QB, 6-1, 190, Bradenton, FL (Manatee)
Jon Hesse, LB, 6-4, 210, Lincoln, NE (Southeast)
Mike Minter, RB/DB, 5-11, 175, Lawton, OK
Ed Morrow, LB, 6-5, 225, Florissant, MO (McCluer)
Kareem Moss, CB, 5-10, 185, Spartanburg, SC
(Spartanburg H.S., Garden City C.C.)
Jeff Ogard, OL, 6-6, 275, St. Paul, NE
Ben Ruth, QB, 6-1, 180, Oklahoma City, OK (Putnam City.)
Scott Saltsman, MG, 6-2, 255, Wichita Falls, TX (Rider)
T.J. Scribner, TE-LB, 6-3, 220, Omaha, NE (Brownwell-Talbot)
Marvin Sims, RB, 5-9, 175, Apple Valley, MN
Jim Stiebel, OG, 6-4, 255, Belleville, IL (Althoff)
Eric Stokes, DB, 5-10, 175, Lincoln, NE (East)
Ryan Terwilliger, OLB-TE, 6-5, 205, Grant, NE (Perkins County)
Larry Townsend, DT, 6-5, 265, San Jose, CA (Yerba Buena)
Leonard Washington, DT, 6-4, 275, Omaha, NE (North)
Riley Washington, WB/DB, 5-9, 160, San Diego, CA (Southwest)
Tyrone Williams, CB, 6-0, 180, Palmetto, FL (Manatee)
Trampis Wrice, FS, 5-9, 160, Valdosta, GA
Toby Wright, S, 6-1, 205, Phoenix, AZ (Dobson H.S., Phoenix C.C.)

1993 - 7/21 from Nebraska

Matt Aden, FS/WR, 6-3, 205, Omaha, NE (Northwest)

Eric Alford, WB/DB, 6-4, 225, High Point, NC (JUCO)
Eric Anderson, OT/DT, 6-4, 280, Lincoln, NE (Southeast)
Michael Booker, DB, 6-2, 200, Oceanside, CA (El Camino)
Lance Brown, SE, 5-10, 170, Papillion, NE (La Vista)
Tim Carpenter, FB, 6-3, 230, Columbus, NE
Leslie Dennis, CB, 5-10, 165, Bradenton, FL (Southeast)

Josh Heskew, TE/NG, 6-3, 255, Mustang, OK
Vershan Jackson, FB/OLB, 6-1, 215, Omaha, NE (South)
Jason Jenkins, DT, 6-5, 265, Mays Landing, NJ (JUCO)
Sean Noster, OLB, 6-3, 215, San Antonio, TX (John Marshall)
Rodney Percoats, TE, 6-4, 250, Los Banos, CA
Jason Peter, DT, 6-5, 285, Middletown, NJ (Milford Academy)
Lawrence Phillips, RB, 6-1, 205, West Covina, CA (Baldwin Park)
Fred Pollack, OG/DT, 6-4, 290, Omaha, NE (Creighton Prep)
Justin Stephens, LB, 6-3, 215, Bradenton, FL (Manatee)
Aaron Taylor, OG, 6-2, 290, Wichita Falls, TX (Rider)
Shane Wells, P/PK, 5-7, 160, Odessa, TX (Permian)
Jamel Williams, DB, 6-2, 195, Merrillville, IN
Ramone Worthy, RB/LB, 6-1, 215, Camden, NJ (Wilson)
Jon Zatechka, OT, 6-3, 285, Lincoln, NE (East)

1994 - 3/21 from Nebraska

Ted Butler, OL, 6-1, 240, Lincoln, NE (Southeast)

