The Committed

There aren't a lot of commitments in the Big Ten so far for 2013, but there are some noteworthy ones. Only four schools have any committed players. Four-star pro-style quarterback Shane Morris has already given his commitment to Michigan. The good news is that he doesn't appear to be near the running threat of Dennard Robinson. Four-star defensive back Dymonte Thomas has committed to the Wolverines as well. The Maize and Blue hold another commitment from thus far unranked tight end Khalid Hill. Meanwhile, Michigan State has a commitment from unranked running back Carman Ainsworth. Nebraska has a commitment from four-star "athlete" Tre'vell Dixon, but may have to hold off LSU to keep the Louisiana youngster until signing day. Dixon could be a wide receiver, defensive back, or running back. Ohio State is the early leader in class rankings with a five-star commitment from defensive back Cameron Burrows and four-star "athlete" Jalin Marshall. Marshall appears to be a player that Nebraska had their eye on as well.

The Wanted

According to Rivals.com, Nebraska has already made forty-one offers to players in the class of 2013. About two-thirds of them are rated as four-star or higher players. Nebraska must fight off Michigan, Purdue, and more than two dozen schools if they hope to land five-star safety Su'a Cravens. The Huskers have to beat out Ohio State, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Illinois, and Indiana to land four-star dual-threat quarterback Malik Zaire of Ohio. NU would have to beat out Michigan State and Ohio State if htey want four-star offensive tackle Derwin Gray from the nation's capitol. The Cornhuskers, Purdue and more than a dozen other schools have offered four-star "athlete" Jalen Ramsey of Nashville. The Big Red must fight off Iowa and Purdue to obtain the services of four-star linebacker Nick Ramirez of Missouri. NU, Ohio State, Purdue, and more than a dozen other programs have offered four-star wide receiver Uriah LeMay of North Carolina. The Huskers have offered all-name and four-star defensive end Taco Charlton of Ohio, whose sought after by Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, and Purdue, among others. Nebraska, Northwestern and about half the Pac-12 want California four-star cornerback Chris Hawkins. Four-star Ohio safety (and West Virginia commit) Jayme Thompson has early offers from Nebraska and Illinois, among others. Michigan and Nebraska both want four-star Dallas guard Ishmael Wilson. NU has offered four-star Cardinal Mooney safety Marcus McWilson along with Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan State. Four-star Youngstown defensive tackle Billy Price has offers from Michigan, Michigan State, NU, and Ohio State, among others. Offers have poured in for four-star Ft. Lauderdale receiver Jordan Cunningham, including ones from Illinois, Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin and the Huskers. NU and Purdue are among the schools that have offered Phoenix four-star offensive tackle Kenny Lacy and Tempe cornerback Priest Willis. Michigan, Illinois, and the Huskers are among the schools that have offered a scholarship to four-star offensive tackle Evan Lisle. Three quarters of the Big Ten (including NU) have offered four-star Illinois offensive tackle Kyle Bosch. Two-thirds want four-star Illinois offensive tackle Ethan Pocic. Likewise, half of the Big Ten (and NU) want four-star Illinois wideout Laquon Treadwell. Nearly as many are seeking four-star New Jersey cornerback Eli Woodard.

That's a lot of guys in play between Nebraska and other conference schools. Those face-offs in the living rooms may well translate to wins on the field. And there's a slew of other players not mentioned either because they haven't been rated yet or may not yet have other offers from Big Ten schools. Signing day may be a year away, but when it comes to recruiting (like blogging), there is no offseason.

Defensive Tackle

This is arguably the hardest position to fill and yet only Purdue failed to sign somebody.  Michigan got a five-star player to go with a pair of three-star tackles.  Ohio State and Iowa each grabbed a single four-star tackle.  Northwestern paired a four-star tackle with a two-star player.  Penn State added a four-star, three-star, and two two-star tackles.  Nebraska and Illinois each added a pair of three-star tackles.  Minnesota added both a pair of three-star tackles and a pair of two-star tackles.  Wisconsin had a single three-star tackle while Indiana had both a three-star and a two-star tackle.  Michigan State signed a single two-star player.

