The early returns are in Opcat and it isn't pretty. I'll be the first to admit that Schnellahan is out recruiting everyone else in the North on paper. But other than making every Husker a "recruiting expert" and giving them something to live for, it has been a laugh riot watching the blue chips fizzle. Here is a little something I put together for Tigerboard awhile back and it's very telling. Though certainly subjective to a point, I found that Nubbs really didn't have much of a response. Actually a few of them did their own analysis to point out someone I'd done wrong, but oddly enough they were worse than I to most the others. Then there were a few who said "let them develop." Funny they'd say that since they are experts on Ron Prince's recruits before they hit campus. Fact is there have been ZERO impact JC's and NONE of the High School kids has been as good as Sker fans said they'd be at this point.
Enjoy!
The Great Red Farce! Nebraska Recruiting
Since Nebraska fans can talk about nothing but recruiting these days and genuinely get that ELITE pride that used to come with wins and titles, I thought it a nice time to evaluate production vs. the only thing that seems to matter to Husker fans…****STARS.****
2004 THE BLUE CHIPS:
Courtney Grixby- FOUR STARS
Grixby has been a two year starter in a average to below average NU secondary. He has also been named two time honorable mention which is one less nod than his career interception number of 3. Not a bad player, but worthy of his Rivals 100 spot (#75) and #5 ranked CB in the nation for 2004? HARDLY!
Updated Ranking- THREE STARS
Lydon Murtha- FOUR STARS
Best known for freaking out at a nudie bar on a Minnesota Gopher recruiting outing, this lineman was seen as Callahan’s first real recruiting coup! A member of the Army All Star game and Rivals 100 (#42), Murtha has been a spot starter since his arrival and would appear to be a back-up again this year. Hardly worthy of his lofty position on the Rivals 100 and his ranking as the #4 Offensive Tackle in the 2004 class.
UPDATED RANKING- TWO STARS
Others of Not(e) for 2004:
Santino “Psycho” Panico- TWO STARS
A complete injustice at just two stars according to Tom Lemming, who decided to include Panico on his Army All Star game roster despite no interest from any school with a pulse…other than Nebraska. Panico was Nebraska’s starting punt returner as a true freshman and took the art of the fair catch to an all new level. He left the team after his single season.
UPDATED RANKING- NO STARS
Adams, Ganz & “Broadway” Beau- SIX STARS COMBINED
The three headed scholarship eaters at QB. Adams was completely underrated at his JC according to Husker fans, who stole him a year before anyone even knew the kid was available (again per Sker fans). “Broadway” Beau set the standard for QB’s transferring because they were “getting the shaft” (not starting due to a more talented person in front of them) at their previous school (Beau in high school, Keller at ASU years later). After his performance at Texas Tech (in the 70 point implosion game) Husker fans realized he just wasn’t very good. Ganz is a gamer, but Husker fans are praying he never sees a meaningful snap.
UPDATED RANKING- ONE STAR (for 2 of the 3 still showing up at the training table and gobbling up scholarships)
Brandon Jackson- THREE STARS
Possibly the quickest study in the history of the ACT test. This young man “miraculously” raised his ACT score by nearly double digits to qualify to play football for the Huskers. Thing is, he was a damn fine player. Would have been a heck of a lot better if Callahan used logic and production instead of politics to divvy up carries. Left a year early for the NFL draft.
UPDATED RANKING- FOUR STARS…but this doesn’t count because he wasn’t a true blue chip out of high school
2005 THE BLUE CHIPS:
Harrison “The Savior” “King of the Husker Illustrated Update” Beck- FOUR STARS
Possibly the greatest example of the Husker Recruiting farce. If your school even sent the guy a single letter, you could be certain your Rivals site would be served up an update via HI “writers” on a daily basis. Michigan fans bitched incessantly and KSU fans begged Brian Gates take the Cats off his offer list out of mercy. The topics of these updates covered such important matters such as what he got for Christmas (completely true) and how he gave Callahan permission to recruit Zac Taylor, despite promises he’d be the only QB in the class. I think anyone outside Nubb nation could see how this one would turn out and we were right. After a single season Beck and his family made complete asses of themselves and he left the program. Nebraska’s superstar QB of the future (Part I) was no more…and everyone laughed at them…and it was extremely enjoyable.