Kenny Cheatham, WR, 6-4, 195, Phoenix, AZ (South Mountain)
Tray Crayton, DB, 6-2, 195, Oceanside, CA (El Camino)
Constantine Dumitrescu, OL, 6-5, 300, Hayward, CA (Moreau)
Jon Elder, RB, 6-3, 195, Sioux City, IA (West)
Darin Erstad, P/PK, 6-2, 195, Jamestown, ND ('93 baseball recruit)
Jay Foreman, WB/DB, 6-3, 195, Eden Prairie, MN
Sheldon Jackson, TE, 6-3, 205, Diamond Bar, CA (Damien)
Brian Knuckles, RB, 5-11, 195, Charlotte, NC (West H.S., Coffeyville C.C.)
John Livingston, WR, 6-0, 175, San Marcos, CA (Hemet H.S., Palomar C.C.)
Octavious McFarlin, DB, 6-0, 180, Bastrop, TX
Erik Nelson, DL/OL, 6-4, 250, Iowa City, IA
David Reddick, WB, 5-10, 175, Camden, NJ (Woodrow Wilson)
Dorrick Roy, TE, 6-4, 220, Inglewood, CA (Montclair Prep)
Mike Rucker, LB, 6-6, 225, St. Joseph, MO (Benton)
Travis Toline, LB, 6-4, 220, Wahoo, NE
Brandt Wade, OL, 6-3, 275, Springfield, NE (Platteview)
Eric Warfield, DB, 6-1, 175, Texarkana, AR
Shevin Wiggins, WB, 5-11, 170, Palmetto, FL (Manatee)
Jason Wiltz, DL, 6-4, 280, New Orleans, LA (St. Augustine)
Grant Wistrom, LB, 6-5, 230, Webb City, MO

1995 - 8/28 from Nebraska

Derek Allen, DL, 6-6, 275, Russellville, AR
Luis Almanzar, TE/DE, 6-4, 220, Jersey City, NJ (Dickinson)
Matt Baldwin, OL, 6-3, 265, Arvada, CO (Bear Creek)
Chad Bell, LB, 6-2, 205, Norfolk, NE
Andy Bilanzich, P, 6-3, 215, Salt Lake City, UT
Kris Brown, K, 6-0, 190, Southlake, TX (Carroll)
Jeff Clausen, OL, 6-8, 275, Dixon, IL
T.J. DeBates, LB, 6-4, 240, Stewartville, MN
Brandon Drum, DL, 6-5, 250, Columbus, NE (Scotus)
Terrell Farley, LB, 6-1, 205, Columbus, Ga (JUCO)
Scott Frost, QB, 6-3, 215, Wood River, NE
Mike Fullman,* CB, 5-8, 165, Roselle, N.J. (JUCO)
Lonnie Fulton, OL, 6-5, 250, Grand Island, NE
Ahman Green, RB, 6-1, 210, Omaha, NE (Central)
Julius Jackson, LB, 6-2, 206, Gainesville, TX
Eric Johnson, DB, 6-1, 195, Phoenix, AZ (Alhambra)
Marcus Johnson, OL, 6-5, 265, Oceanside, CA (Vista)
Adam Julch, OL, 6-6, 300, Omaha, NE (Burke)
Chad Kelsay, LB, 6-4, 220, Auburn, NE
Frankie London, QB, 6-1, 175, Lake Charles, LA (LaGrange)
Karnell Matthews, DB, 5-11, 185, St. Charles, MO (Howell)
Tony Ortiz, LB, 6-2, 215, Waterbury, CT (Crosby)
Jeff Perino, QB, 6-2, 200, Durango, CO
Jerome Peterson, DB, 5-9, 180, Port Allen, LA
Chris Rainey, DB, 6-0, 185, Minneapolis, MN (North)
Kareem Sears, LB, 6-3, 230, Enid, OK
James Sherman, DL/OL, 6-4, 290, La Verne, CA (Whittier)
Aaron Wills, TE/DE, 6-2, 230, Omaha, NE (Burke)

1996 - 5/18 from Nebraska

Dan Alexander, FB/LB, 6-1, 230, Wentzville, MO

Sasho Becvaroski, OL, 6-5, 255, Crown Point, IN (Lake Central)
Mike Brown, DB, 6-0, 190, Scottsdale, AZ (Saguaro_
Ralph Brown II, DB, 5-11, 175, Walnut, CA (Bishop Amat)
J.R. Edwards, WR, 6-2, 175, Lincoln, NE (Southeast)
DeAngelo Evans, RB, 5-9, 210, Wichita, KS (Collegiate)
Justin Ferrell, OL, 6-4, 290, McAllen, TX (Sharyland)
Clint Finley, QB, 6-1, 190, Cuero, TX
John Gibson, WR/DB, 6-0, 185, Papillion, NE (Papillion-La Vista)
George Guidry, DE, 6-3, 225, Lake Charles, LA (Washington-Merion)
Russ Hochstein, OL, 6-4, 240, Hartington, NE (Cedar Catholic)
Loran Kaiser, LB/DE, 6-5, 220, Farwell, NE (St. Paul)
Willie Miller, FB, 6-1, 225, Omaha, NE (Bellevue West)
Carlos Polk, LB, 6-2, 220, Rockford, IL (Guilford)
Robert Pollard, WR/DB, 6-2, 195, Orange Park, FL
Khari Reynolds, WR/DB, 5-11, 170, Mays Landing, NJ (Egg Harbor Township)
Steve Warren, DL, 6-3, 275, Springfield, MO (Kickapoo)
David Webber, OL/DL, 6-3, 275, St. Louis, MO (Hazelwood East)