Defensive End

Ohio State made a killing, signing two five-star defensive ends to go with a four-star end.  Five other schools landed a four-star end and at least one three-star end (Michigan, Purdue, Iowa, Northwestern, and Nebraska).  Michigan State added a lone four-star end.  Wisconsin and Illinois didn’t sign defensive ends.  Penn State added just a single two-star end.  Indiana had three three-star ends and a two-star.  Minnesota had a three-star and a two-star end. 

Linebacker

Michigan again struck gold with three four-star linebackers as well as one three-star player.  Ohio State added two of each while Nebraska added one of the former and three of the latter.  Wisconsin nabbed a single four-star linebacker.  No other Big Ten team signed a four-star player.  Iowa resorted to taking two two-star linebackers and Northwestern signed a single two-star player.  The remaining schools all signed three-star players.

Defensive Back

Ohio State took three four-star d-backs and a three-star player.  Michigan signed two of each and Michigan State got one four-star and three three-star players for the secondary.  Nebraska signed a lone four-star corner.  No other team signed a four-star defensive back.  You might expand the Huskers class to three defensive backs with another four-star player if you include the “athletes” Alonzo Moore and Leroy Alexander.  Only Wisconsin, Penn State and Purdue had classes with fewer than four defensive backs. 

Kicker

Only three schools offered scholarships to kickers and Purdue offered two of them.  The Boilermakers signed the only three-star kicker, which is the highest rating available to a kicker.  Illinois and Iowa added two-star kickers.  Nebraska, along with other Big Ten schools, added a walk-on at the position. 

“Athlete”

Nebraska’s pair was the strongest with one four-star and one three-star player.  Ohio State added a four-star player that looks like they could be a big running back or a linebacker.  Purdue added a four-star player that might be a tight end, defensive end, or even a big receiver.  The remaining “athletes” recruited in the Big Ten had three or fewer stars.

Having looked now at both the offense and defense, it’s clear why Michigan and Ohio State stand out.  Along both lines of scrimmage (and in other key spots), they found four and five-star talent.  Nebraska does kind of stand alone in third place, sort of splitting the difference between those two schools and the rest.  That said, we can continue to expect a good deal of parity in the conference since most teams are able to find a good deal of three-star talent.  It probably makes coaching and player development that much more important.

The results of a Forbes survey released today show that Suh is among the ten most disliked athletes in America today. He actually ranks 4th on the list, only behind such luminaries as Michael Vick (a convicted felon and dog fighter), Tiger Woods (a philandering scum bag) and Plaxico Burress (also a felon, but for gun charges). Suh's biggest sin is not for off-the-field activity, but for his actions on the turf. It's an incredible turn of the public opinion tide for Suh. Just last year, a separate Forbes survey listed him among the most well-liked players in the NFL.

In both Nebraska and in Detroit, Suh is thoughtful and soft spoken. He is generous with his time and his money. But, his aggressive style of play is a turn off. Penalties for unnecessary roughness and his suspension for stomping another player (during one of the most highly-watched games of the year) are huge turn offs to the public. Few can stomach those kinds of behaviors. Suh's reaction to the stomping issue was worse. Americans love contrition. You can make mistakes and people will eventually forgive you as long as you are genuinely sorry. Following the stomp-seen-round-the-world, Suh was hardly contrite. He made excuses. Then, he appeared almost defiant to some as he did not amend is style of play considerable as the year went on. As the new survey shows, that won't fly very far with the public.

The negative publicity has and will cost Suh some money. Companies typically don't want somebody who considered a villain to endorse them. That doesn't mean his reputation can't be renovated. The more he continues to show the public the thoughtful and generous person that Nebraskans and Detroit residents came to know and admire, the better off he will be.

Here's some free advice for Suh: as a general rule, don't stomp another person. And, if you do stomp somebody for whatever reason, please be sincerely apologetic about it. Other than that, keep playing hard and helping people, Ndamukong.

