How did this thread even get bunnped. How did this threall thought all the watson bashing had calmed down. And to contradict gmoose those numbers do lie. The auther clearly only put up the big 12 numbers to make wats look bad/over rated. The fact of the matter is he was number 12 in the nation then he lost his 2 best qbs, 2 best rbs, two best wrs, and his two best linemen so yes any time that happens there will be a very large drop off.
I agree with that. However, even though we are not a place like Texas that has talent ready to step in at any time, last years offense was embarrassing. From my standards, it doesn't really matter if you lose 11 of 11 guys on offense. If you want to be a consistent Top 25 threat, you have to find ways to reload and keep things chugging. Even Oklahoma, with all of their woes on offense with losing Sam Bradford, still found ways to put up points against the big boys. With the exception of Arizona and MU, we had trouble scoring just one touchdown against good talent.
You can pin our reliance on JUCO players and lack of redshirt freshmen from past classes on the last coaching staff for our lack of depth. Coaches typically seek help from junior colleges when they have an immediate need. But high JUCO numbers signal urgency, sometimes bad recruiting, but more than likely terrible player development.
Don't get me wrong, stars do emerge from the JUCO ranks. Zac Taylor was the Big 12 offensive player of the year. Demorrio Williams and Terrell Farley changed Nebraska's defense when they joined the lineup.
But more often, Husker JUCO transfers made little contribution. And each scholarship awarded to a transfer is one less a coach can give to a high school prospect, who has more time to learn and develop.
• List of scholarship junior-college transfers:
• 2009: Brandon Kinnie, Dejon Gomes
• 2008: Ricky Henry, Tyson Hetzer
• 2007: Kevin Dixon, Shukree Barfield, Larry Asante, Armando Murillo, Zac Lee
• 2006: Kenny Wilson, Brandon Johnson, Steve Allen, Victory Haines, Maurice Purify, Carl Nicks, Andre Jones, Tyrell Spain
• 2005: Bryan Wilson, Justin Tomerlin, Zac Taylor, Zack Bowman, Frantz Hardy, Brock Pasteur, Jordan Picou, Ola Dagunduro, Barry Cryer, Dontrell Moore, Steve Octavien
• 2004: Jordan Adams, Cornealius Thomas
• 2003: Donald Defrand, Wali Muhammad, Darren DeLone
• 2002: Demorrio Williams
• 2001: Clifford Brye, Rodney Burgess
• 2000: Thunder Collins
• 1999: Larry Henderson
• 1998: None
• 1997: Brandon Harrison
• 1996: None
• 1995: Terrell Farley
• 1994: Brian Knuckles, John Livingston
Nebraska has signed 42 players from junior colleges during the past 16 classes. Nearly half of those (19) joined NU during a two-year span under Bill Callahan. Callahan brought in (26) JUCOs during his tenure which totaled more than Osborne (4), Solich (8), and Pelini (4) combined from 1994-2009.
Redshirt Freshmen
Of scholarship players who arrived on campus as freshmen from 1994 to '97, Tom Osborne redshirted 58 of 73, 79.4 percent.
Frank Solich followed the same pattern. In six seasons, he redshirted 82 of 105 freshmen, 78.1 percent.
Bill Callahan took over for Solich and changed course. In four seasons, he redshirted 34 of 67 freshmen, 50.7 percent. <--- This is why we have no depth...
Fifth Year Seniors
Nebraska's depth through the years has afforded it the luxury to redshirt many of its best prospects. The strategy can pay dividends in year five.
Since 1996, 70 times a Nebraska player has received first- or second-team All-Big 12 honors.
More than one-third (34.3 percent) were fifth-year seniors. The list of 24 includes Mike Minter, Jason Peter, Mike Rucker, Dan Alexander, Russ Hochstein, DeJuan Groce, Cory Ross, Adam Carriker and Matt Slauson.
Imagine Eric Crouch exhausting eligibility before his Heisman season. Or Aaron Taylor finishing his career before his Outland Trophy season. Ndamukong Suh played during his freshman season, 2005, but the defensive tackle got hurt and received a medical redshirt.
First-class talent must be recruited and developed.