1997 - 5/22 from Nebraska

Steve Alstadt, OL-DL, 6-5, 260, Fort Calhoun, NE

Dion Booker, DB, 6-2, 200, Oceanside, CA
Correll Buckhalter, RB, 6-2, 210, Mt. Olive, MS (Collins)
Jamie Burrow, MLB, 6-2, 240, Ames, IA
Ben Cornelsen, WR/DB, 5-11, 175, Shawnee, KS (Shawnee Mission Northwest)
Eric Crouch, QB, 6-0, 190, Omaha, NE (Millard North)
Matt Davison, WR, 6-1, 170, Tecumseh, NE
Chris Gustafson, LB, 6-2, 205, Gallup, N.M.
Brandon Harrison, CB, 6-0, 175, Gainesville, TX (JUCO)
Kyle Kollmorgen, OL, 6-4, 275, Lincoln (Southeast)
Glen Matthews, DL, 6-3, 300, Chicago, IL
Bobby Newcombe, QB, 6-0, 185, Albuquerque, NM (Highland)
Dominic Raiola, OL, 6-3, 300, Honolulu, HI (St. Louis)
Jon Rutherford, OL, 6-3, 270, Midwest City, OK
Erwin Swiney, DB/WR, 6-1, 180, Lincoln, NE (Southeast)
Kyle Vanden Bosch, DE, 6-4, 235, Larchwood, IA (West Lyon)
Mark Vedral, LB/WR, 6-1, 205, Gregory, SD
Dave Volk, OL, 6-5, 275, Battle Creek, NE
Joe Walker, DB, 5-11, 185, Arlington, TX (Arlington-Lamar)
Dan White, RB/DB, 5-9, 185, Green Bay, WI (Ashwaubenon)
J.P. Wichman, DL, 6-5, 220, Shawnee, KS (Shawnee Mission Northwest)
Tracey Wistrom, TE, 6-5, 205, Webb City, MO

 

[darkhorse85]

How many of these in-state guys saw significant playing time? I just glanced at the '97 class and 4/5 played quite a bit and one won a Heisman Trophy. Then you look at '94 and I don't think any of those three guys saw significant action. Interesting stuff. Thanks typing that up.

 

[Thanks_Tom RR]

That is interesting that 25% of the commits from 1992-7 under Tom Osborne came out of Nebraska. Under Bo (and including the 2015 Riley/Pelini class), only 12% of commits (22/177) came from Nebraska, with the peak being 20% in 2011 and low at 4% in 2013. Under Callahan (2004-2007), the average wasn't much better at 14% (14/101), and that include the 2004 class in which Solich got all 5 in-state commits before being fired. In fact, 2004 was the last time a recruiting class equaled or exceeded 25% of in-state commits.

2015: 10% (2/20)

2014: 12% (3/25)

2013: 4% (1/25)

2012: 6% (1/17)

2011: 20% (4/20)

2010: 18% (4/22)

2009: 10% (2/20)

2008: 18% (5/28)

2007: 7% (2/27)

2006: 18% (4/22)

2005: 9% (3/32)

2004: 25% (5/20)

2003: 26% (5/19)

2002: 39% (7/19)

2001: 26% (5/19)

2000: 29% (6/21)

1999: 27% (6/22)

So, is this a product of local talent or coach-specific recruiting strategies (this question is not rhetorical)?

 

[BIGREDFAN_in_OMAHA]

Even under Osborne it shows how cyclical the talent level in-state can be.

 

[LumberJackSker]

If I'm not mistaken you could have a lot more guys on scholarship ship then. Osbourne could afford to take a chance on a instate kid if he had more numbers to work with.