As with the previous post, click on the year to go to HuskerMax's list of each recruiting class (* denotes in-state recruit): 

1990: The 90s start off relatively quietly for Nebraska. Tom Osborne, for the second time in six years, thinks an ill-timed story about a former running back is part of the problem. In 1984 it was Mike Rozier saying, and eventually recanting, that he received money from Nebraska alumni. In 1990 it's Doug DuBose who, in a massive four-part series by his home state Hartford Courant that is sadly behind a paywall, tells a reporter he received money ($50,000) and twice failed drug tests but was never disciplined. DuBose eventually says he was misquoted and Osborne, who denied the payment but did admit that DuBose did fail two drug tests and was punished by sitting out spring practice, laments that the backlash from the story cost Nebraska a shot at DB C.J. Richardson. Richardson goes on to become an All-American at Miami and has some interesting comments later.

The Huskers land two players ranked in SuperPrep's national top 100: RB Calvin Jones from Omaha (4th best RB nationally, 48th overall) and OL Joel Gesky from Chicago (78th overall). Then recruiting coordinator Jack Pierce says in a signing day wrap-up that Nebraska didn't get as many "difference-makers" as the usually do. All told, 15 of the 20 players in the 1990 class letter at least once and it produces three All-Americans: OL Brendan Stai, DB Ed Stewart and OL Zach Wiegert. Wiegert, from Fremont, goes on to win the Outland Trophy and becomes the first native Nebraskan to sign with Nebraska and eventually become an All-American since Danny Noonan and John McCormick signed in 1983. Nationally, the class falls outside of SuperPrep's Top 10:

1991: Entering his 18th season, Osborne sounds weary on national signing day. "I don't think (this class is) overwhelming, but I think it's good and solid," he tells the Omaha World-Herald. "And for the people in Nebraska, I'd just like to emphasize that this is the best we can do." Pressure to recruit better was obviously mounting after Nebraska finished 9-3 and ranked No. 23 in the final coaches poll. Later that year, in October, Pierce tells the OWH that Nebraska is changing it's approach and will focus its efforts on "the nation's top 80 players." Osborne says he's in favor of the switch.

1992: Nebraska is locked in a battle for All-American QB Tommie Frazier (No. 4 QB by SuperPrep) in the final week of January. "If Tommie should turn down Clemson or Notre Dame it would be the biggest surprise in the United States," SuperPrep's Allen Wallace tells the OWH one day before signing day. Frazier, of course, picks the Huskers and America grinds to a halt. He becomes the only eventual All-American in the class and the best player in school history. Before Frazier signed, Lemming put Nebraska's class in the Top 15 while Wallace had them in the Top 20. 

After he signed, combined with a class that has eight other players -- Townsend, Wright, Saltsman, Morrow, Washington, Benning, Stokes, Rutz -- ranked in the top 15 by SuperPrep at their respectve positions, the class jumps to 14th in SuperPrep and 10th in a composite poll done by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that combines SuperPrep's, Lemming's and Emfinger's rankings. By way of a quick comparision, Nebraska's most recent class, which had 18 players compared to 24 in 1992, had four players ranked in the top 15 at their position by Rivals.  

1993: This is the year the nation's top recruting class was decided by a kicker. When Scott Bentley, who will end up on SI's cover before he even plays a game, chooses Florida State over Notre Dame it's enough for most of the national analysts to give the Seminoles the nod for the top class overall. SuperPrep doesn't rank Nebraska's class in its top 15 but a ranking from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution ranks it seventh nationally. At this point, we're still seeing papers rely on their own player and class rankings frequently, while also consulting the "experts" to add color.

Nebraska's class of 21 players (seven from Nebraska) produces two All-Americans in DT Jason Peter and OL Aaron Taylor. Taylor wins the Outland Trophy and eight players will become four-year letterwinners. Nebraska's class --ranked 23rd by SuperPrep -- would've gained some sizzle if Scott Frost (ranked as a Top 5 QB by SuperPrep) hadn't detoured through Palo Alto before arriving in Lincoln. Thanks Bill Walsh.

