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[mNhhh]

Recruiting: The race to 2013 begins

BY Sam McKewon | 7:10 am, Monday, Feb. 13

We gave you a week to digest Nebraska’s 2012 recruiting class.

And we highly encourage you to keep chewing through it this offseason. All the best stuff makes for a great read on a snowy day.

But as I wrote last Sunday, NU has to create quick momentum for its larger 2013 recruiting class, doing so with a new recruiting coordinator (Ross Els) and a strategy that looks to return more to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and the 500-mile radius around Lincoln.

It begins with Nebraska’s Feb. 18 Junior Day.

Huskers Illustrated and 247Sports — recruiting partners with The World-Herald — have had tons of updates during the last week. Here’s a rundown of several:

Josh Banderas, 6-2/215, LB, 4 stars/93 rating/No. 141 player in the country

The Lincoln Southwest product – son of former NU tight end Tom Banderas – went to five Husker games last year as an unofficial visitor and is clearly looking for a Nebraska offer on Junior Day.

“I think I could be one of the guys that they don’t have to sub off the field,” Josh Banderas said. “You have some linebackers that are strictly going to stop the run and some that are better in the pass. I think I can do both and they don’t have to sub me out because I’m an all-around versatile player.”

Read more here.

Keith Ford, 5-11/196, RB, 4/96/No. 20

Nebraska is in the top five for this Cypress (Texas) star.

The others: Alabama, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Florida State.

“I just want to get that feeling,” he said. “Right now I don’t really have a time frame. I feel like one day I will just wake up and know where I want to go to college.”

Read more here.

Priest Willis, 6-2/200, DB, 4/92/No. 165

Husker head coach Bo Pelini personally reached out to the Tempe (Ariz.) Marcos De Niza speedster.

“He said ‘Man, I’ve seen your film, so it’s a no brainer that I need to offer you,’” Willis said. “He liked how big and how physical I was and how fast I run to the ball. He thinks I could be a big contributor to the football team.”

Tough get, this kid, who already has offers to USC, UCLA and Washington, among others. But Willis likes Nebraska, in part because his uncle played there. Who is it? Toby Wright.

Read more here.

Nick Martinez, 6-2/220, LB, 4/91/No. 167

Nebraska was the first offer for the Lee’s Summit (Mo.) athlete. Carl Pelini — now the head coach at Florida Atlantic — made that offer. Now John Garrison is handling the recruiting. And 2012 NU linebacker signee Michael Rose might play a big role in wooing Martinez, too.

“I real good friends from Michael Rose,” he said. “Him and his dad are always trying to get me to go to Nebraska. He tells me that we both know the defense and that the two of us can play out there and everything. Ever since he knew I had a Nebraska offer he’s always been on my tail about it.”

He’s coming for Junior Day. Mizzou and several Big Ten schools have offered.

Read more here.

Chans Cox, 6-2/220, LB, 4/92/No. 171

The Lakeside (Ariz.) Blue Ridge star is recruiting Nebraska as much as the Huskers are pursuing him, it seems. His grandfather went to the school and he visited Lincoln last year for a game.

“They have top notch and real nice facilities,” he said. “The field is awesome. The weight room is a great place. They definitely have some of the top facilities in the country.”

Cox has offers to Arizona, Arizona State and Boise State, among others. Watch the Huskers’ movement here.

Read more here.

Chase Abbington, 6-3/200, RB, 4/91/No. 197

The Huskers are hunting for another big back, and this Saint Peter (Mo) Fort Zumalt South athlete fits the bill with 1,459 rushing yards, 27 touchdowns, and offers from Arkansas, Missouri and UCLA.

“If I get outside you can try catching me,” he said. “But really if I get around the corner you aren’t catching me. Let’s just put it that way. I can also play between the tackles. I’m big but I’m fast too.”

Abbington said his head coach, Scott Fulton, is from Nebraska.

Read more here.

Demore’ea Stringfellow, 6-3/190, WR, 3/88/NR

Nebraska appears to have targeted this Moreno Valley (Calif) Rancho Verde pass-catcher as one of its top wide receiver targets. Quincy Enunwa and Eric Martin both hail from Moreno Valley, so there’s a strong connection there.

“They told me they are looking for a big receiver and they like how I play,” he said. “The coaches told me they need a physical presence on the outside.”

UCLA has offered. Other Pac-12 schools will.

Read more here.

Kenny Lacy, 6-5/270, OT, 3/87/NR

Lots of Pac-12 offers already for the Phoenix Mountain Pointe star. Arizona State is in a slight lead, and Oklahoma and Notre Dame are interested. NU, too.

“Nebraska has a great tradition of football,” Lacy said. “I know they always do a good job of developing their lineman. Coach said he likes my athletic ability as a lineman and they could really use someone like me.”

Read more here

Joe Mathis, 6-4/250, DE, Upland (Calif.) , 3/85/NR

Nebraska failed to land any of its Upland 2012 targets – Kenny Lawler, Marques Mosley or Christian Powell – but those three gave Mathis a positive impression of Lincoln.