 

[BigRedBuster]

If I'm not mistaken you could have a lot more guys on scholarship ship then. Osbourne could afford to take a chance on a instate kid if he had more numbers to work with.

Up till 1977, scholarships were unlimited. If we wanted 200 on scholarship, we could. Then, until 1991, we were limited to 95. After 1991, we have only been able to have 85.

 

[StPaulHusker]

Here are the classes during the Osborne days:

I have made note of how many from each class were in state recruits.

On Average from 1992-1997, only 25% of each class were in-state players and the rest were not all within the 500 mile radius, many came from coast to coast like they do now. The Red Names are within the 500 Mile Radius.

1992 - 9/24 from Nebraska

Larry Arnold, OLB, 6-5, 215, Copley, OH

Damon Benning, RB, 5-10, 175, Omaha, NE (Northwest)

Willis Brown, WB, 5-8, 165, Edmond, OK

Clinton Childs, RB, 6-0, 200, Omaha, NE (North)

Chris Dishman, OL, 6-4, 275, Cozad, NE

Tommie Frazier, QB, 6-1, 190, Bradenton, FL (Manatee)

Jon Hesse, LB, 6-4, 210, Lincoln, NE (Southeast)

Mike Minter, RB/DB, 5-11, 175, Lawton, OK

Ed Morrow, LB, 6-5, 225, Florissant, MO (McCluer)

Kareem Moss, CB, 5-10, 185, Spartanburg, SC

(Spartanburg H.S., Garden City C.C.)

Jeff Ogard, OL, 6-6, 275, St. Paul, NE

Ben Ruth, QB, 6-1, 180, Oklahoma City, OK (Putnam City.)

Scott Saltsman, MG, 6-2, 255, Wichita Falls, TX (Rider)

T.J. Scribner, TE-LB, 6-3, 220, Omaha, NE (Brownwell-Talbot)

Marvin Sims, RB, 5-9, 175, Apple Valley, MN

Jim Stiebel, OG, 6-4, 255, Belleville, IL (Althoff)

Eric Stokes, DB, 5-10, 175, Lincoln, NE (East)

Ryan Terwilliger, OLB-TE, 6-5, 205, Grant, NE (Perkins County)

Larry Townsend, DT, 6-5, 265, San Jose, CA (Yerba Buena)

Leonard Washington, DT, 6-4, 275, Omaha, NE (North)

Riley Washington, WB/DB, 5-9, 160, San Diego, CA (Southwest)

Tyrone Williams, CB, 6-0, 180, Palmetto, FL (Manatee)

Trampis Wrice, FS, 5-9, 160, Valdosta, GA

Toby Wright, S, 6-1, 205, Phoenix, AZ (Dobson H.S., Phoenix C.C.)

1993 - 7/21 from Nebraska

Matt Aden, FS/WR, 6-3, 205, Omaha, NE (Northwest)

Eric Alford, WB/DB, 6-4, 225, High Point, NC (JUCO)

Eric Anderson, OT/DT, 6-4, 280, Lincoln, NE (Southeast)

Michael Booker, DB, 6-2, 200, Oceanside, CA (El Camino)

Lance Brown, SE, 5-10, 170, Papillion, NE (La Vista)

Tim Carpenter, FB, 6-3, 230, Columbus, NE

Leslie Dennis, CB, 5-10, 165, Bradenton, FL (Southeast)

Josh Heskew, TE/NG, 6-3, 255, Mustang, OK

Vershan Jackson, FB/OLB, 6-1, 215, Omaha, NE (South)

Jason Jenkins, DT, 6-5, 265, Mays Landing, NJ (JUCO)

Sean Noster, OLB, 6-3, 215, San Antonio, TX (John Marshall)

Rodney Percoats, TE, 6-4, 250, Los Banos, CA

Jason Peter, DT, 6-5, 285, Middletown, NJ (Milford Academy)

Lawrence Phillips, RB, 6-1, 205, West Covina, CA (Baldwin Park)

Fred Pollack, OG/DT, 6-4, 290, Omaha, NE (Creighton Prep)

Justin Stephens, LB, 6-3, 215, Bradenton, FL (Manatee)

Aaron Taylor, OG, 6-2, 290, Wichita Falls, TX (Rider)

Shane Wells, P/PK, 5-7, 160, Odessa, TX (Permian)