1994: Fresh off the heartbreaking loss to Florida State in the 1994 Orange Bowl, Nebraska has another class that isn't necessarily setting the analysts' pants on fire. Tom Lemming ranks Nebraska's class between 25 and 35 nationally one week before signing day but notes that they're still in on three high-profile recruits: QB Donovan McNabb, QB/WR Hines Ward and DL Grant Wistrom. Wistrom, of course, is the only one who signs and he goes on to become the only All-American in the class and the winner of the Lombardi Award in 1997. Nebraska signs zero players ranked in the Dallas Morning News' Top 100 players, including losing Lincoln Southeast ATH Ty Goode to Notre Dame.

1995: Osborne thought it was a negative article about Doug DuBose that pushed future All-American DB C.J. Richardson to Miami back in 1990, but prior to the 1995 Orange Bowl Richardson tells the OWH it was the cold weather and "lack of social activities" that led him towards the Hurricanes. He also says this:

I'm not saying Nebraska didn't have a winning attitude but they never won the big game. The team that can't win the big game isn't a great team to me. It doesn't matter whether you win 10 games every year if you don't win the ones that count.

Nebraska won the one that counted that year, beating Richardson and the Hurricanes for Osborne's first national title, but it came too late to be of much help in recruiting Osborne told the OWH. The Huskers had the majority of their class committed prior to the Orange Bowl. Still, the class is relatively well-regarded producing 22 letterwinners out of 28 signees while RB Ahman Green was ranked as the top RB prospect in the country by the Dallas Morning News. (Table key: SuperPrep=SP, Dallas Morning News=DMN, Blue Chip Report=BCR)

1996: After signing 28 players in 1995, the Huskers have a small class of 18 players (12 letterwinners) in 1996. If anything, Nebraska has been too good of late with some recruits staying away for fear that they won't get on the field right away. "You think that would never happen, but it did," Osborne tells the OWH. "They just thought we had a bunch of supermen out there. We were good, but not that good."

1997: Expectations aren't high for Nebraska's class in 1997. Osborne tells the AP before signing day that he's not expecting a highly ranked class. "We look at film, not their lists," he says. "We don't recruit as much in densely populated areas where everyone else recruits. The more kids are recruited, the higher they go on the lists."

He's right, both on the nature of recruiting rankings and on how Nebraska's class would be perceived. SuperPrep ranked the class 19th nationally, but the class would produce 18 letterwinners out of 22 recruits, 14 of them four-year letterwinners, along with a Hesiman winner (QB Eric Crouch*) and a Rimington Trophy winner (Dominic Raiola), both All-Americans. DE Kyle Vanden Bosch is ranked as the sixth-best recruit nationally by the Miami Herald. (Table key: National Prep Report=NPR, SuperPrep=SP, National Recruiting Advisor=NRA)

1998: Osborne is officially retired by the time signing day rolled around, and conveniently schedules himself to speak in Kearney on signing day giving Frank Solich center stage, but he remained on the road and in contact with Nebraska's recruits throughout the process as a parting gift to Nebraska's new head coach.

It's a good, if not highly ranked, class to go out on. National Recruiting Advisor is the only service that ranks the class in the Top 10 (NPR and SP say it's Top 20) but it will produce 19 letterwinners (out of 21 recruits), including 14 four-year letterwinners and two All-Americans in DB Keyuo Craver and DB DeJuan Groce.

1999: Notice any current big swinging recruiter missing from the top of the lists for most of this decade? Notice any team that started to show up on this list frequently over the past decade? The answer to the first question is Texas and the answer to the second is North Carolina. The connection, of course, is Mack Brown. In his first full year recruiting to Austin, Brown lands the top class in the country according to all three of the services listed below. Tom Lemming says it's the first time he's had the Longhorns No. 1 since he started ranking classes in 1979. Now Texas is typically No. 1 by the time fall practice rolls around.