“They said the locker room and weight room are beautiful and flushed out,” he said. “The fans are crazy and loud. They even have iPads on every locker. I couldn’t believe it.”

Wide receivers Rich Fisher is the lead guy recruiting Mathis, who also has offers from UCLA and Washington.

“I’ve been talking with coach Fisher a lot,” Mathis said. “That’s my main man. He cool. You can tell he’s a chill guy and you can tell he’s a good Christian man.”

Mathis wants to visit for the spring game.

Read more here.

Sam Raridon, 6-2/256, DT, NR/NR/NR

Here’s another Rick Kaczenski target. The West Des Moines (Iowa) Valley product was a favorite of Kaczenski’s when the coach was at Iowa. Now, the son of former NU offensive tackle Scott Raridon will be visiting on Junior Day. He can play a 3-technique or at end.

“I feel like I’m pretty strong and I’m pretty agile,” he said. “Most guys my size don’t get off the ball as fast as I do.”

Raridon won’t lie – he likes Iowa. But -

“My dad went to Nebraska and played football there so I could probably be comfortable there too.”

Read more here.

Mitch Parsons, 6-5/220, TE, NR/NR/NR

This Chaparral (Colo.) athlete could be the pass-catching tight end NU’s been looking for since Kyler Reed and Ben Cotton came aboard in 2008. Seriously, folks – it’s been that long since a upper-crust tight end said yes to Nebraska.

Parsons just has an offer to Colorado – so he’s still under the radar – but he had 634 receiving yards last year. Other big-name schools – Virginia, Michigan, Stanford, Oregon – have expressed interest.

“I’ve mostly played wide receiver all of my life,” he said. “This past season was the first season I played tight end and I think I did well. Coaches tell me they love my ability to run after the catch and how I use my body to catch the ball. They all tell me my routes and receiving ability as a tight end are off the charts.”

Parsons will come for NU’s Junior Day.

Read more here.

Eric Biesel, 6-4/235, LB No rating/rank

Expect this Fenton (Mo.) Rockwood Summit prospect to make the Feb. 18 Junior Day visit. Another big linebacker who can play the Big Ten run. He had 128 tackles last year.

“I just flow to the ball, and when I get the chance I try to hit them as hard as I can,” he said.

[johnnyhusker82]

Note to coaches: Get on 'em and Stay on 'em.

Now.

[fdbrian]

johnnyhusker82, on 13 February 2012 - 01:01 PM, said:

Note to coaches: Get on 'em and Stay on 'em.

Now.

I'm really going to need to see how many stars rivals gives them before I get excited about any of them.

[mNhhh]

I'm disturbed there's not a Cotton in the list.

Demore'ea Stringfellow is certainly well named. 6'3", 190. Randy Moss-esque.

[RINGKONG]

I need to see a criminal record before I get excited. If they have Daddies, I don't want them.

[fdbrian]

RINGKONG, on 13 February 2012 - 01:31 PM, said:

I need to see a criminal record before I get excited. If they have Daddies, I don't want them.

Or if they are not daddies either.

[LouisvilleHusker]

Suzie says they all suck.

Brian Kelly wouldn't recruit any of them.

[Boxcar]

"We take what we want."

[Boxcar]

Michigan's junior day resulted in six 4* commits all of which are in Rivals 250 for 2013. It would appear that we're going to have to out-coach Michigan in the coming years to cash our ticket to Indy.

[LouisvilleHusker]

Boxcar, on 19 February 2012 - 03:04 PM, said:

Michigan's junior day resulted in six 4* commits all of which are in Rivals 250 for 2013. It would appear that we're going to have to out-coach Michigan in the coming years to cash our ticket to Indy.

How does this post add to redout in any way, shape, or form?

Tired old tripe from the tired old lady.

As my day can't be complete without a personal attack on you, Fuck off, mouthbreather.

[fdbrian]

Boxcar, on 19 February 2012 - 03:04 PM, said:

Michigan's junior day resulted in six 4* commits all of which are in Rivals 250 for 2013. It would appear that we're going to have to out-coach Michigan in the coming years to cash our ticket to Indy.

thanks for stiring the shit again.

[RINGKONG]

fdbrian, on 19 February 2012 - 04:10 PM, said:

Boxcar, on 19 February 2012 - 03:04 PM, said:

Michigan's junior day resulted in six 4* commits all of which are in Rivals 250 for 2013. It would appear that we're going to have to out-coach Michigan in the coming years to cash our ticket to Indy.

thanks for stiring the shit again.

Your all some sensitive bitches. KatKid didn't get to you fucks like boxie can.

[fdbrian]

RINGKONG, on 19 February 2012 - 04:54 PM, said:

fdbrian, on 19 February 2012 - 04:10 PM, said:

Boxcar, on 19 February 2012 - 03:04 PM, said:

Michigan's junior day resulted in six 4* commits all of which are in Rivals 250 for 2013. It would appear that we're going to have to out-coach Michigan in the coming years to cash our ticket to Indy.

thanks for stiring the shit again.

Your all some sensitive bitches. KatKid didn't get to you fucks like boxie can.

stop stiring the shit ape. You know boxie is closer to katshit than Loui and me.

Although both of us can be a little douchey

[mNhhh]

Whatever Hoke is doing, he certainly isn't fucking around doing it....


A historic day has stretched into a historic weekend.

Four-star Ohio tight end prospect Jake Butt decided on Sunday evening to become the 10th member of the Michigan football team's 2013 recruiting class, an announcement that comes on the heels of the Wolverines' six verbal commitments Saturday — a modern single-day record for the program.

"Officially a wolverine!!! #goblue," Butt tweeted.

The Pickerington, Ohio, native was on campus Saturday for a visit with about 10 other elite junior prospects. He visited ESPN's "College GameDay" set in the morning at Crisler Center, then took in the Wolverines' basketball game against Ohio State that night.

Five recruits committed in that span, and a sixth, Chris Fox, joined them from his home in Colorado. Butt, though, elected to return home to Ohio to mull over his decision with his parents.

It didn't take him long.

Butt's pledge is Michigan's seventh in a two-day span, one of the most impressive recruiting hauls in school history. It's not so uncommon at some power programs, where it's more common to hold junior day-type events. Texas is a classic example of this strategy.

However, this many commitments on a single weekend is mostly unheard of in the Big Ten, and has never been approached at Michigan since that data began being kept in 2003.

The Wolverines have 10 commitments for 2013. They have room for approximately 18 players in the class, which means they are more than half completed for this cycle with more than 11 months remaining until signing day.

The next-closest team in the Big Ten is Ohio State at four. Michigan State, the Wolverines' biggest rival for in-state talent, has two.

Last year at this time, Michigan had no commitments.

The Wolverines have been going after quality players, too, as nine of the 10 commits are ranked among Rivals' Top 200. Alabama's top-ranked 2012 class, for comparison, finished with 14.

Butt, a four-star tight end who is ranked by Rivals as the country's No. 96 prospect, fills one of Michigan's more pressing needs in this class. Detroit tight end prospect Khalid Hill also has committed for 2013, but projects to play more of a fullback-type role.

Butt held offers from seven Big Ten schools and much of the MAC, as well as national recruiters such as Stanford, Tennessee and UCLA.

He is a lifelong Ohio State fan, but did not hold an offer from the Buckeyes.

[fdbrian]

In reality, how commited are 16 & 17 year old kids in generaly? I'll give you a hint, one day they like something, the next day they don't.

When tOSU offers them free tats for life they might change their mind.

[LouisvilleHusker]

mNhhh, on 20 February 2012 - 11:50 AM, said:

Butt held offers from seven Big Ten schools and much of the MAC, as well as national recruiters such as Stanford, Tennessee and UCLA.

He is a lifelong Ohio State fan, but did not hold an offer from the Buckeyes.

Oh my God. He had MAC offers, and no OSU offer?

Sad waste of a scholarship.

Oh, wait, Bo didn't do that, Brady Hoke did.

Never mind.

Signed,

BoxCunt Fuckface.

[LouisvilleHusker]

RINGKONG, on 19 February 2012 - 04:54 PM, said:

fdbrian, on 19 February 2012 - 04:10 PM, said:

Boxcar, on 19 February 2012 - 03:04 PM, said:

Michigan's junior day resulted in six 4* commits all of which are in Rivals 250 for 2013. It would appear that we're going to have to out-coach Michigan in the coming years to cash our ticket to Indy.

thanks for stiring the shit again.

Your all some sensitive bitches. KatKid didn't get to you fucks like boxie can.

KatKid was funny in a delusional kind of way.

Boxcunt is, shit, I don't even know what Boxunt is anymore.

[fdbrian]

LouisvilleHusker, on 20 February 2012 - 01:17 PM, said:

RINGKONG, on 19 February 2012 - 04:54 PM, said:

fdbrian, on 19 February 2012 - 04:10 PM, said:

Boxcar, on 19 February 2012 - 03:04 PM, said:

Michigan's junior day resulted in six 4* commits all of which are in Rivals 250 for 2013. It would appear that we're going to have to out-coach Michigan in the coming years to cash our ticket to Indy.

thanks for stiring the shit again.

Your all some sensitive bitches. KatKid didn't get to you fucks like boxie can.

KatKid was funny in a delusional kind of way.

Boxcunt is, shit, I don't even know what Boxunt is anymore.

Boxcunt is the swizzle stick in this cocktail of shit we call life.

[wred]

Bwahahahahaha!

Jake Butt!

I can't wait to hear the announcers when he plays!!!


He gave it his best effort, Butt just couldn't cross the goal line,

Butt's down before the end zone,hahahah!

We could start a whole new thread!

[Boxcar]

Interesting that Michigan beat out two recruiting goliaths in Stanford and UCLA for a top 100 recruit. You'll recall those two schools swooped in at the last moment to snag our top two offensive recruits from the 2012 class. UM is laying the groundwork for future B1G Titles. Nine out of ten recruits in the Rivals 200. Impressive.