Jamel Williams, DB, 6-2, 195, Merrillville, IN-544 miles

Ramone Worthy, RB/LB, 6-1, 215, Camden, NJ (Wilson)

Jon Zatechka, OT, 6-3, 285, Lincoln, NE (East)

1994 - 3/21 from Nebraska

Ted Butler, OL, 6-1, 240, Lincoln, NE (Southeast)

Kenny Cheatham, WR, 6-4, 195, Phoenix, AZ (South Mountain)

Tray Crayton, DB, 6-2, 195, Oceanside, CA (El Camino)

Constantine Dumitrescu, OL, 6-5, 300, Hayward, CA (Moreau)

Jon Elder, RB, 6-3, 195, Sioux City, IA (West)

Darin Erstad, P/PK, 6-2, 195, Jamestown, ND ('93 baseball recruit) 563 miles

Jay Foreman, WB/DB, 6-3, 195, Eden Prairie, MN

Sheldon Jackson, TE, 6-3, 205, Diamond Bar, CA (Damien)

Brian Knuckles, RB, 5-11, 195, Charlotte, NC (West H.S., Coffeyville C.C.)

John Livingston, WR, 6-0, 175, San Marcos, CA (Hemet H.S., Palomar C.C.)

Octavious McFarlin, DB, 6-0, 180, Bastrop, TX

Erik Nelson, DL/OL, 6-4, 250, Iowa City, IA

David Reddick, WB, 5-10, 175, Camden, NJ (Woodrow Wilson)

Dorrick Roy, TE, 6-4, 220, Inglewood, CA (Montclair Prep)

Mike Rucker, LB, 6-6, 225, St. Joseph, MO (Benton)

Travis Toline, LB, 6-4, 220, Wahoo, NE

Brandt Wade, OL, 6-3, 275, Springfield, NE (Platteview)

Eric Warfield, DB, 6-1, 175, Texarkana, AR

Shevin Wiggins, WB, 5-11, 170, Palmetto, FL (Manatee)

Jason Wiltz, DL, 6-4, 280, New Orleans, LA (St. Augustine)

Grant Wistrom, LB, 6-5, 230, Webb City, MO

1995 - 8/28 from Nebraska

Derek Allen, DL, 6-6, 275, Russellville, AR-541 miles

Luis Almanzar, TE/DE, 6-4, 220, Jersey City, NJ (Dickinson)

Matt Baldwin, OL, 6-3, 265, Arvada, CO (Bear Creek)

Chad Bell, LB, 6-2, 205, Norfolk, NE

Andy Bilanzich, P, 6-3, 215, Salt Lake City, UT

Kris Brown, K, 6-0, 190, Southlake, TX (Carroll)

Jeff Clausen, OL, 6-8, 275, Dixon, IL

T.J. DeBates, LB, 6-4, 240, Stewartville, MN

Brandon Drum, DL, 6-5, 250, Columbus, NE (Scotus)

Terrell Farley, LB, 6-1, 205, Columbus, Ga (JUCO)

Scott Frost, QB, 6-3, 215, Wood River, NE

Mike Fullman,* CB, 5-8, 165, Roselle, N.J. (JUCO)

Lonnie Fulton, OL, 6-5, 250, Grand Island, NE

Ahman Green, RB, 6-1, 210, Omaha, NE (Central)

Julius Jackson, LB, 6-2, 206, Gainesville, TX

Eric Johnson, DB, 6-1, 195, Phoenix, AZ (Alhambra)

Marcus Johnson, OL, 6-5, 265, Oceanside, CA (Vista)

Adam Julch, OL, 6-6, 300, Omaha, NE (Burke)

Chad Kelsay, LB, 6-4, 220, Auburn, NE

Frankie London, QB, 6-1, 175, Lake Charles, LA (LaGrange)

Karnell Matthews, DB, 5-11, 185, St. Charles, MO (Howell)

Tony Ortiz, LB, 6-2, 215, Waterbury, CT (Crosby)

Jeff Perino, QB, 6-2, 200, Durango, CO

Jerome Peterson, DB, 5-9, 180, Port Allen, LA

Chris Rainey, DB, 6-0, 185, Minneapolis, MN (North)

Kareem Sears, LB, 6-3, 230, Enid, OK

James Sherman, DL/OL, 6-4, 290, La Verne, CA (Whittier)