Solich, also in his first full year of recruiting, has a class that doesn't land in any of the top tens but National Recruiting Advisor ranks it "somewhere between 15 and 20." That's not too dissimilar from where Nebraska was for most of the decade but you do notice a difference in the individual position ranks. Whereas Nebraska's classes may never have been a perennially top 10 worthy, they were typically able to land a few big prospects. That's not quite the case this year. Josh Davis is Nebraska's highest-ranked player (12th best RB, Rivals), followed by Toniu Fonoti (15th best OL, Rivals). Fonoti becomes the only All-American in a class that has 17 letterwinners among 22 signees.

Recapping the 1990s - Whereas the 1980s review provided us with hit-and-miss data, the 1990s provides a more complete picture. We have at least one Top 10 ranking from a major service for all 10 years, a specific Nebraska ranking for six years, and a ballpark Huskers' ranking for two years. At worst over this span we know only that Nebraska's class didn't rank in the Top 10 for two years. Based on that data, we can make some pretty solid inferences regarding Cornhusker recruiting through the decade.

1) A quarter of each class isn't going to contribute - This is a pretty steady rate. Throughout the 1990s a total of 166 of 219 signees lettered at least once at Nebraska. That's a "bust rate" -- if a player never letters he's a bust for our purposes -- of 24.3 percent (5.3 busts/class). From 1980 to 1989, before full-scale scholarship restrictions, the bust rate was 28.3 percent (6.6 busts/class). From 2000 to 2006 it was 23.8 percent (5.14). No matter class size or scholarship numbers over the years, the bust rate has stayed relatively steady. One-quarter of each class is likely never going to contribute.

2) Nebraska recruiting used to be slightly better - Let's start with the most solid data we have. There's a SuperPrep Top 10 ranking for every year in the decade above, making it the most reliable source across all years. Here are the concrete rankings we have for Nebraska: 28th ('91), 14th ('92), 23rd ('93), 11th ('95), 2nd ('96), and 19th ('97). Based on those rankings alone, on average Nebraska had about the 14th best recruiting class (13.857 to be exact) each year. We can use that number to at least try and fill in some gaps.

If we use 13.8 for the two years where we only know that Nebraska wasn't in the Top 10 (1990, 1998) and then use the ballpark numbers from 1994 (25-35) and 1999 (15-20) we can come up with an average 1990s class ranking that I feel pretty good about. At best (using the high end of the two ballpark numbers) Nebraska averaged about the 16th best class nationally (16.46). At worst, they were about 18th (17.96). There weren't really enough data points to come up with a reliable number for the 1980s -- I would feel comfortable that the 13.8 from the 1990s is close based on what I've read -- but we definitely have them for everthing post-Osborne.

If you want the straight decade comparison, Nebraska's classes from 2000 to 2009 ranked 22.5 on average according to Rivals, but I assume you don't really want that. What we're really after is coaches, and that leads us to...

3) Pelini is slightly off pace from his predecessors - Whether or not these recruiting numbers even mean anything is a question I'm not trying to answer here. Everyone has their own opinion on that and we know that Pelini, and most coaches I presume, put no stock in them. But the point is that they're the only means of comparison we have, so, finally, here they are:

I started this research because I've never been one to accept the conventional wisdom in anything. (Honestly, it's a problem in real life but I think it was put to decent use here.) We've had a couple of folkloric ideas arise around Nebraska recruiting over the past decade. One was that Osborne could just really "coach 'em up." I wanted to get a better idea of how close that was to the truth and, based on the numbers above, I would say: Yes, Osborne maximized his talent. Between 1990 and 1997, Nebraska had the highest winning percentage in the country (.883) with, on average, the 17th best talent in the country based on what the experts say.

But, if we're to subscribe to the other line that gets uttered all the time -- the Callahan era proved that recruiting well doesn't mean anything -- you're also acknowledging that Osborne still had a pretty good level of talent to work with. His classes and Callahan's classes were essentially the same in terms of perceived strength.

Solich and Pelini have been a step behind those two in their average recruiting class rank, but both still have a winning percentage north of 70 percent. That says quite a bit about both of those coaches too and, more importantly, I think it says something good about the future of Nebraska football.

Based on geography alone, Nebraska's never going to be a perennial home to top recruiting classes. Build some buzz through winning though and history shows the Huskers can land there from time to time. After that, it's up to the guy in charge.

First, here’s a quick overall summary.  Whether your criteria is total points or average stars, Ohio State appeared to bring in the top class, Michigan was second best and Nebraska third according to Rivals.com.  You might get a different feel based on other recruiting sites.   Rivals isn’t as heavily influenced by class size as some other sites nor does it so heavily discount junior college players (which at least for Nebraska under Bo Pelini, have been quality acquisitions), which is why its rankings ring truest.  Michigan State, Wisconsin, Purdue  and Iowa appear to be a tier below the top group and the rest of the classes are bunched along the bottom in terms of average stars.  To get a real feel though, you have to go position by position. 

Quarterbacks

Surprisingly, there wasn’t a quarterback that earned a four-star rating from Rivals.com recruited anywhere in the Big Ten.  So NU’s Tommy Armstrong appears as good a prospect as you can find in the conference.  Purdue signed four quarterbacks, perhaps in hopes of moving some to other positions or just in hopes that one strong one emerges.  Minnesota, Iowa, and Indiana similarly nabbed a pair.  If four-star athlete Alonzo Moore were considered a quarterback, then the Huskers would probably have the top class at quarterback.  Three schools (Michigan, Illinois, Northwestern) had no signees at the position.      

Running Backs

Mostly three-star running backs were taken with the key exceptions being two four-star runners by Ohio State and one each for Michigan and Iowa.  The Buckeye tandem weigh in at 200 pounds plus and the Hawkeye nearly as big at 195.  But Wolverine back Dennis Norfleet was a smallish 5’7” and 170 lbs.  That may be why they also added a pair of three-star rushers that tipped the scales at 200 pounds or more.  Purdue didn’t sign a running back.

Wide Receivers

No team added more than a single four-star recruit at wide receiver.  Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, and Nebraska all managed to find one.  The Huskers were the only school in that group to take just a single wideout.  Again, if you counted Moore as a receiver, Nebraska would have the most four-star talent at the position.  Only Illinois failed to get at least one pass-catcher with three stars. 

Tight End

Nine schools signed three star tight ends.  Indiana also signed a two-star tight end.  The only tight end signed by Illinois was a two-star player.  Wisconsin and Iowa did not sign tight ends.  

Offensive Line

This is the area where Michigan and Ohio State really distinguished themselves.  The Buckeyes signed five linemen, and three of them had four-stars.  The Wolverines signed four offensive lineman, one of them had five stars, and two more had four stars.  Iowa, Wisconsin, and Nebraska each managed to add a four-star offensive lineman, among the others that they took.  Five two-star lineman were taken (one each for Purdue, Iowa, Indiana, Northwestern, and Minnesota).

Next up will be the defense, along with the athletes and kickers.

Led by comments from Northwestern's AD and Big Ten Administrators Council member Jim Phillips, it seems the conference is listening to fans and open to a four team playoff.  In the proposal apparently discussed by the Big Ten, the top four teams would be removed from the BCS pool with "semifinal" games played at the home of the higher seed.  The Championship game could then be bid out.  Commissioner Jim Delany would not comment on specifics, waiting to receive feedback from member institutions.  Delany did say that they are trying to do the right thing for fans without adversely affecting the positives of the current college football landscape.

Bo Pelini, by all accounts, pulled in a "solid" class last week. Rivals ranked it No. 25 nationally which, as with everything Nebraska football, prompts comparisons to the Tom Osborne era. You hear both sides of it. Either "Osborne rarely landed top-ranked classes," or "Pelini isn't getting All-American talent like Nebraska used to." Which is true?

Like recruiting itself, there's an inexact answer out there somewhere but it hasn't been easy to find. Rivals and Scout both have class rankings dating back to 2001. The big recruiting services and analysts of the 1980s have all been signed up and folded into today's popular recruiting services. For some reason, their rankings have yet to be cataloged and published online. Want to know who had the top-ranked recruiting class in 1988? Be prepared to dig.

After cursing that lack of historical comparison for years, I finally decided to at least try and do something about it. Armed with my Omaha Public Library card and 10 inches of motivating snow on the ground, I started scouring the Omaha World-Herald's archives (online via the OPL, they date to 1984) and national newspapers for class and recruit rankings and any other information I could find. HuskerMax's recruiting pages, which lists classes dating back to the 1960s, were also essential. 

I wouldn't necessarily say I was successful. I wasn't always able to find out where Nebraska's class ranked, but I was able to find 12 Top 10 class rankings for 20 of the years between 1980 and 1999 and a few Top fours, sixes or eights. I will say I know vastly more about Nebraska recruiting than I did before.

Most of the early recruiting prognosticators -- Tom Lemming of National Prep Report (NPR), Max Emfinger, and Allan Wallace of SuperPrep (SP) -- got the start in the late seventies or early eighties, so I decided to start my search at 1980. I'll publish the results for 1990-99 later this week. From there, Rivals and Scout have about as much information as you could need.

This is a long and, at times, unwieldy document but hopefully it will answer at least some questions for you as to how Nebraska "used to" recruit. With that long preamble out of the way, let's get started. (An asterisk denotes an in-state player. Click the years to go to a listing of Nebraska's class.)

1980 - Recruiting coverage was still in its infancy at this point. The only sort of ranking I could find was Nebraska's recruiting coordinator, Jerry Pettibone, saying the Oklahoma and Nebraska had the best classes in the Big 8. He should know. He came to Lincoln via Norman in 1979. The Huskers and Sooners dominating conference recruiting isn't necessarily news, but it is enlightening in one regard: It might be the key difference between recruiting then and now.

Nebraska finished third in the Big Ten according to Rivals this year. It was a distant third, 21 spots behind Ohio State and 18 spots behind Michigan in the national rankings. Go back to the Big 12 and Nebraska was, generally speaking, third best in most years behind Texas and Oklahoma. The difference between second and third place in the conference, and from a Top 10 and a Top 25 class nationally, looms large. Even through Colorado's ascendancy in the late 1980s, Nebraska was almost always in the top two.

The seeds of the "Scoring Explosion" were sown in 1980. Nebraska landed Irving Fryar (eventual No. 1 overall NFL draft pick) and Turner Gill who, as late as August, was still being wooed by Bill Veeck to join the White Sox. Overall, the class would produce four All-Americans (Fryar, DB Bret Clark*, DT Harry Grimminger*, OT Mark Traynowicz*).

1981 - Mike Rozier, along with his brother Guy, arrives. Of the 26 scholarship athletes Nebraska signs, eight of them are from Nebraska. Twelve of the 26 will never letter at Nebraska. The class produces three All-Americans (RB M. Rozier, C Bill Lewis, OL/DL Jim Skow*) and Mike Rozier goes on to win a major award called the Heisman.

1982 - Tom Osborne tells the AP "this is one of the best years for football players in state in a long time." Of the Huskers' class of 28 players, 11 are from Nebraska. The class produces zero All-Americans, but does include RB Doug DuBose. DuBose would go on to rush for more than 1000 yards as a sophomore and junior -- the first player in Nebraska history to do so -- and is a Heisman front-runner before a knee-injury derails his senior season. He'll become an important and controversial figure later. Still light on good recruiting data, but it picks up after this, I promise.

1983 - We have our first Top 10 ranking, courtesy of Tom Lemming's National Prep Report, and Nebraska's not in it. Nebraska loses TE Eric McKee, the 21st ranked propsect nationally, to USC but the class does produce two All-Americans (OL/DL John McCormick*, OL/DL Danny Noonan*).