UPDATED RANKING- NO STARS (though I’d love to give him 5 stars for entertainment value)
Zack Bowman- FIVE STARS
I feel bad for this kid. Not just for the fact he has to deal with Bill Callahan, but because of injuries the past two years. But what I don’t understand is how Husker fans still think he’s the answer. He was healthy for a year and only started the final five games. He’s got the measurables, at least prior to injuries to both knees, but has not even come close to his #2 ranking as the best JC player in the nation in 2005.
UPDATED RANKING- THREE STARS (some of which is still based on potential, not production)
Chris Brooks- FOUR STARS
After redshirting as a Soph., this blue chip recruit still has time. But for a guy who was thought (by Nebraska fans) to be an immediate impact type receiver his zero catches for zero yards is not terribly impressive. The good news…the mother of his baby is getting a fine education due to his once lofty recruiting status.
TENATIVE UPDATED RANKING- TWO STARS
Jordan Congdon- THREE STARS
The #1 kicker per Rivals in the 2005 class. This guy was MONEY……inside 30 yards. Anything outside 30 was a huge test of Callahan’s faith. Congdon went 5-7 last year with a long of 40 yards, but it was the kicks he didn’t make that made more news (see the Auburn game). Congdon transferred after last season’s consistent humiliation to USC.
UPDATED RANKING (under Callahan only)- TWO STARS
Ola Dagunduro- FOUR STARS
Started all 14 games last year as a Sr.. No post season honors.
UPDATED RANKING- THREE STARS
Phillip Dillard- FOUR STARS
Hard to evaluate what this kid will be. He was injured last year in the first game. What he wasn’t was a consistent starter or even major contributor as a true freshman as many Husker fans said he would be. I do think he’ll be a starter before he leaves and I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, but Reggie Smith was a much bigger whiff than Dillard was get.
TENATIVE UPDATED RANKING- THREE STARS
Frantz Hardy- FOUR STARS
If only every week were ku week! In the 2006 ku game he had two long TD’s (only 3 on the year) and over half his yards for the season. For his first two years out of Juco he has averaged about 300 yards receiving and 2 TD’s per with the benefit of his JC teammate Zac Taylor throwing the ball. Don’t look for a breakout season this year with Keller at QB. Hardy was ranked as the #9 JC player in the nation when NU got him.
UPDATED RANKING- TWO STARS
Leon Jackson- FOUR STARS
Rated as the #4 “Athlete” in the nation in 2005 and a member of the Rivals 100 (#47), Jackson is the epitome of NU opponents saying “I told you so.” He wavered in his recruitment when Callahan talked about his being a safety. So Callahan lied and said what he wanted to hear (“you’re in our plans at running back”) to get a signature. Everyone outside of Nebraska said they’d switch him to defense when he hit campus. Actually everyone said that in Nebraska too, but they did it in a muffled tone until signing day had ended. They did want to move him immediately, humored him a bit at RB to keep him only marginally unhappy and he finally left the team last year.
UPDATED RANKING- ZERO STARS
Marlon “the Next Adrian Peterson” Lucky- FIVE STARS
Here is a perfect example of Husker hype overshadowing performance. Is Lucky a good running back? Sure he is, though it should be noted Brandon Jackson was much better. Problem is this kid could walk on water and not live up to the hype in Huskerland. I saw countless comparisons to Adrian Peterson (more for impact than style) from Husker fans when they inked Lucky. I’m sure they’ll deny it now, but it was constant back in ’05. So let’s do a quick comparison between Lucky’s two season cumulative stats of 857 yards and 6 TD’s and Adrian Peterson’s first D1 games. It took Peterson exactly 6 games to eclipse Lucky’s two year rushing total and 7 games to top Marlon’s 6 TD’s. Really no comparison at all Husker fans…but then we told you so. Lucky was #13 on the Rivals 100 and the #2 running back in the nation out of high school.
UPDATED RANKING- 4 STARS (though 3.5 would be about right at this point)
Steve Octavian- FOUR STARS
Thus far he’s got about as many injuries as starts, but he’s penciled in to start this year at LB. A decent player for certain, but a true blue chip…not really.
UPDATED RANKING- 3 STARS
Rodney Picou- FOUR STARS
The #9 ranked guard in the nation in 2005, but for some reason he only had an offer from Utah and Nubb. How could this be? Qualifying for Division 1 play wasn’t really his forte. He’s not “N”…but thankfully they got credit for his lofty ranking and 4 stars, which is really what’s important to Husker fans these days anyway. Another fine example of WE TOLD YOU SO!
UPDATED RANKING- ZERO STARS
Zach Potter- FOUR STARS
Not a bad field goal blocker standing 6’7” and KSU fans can attest to this. But despite what NU fans will say publicly, they were very disappointed in his Spring performance, as he attempts to replace Carriker or Moore in the starting line-up. He’s not terribly athletic you see, especially compared to the guys that just graduated. Think Learch (from the Addams Family) like fluidity of motion. Look for fans to melt down consistently on the lack of pass rush this year from the defensive line and for Potter to do his part in keeping that an issue…until Callahan can get another 4-5 JC DE’s with bloated rankings into the mix.
TENATIVE UPDATED RANKING- 2 STARS
Ndamukong Suh- FOUR STARS
HOLY CRAP! Did I find one that might actually live up to his billing? Not quite yet, but this kid could be pretty good. He better be good, as the depleted D-Line needs his impact badly. He played in all 14 games last year, collecting 19 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He was honored by The Sporting News with 1st Team All Big 12 Freshman honors.
TENATIVE UPDATED RANKINGS- 4 STARS
Justin Tomerlin- FOUR STARS
I can remember my sources saying this about Justin Tomerlin. “I have no idea why he’s ranked so high, he can play Tight End or Defensive End, but neither very well.” Of course he was FOUR STARS, so Husker fans didn’t need anything else. Hell, Husker Illustrated had a huge picture gallery of his trip to Lincoln and they actually sent a photographer to his JUCO in Kansas to take some more pictures. Of course there was the plane trip the coaches took to Florida to get permission from his girlfriend to let him commit to the Big Red. Quite a soap opera…for a guy who never amounted to anything. Guess my source was right, but again the Husker fans got the stars they so desire.
UPDATED RANKING- ZERO STARS
Others of Not(e):
Craig Roark- THREE STARS (UPDATE 7-28-07...Roark transferred from Nubb this week!)
Though Husker fans fought HARD for a forth star and a spot on the Rivals 100, they were denied in the case of Craig Roark and rightfully so in retrospect. Never has a kid so loved the Husker Illustrated spotlight. They had his daily diary from the Army All American game (need a laugh?), his description of the thickness of the pork chops they fed the NU coaches on their in home visit and if you were a subscriber to the premium stuff a description of how they were giving his girlfriend a scholarship too. All those are very true and feel free to spend an evening reading these as a lovely companion piece to the Harrison Beck updates. You’ll find they came almost daily on the Rivals Network. Again, people who tried to forget about the fat kid from Ada, OK begged to get removed from his offer list so the update clutter would stop! As part of the “Husker star lobby” the Big Red fans analyzed photos of OU commit Jon Cooper to prove Roark was taller…for whatever reason. They bitched at Jeremy Crabtree and Bobby Burton constantly about this kid because Callahan’s buddy Tom Lemming said he was all world. Despite his being as tall (or taller) than Jon Cooper, he wasn’t and still isn’t nearly the player that Cooper is. Yeah, it’s a pretty absurd argument, but when recruiting has eclipsed on field success, you’re bound to do some pretty stupid things. Roark been moved to the defensive side of the ball and is now a reserve DT.
UPDATED RANKING- TWO STARS
That’s it folks, the entire 4 and 5 star collection from Callahan’s first two classes. Can the guy not coach or is it the ego that gets in the way? Probably a combo of those and the fact Husker fans and their site lobby constantly for better rankings…so they’ll feel like they matter again. For a guy who says he doesn't need any prima donnas on the Husker team, he seems to land them with great frequency.
I’ll stop there and let Big Red fans lick their wounds (and call me horrible names). Besides it’s unfair to judge the failure of the newer recruits until they fail. See you next year for that long report.
HAPPY RECRUITING HUSKERS!!!!