Aaron Wills, TE/DE, 6-2, 230, Omaha, NE (Burke)

1996 - 5/18 from Nebraska

Dan Alexander, FB/LB, 6-1, 230, Wentzville, MO

Sasho Becvaroski, OL, 6-5, 255, Crown Point, IN (Lake Central)-545 miles

Mike Brown, DB, 6-0, 190, Scottsdale, AZ (Saguaro_

Ralph Brown II, DB, 5-11, 175, Walnut, CA (Bishop Amat)

J.R. Edwards, WR, 6-2, 175, Lincoln, NE (Southeast)

DeAngelo Evans, RB, 5-9, 210, Wichita, KS (Collegiate)

Justin Ferrell, OL, 6-4, 290, McAllen, TX (Sharyland)

Clint Finley, QB, 6-1, 190, Cuero, TX

John Gibson, WR/DB, 6-0, 185, Papillion, NE (Papillion-La Vista)

George Guidry, DE, 6-3, 225, Lake Charles, LA (Washington-Merion)

Russ Hochstein, OL, 6-4, 240, Hartington, NE (Cedar Catholic)

Loran Kaiser, LB/DE, 6-5, 220, Farwell, NE (St. Paul)

Willie Miller, FB, 6-1, 225, Omaha, NE (Bellevue West)

Carlos Polk, LB, 6-2, 220, Rockford, IL (Guilford)

Robert Pollard, WR/DB, 6-2, 195, Orange Park, FL

Khari Reynolds, WR/DB, 5-11, 170, Mays Landing, NJ (Egg Harbor Township)

Steve Warren, DL, 6-3, 275, Springfield, MO (Kickapoo)

David Webber, OL/DL, 6-3, 275, St. Louis, MO (Hazelwood East)

1997 - 5/22 from Nebraska

Steve Alstadt, OL-DL, 6-5, 260, Fort Calhoun, NE

Dion Booker, DB, 6-2, 200, Oceanside, CA

Correll Buckhalter, RB, 6-2, 210, Mt. Olive, MS (Collins)

Jamie Burrow, MLB, 6-2, 240, Ames, IA

Ben Cornelsen, WR/DB, 5-11, 175, Shawnee, KS (Shawnee Mission Northwest)

Eric Crouch, QB, 6-0, 190, Omaha, NE (Millard North)

Matt Davison, WR, 6-1, 170, Tecumseh, NE

Chris Gustafson, LB, 6-2, 205, Gallup, N.M.

Brandon Harrison, CB, 6-0, 175, Gainesville, TX (JUCO)

Kyle Kollmorgen, OL, 6-4, 275, Lincoln (Southeast)

Glen Matthews, DL, 6-3, 300, Chicago, IL

Bobby Newcombe, QB, 6-0, 185, Albuquerque, NM (Highland)

Dominic Raiola, OL, 6-3, 300, Honolulu, HI (St. Louis)

Jon Rutherford, OL, 6-3, 270, Midwest City, OK

Erwin Swiney, DB/WR, 6-1, 180, Lincoln, NE (Southeast)

Kyle Vanden Bosch, DE, 6-4, 235, Larchwood, IA (West Lyon)

Mark Vedral, LB/WR, 6-1, 205, Gregory, SD

Dave Volk, OL, 6-5, 275, Battle Creek, NE

Joe Walker, DB, 5-11, 185, Arlington, TX (Arlington-Lamar)

Dan White, RB/DB, 5-9, 185, Green Bay, WI (Ashwaubenon)

J.P. Wichman, DL, 6-5, 220, Shawnee, KS (Shawnee Mission Northwest)

Tracey Wistrom, TE, 6-5, 205, Webb City, MO

The Blue names are also within the 500 mile radius. There were a few that were in the 540 range which I think is close enough.

 

[Bowfin]

Club teams? Really?

Wait, weren't you the one who was pulling for college football players at whatever the cost???

So, no, not really.

You remind me of the two women who were lamenting that their niece dropped out of gymnastics in high school:

THEM "All those countless hours and thousands of dollars wasted, when she could have gotten a scholarship!"

ME: "Why didn't the parents just put the money in the bank and draw interest for her college? Better yet, put the money in the bank and spend the same countless hours tutoring and testing the girl so she can get a full ride ACADEMIC scholarhip, and then you have free college AND the money in the bank."

THEM: