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Husker Monday Takes: A Look at the New Recruiting Wish List

NU has to keep stocking up on offensive linemen

by Samuel McKewon

February 07, 2010





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Nebraska has to keep loading up on offensive linemen, as Ricky Henry is one of four to graduate after the 2010 season.

Six strong takes after an enjoyable - and refreshingly quick - Super Bowl.

*Now that the 2010 recruiting class is in the books, there is two are primary goals for the 2011 class, which needs to be spectacular - not just solid - for head coach Bo Pelini.

Offensive line. You can never, not ever, be too deep there. Mike Smith, Keith Williams, DJ Jones and Ricky Henry are seniors next year. Mike Caputo, Jermarcus Hardrick and Marcel Jones are juniors.

With his reliance on the junior college ranks, Bill Callahan left Pelini to play perennial catch-up in this arena. Expect at least four more next year, with the best of the bunch, Florida prepster Tyler Moore, already committed.

Playmakers. Anywhere on the field is fine, but preferably at wide receiver and kick returner. One Rex Burkhead per class - a versatile guy who doesn't have to come off the field in spot situations - is ideal.

The Huskers appear to be ready to host junior prospects now through the spring game - and you know NU will roll out the red carpet there. Pelini himself said he expected two or three more commits in the coming months. The question becomes: How does the summer shape up? Last summer, NU took a step forward and arguably two steps back, pursuing verbal commitments from three players (Anterio Sloan, Keeston Terry and Tyler Gabbert) that Nebraska later didn't want.

One note on quarterback commit Jamal Turner: Let's just see if Texas or Alabama pushes for him to visit on Junior Day. Those are hard invitations to turn down. Nebraska's Tim Beck did a whale of a job securing a verbal commit. Now Beck will have to keep him from the wolves of top ten programs.

*Because Drew Brees proved it once again in the New Orleans Saints' impressive 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl, let us repeat it: Height doesn't matter at the quarterback position nearly as much three things:

1. Accuracy. Knowing where to throw a ball, and how hard to throw it.

2. Evading pressure subtly, but effectively.

3. Chemistry with your receivers.

Brees, Sunday's MVP after completing 32 of 39 passes for 288 yards in a 31-17 win, is brilliant in all three categories, and most of that stuff is not physical talent. It's work ethic, classroom study, and instinct. Yes, of course, Brees has a good motion and is blessed with gigantic hands for a man his size. But the position is so much about being canny, more than it about raw skills.

Who in this year's NFL Draft reminds me of Brees? Colt McCoy. Provided he's healthy, McCoy would be my pick over Sam Bradford and Jimmy Clausen if I'm a general manager and needed a quarterback.

*One can only hope Nebraska's fourth-ranked women's basketball team gets its shot at top-ranked Connecticut before the season is up. At its current pace, NU will have to reach the Final Four at the very least - and maybe the title game.

Nebraska would match up in several key areas - better, arguably, than No. 2 Standord. The Huskers live and breathe a breakneck pace. So does UConn. The Huskies are tenacious in transition. The Huskers get back better than almost any team in the country. Connecticut throws one big after another at teams. Nebraska boasts a deep, versatile frontcourt that can absorb fouls and punishment.

Where the Huskers may struggle is against a deliberate, methodical team with a strong point guard and a stingy zone defense. Credit NU head coach Connie Yori with beating the Big 12 South at its own speed game. I'm curious to see how well Nebraska handles junk defenses - and the ever-increasing burden of perfection - as the season wears on.

*You heard it here: Nebraska's men's basketball team pulls a fast one on Baylor this week. The Huskers are getting closer. You see it in their performances.

*I am completely against the NCAA expanding to 96 teams for March Madness. Ugh. I can live with an expansion to 68 teams - or even 72 teams, which essentially banishes the No. 15 and No. 16 seeds to play-in status - but I'd much prefer the NCAA employ some common-sense rules for the Big Dance:

1. An at-large team must finish .500 or above in its conference. If you can't do that, you have no business in the Big Dance. It's not a bowl game.

2. If a team from your league hasn't won a NCAA Tournament game in five years, no more automatic bid. In other words - if your league can't prove it's worth one win in the Big Dance, then the next bid needs to be earned outside the welfare program with an at-large selection. Could take one year. Could take 15.

3. Regular-season conference champs get the auto-bid. Spare me the "what about the conference tournament?" argument. Do it during the grind - or don't do it.

*I don't care too much that USC's Lane Kiffin offering a 13-year-old from Delaware a scholarship to play quarterback for the Trojans. I don't care that the kid, David Sills, verbally accepted the offer.

What irks me is Sills' "mentor," Steve Clarkson, trying to book the kid on Oprah and Ellen. And Sills' dad willingly allowing Clarkson, who funneled several quarterbacks - including Matt Barkley - toward the Trojans - to fly his son to USC games, meet Pete Carroll and make the kid's decision essentially for him.

We talked about the rise of handlers and street agents just before Signing Day, and here's a lovely example. Oh, Clarkson may have impressive connections and pupils, sure. And he uses those connections and pupils to get his name in the news. Sills' father appeared to have his argument all planned for ESPN Los Angeles two days ago, and he makes his fair share of points when it comes to immersing his son in college football.

Just one thing: Who said USC was the best place to send a quarterback? Who's Kiffin star project? Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart belong to Norm Chow. Mark Sanchez? Steve Sarkisian, Kiffin's "name" is John David Booty. Some fun.



See also: Husker Walk-On List and Samuel McKewon Commentary and Six for Immediate Impact and Six Who Got Away



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