1984 - Nebraska signs a small class of 17 players, but 16 of them will go on to letter at least once. Max Emfinger, perhaps the foremost recruiting expert at the time, calls the class "below Nebraska's standard, but still "an exceptional class." Emfinger ranks his classes on a point system that awards schools two points per each Gold Chip recruit (equivalent to a five-star player today) signed, and one point per Blue Chip (four-star). Nebraska has 12 points and two Gold Chip prospects in DB Brian Washington and TE Willie Griffin, ranking them somewhere in the Top 15 nationally. Georgia and Illinois have the top classes nationally with 24 points each on Emfinger's scale. 

The Huskers lost WR Tim Brown (eventual Heisman winner) to Notre Dame. RB Keith Jones' brother tells the Omaha World Herald that Keith nearly went to Washington thanks to some angry letters from Nebraska fans that wondered how he could even consider leaving. It's a good thing Twitter didn't exist.

Osborne also has a bone to pick with newly-minted Heisman winner Mike Rozier. Now enjoying the riches of the USFL, Rozier tells the AP "I had people send me money (while at Nebraska), the alumni helped out." Osborne is convinced other schools used that quote against Nebraska on the recruiting trail. He tells the AP "We're very comfortable that there is no problem here, but (the quote) has been...devastating to our recruiting."

The class produces one All-American in DL Neil Smith who, it should be noted, was not a Gold Chip or a Blue Chip prospect according to Emfinger.

1985 - Despite having heart surgery the day before signing day, Osborne tells the OWH that this might be the best class he's had in his 12-year career. The Huskers land LB Leroy Etienne (two-time Louisiana player of the year), DL Broderick Thomas and QB Steve Taylor (broke Marcus Allen's total offense record at his high school). They're all top 100 recruits and Emfinger awards Nebraska and Penn State his "Recruiting National Championship." Fifteen of the 25 recruits in this class go on to letter and two of them (Taylor, Thomas) become All-Americans.

1986 - This may come as a shock, but Husker legend Johnny Rodgers is very involved in the recruitment of his son, Terry, the California player of the year and the 32nd ranked prospect nationally. Terry is considering Nebraska, Texas, USC and Ohio State, eventually picking the Huskers on April 30, nearly three months after national signing day.

Nebraska lost QB Sal Aunese to Colorado and the Buffs are officially a factor in Big 8 recruiting. The Huskers end up signing 20 players, including three All-Americans (OL Doug Glazer, DE Kenny Walker, OL Jake Young). Emfinger does not have Nebraska listed in his top 20 classes nationally but Duke (one year before Steve Spurrier arrived), Baylor and Stanford are.

1987 - It's 1987 and recruiting is already a subscription based service. Emfinger, a former University of North Texas coach and Dallas Cowboys scout, tells the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that his wife's Cadillac was repossessed following his first year as a full-time recruiting pundit, but by 1987 he's bought her a new one. He says he's using 16 "major college coaches" and recruiting coordinators to compile his rankings.

The Huskers land QB Mickey Joseph, Emfinger's top-rated QB, but it's not enough to place Nebraska in the top 10 classes nationally. The class doesn't produce any All-Americans but, continuing the trend, it's very efficient with 19 of 22 signees earning letters.

1988 - Iowa State makes news by signing their first player from Texas since 1979. (Explains so much.) Nebraska missed on QB Darian Hagan (Colorado) but Emfinger still ranks the Huskers' class 10th nationally while awarding top class honors to Auburn and Notre Dame. The '88 class will produce one All-American (DE Travis Hill) and 20 of 26 signees will letter. (Other than where noted, the below table is not in order.)

1989 - Unlike 1985 Tom Osborne doesn't say it this time, but this is easily one of his, and the nation's, best classes. LB Trev Alberts goes on to win the Butkus Award, OL Will Shields wins the Outland Trophy and both are consensus All-Americans at Nebraska. The class also includes: RB Derek Brown (Top 100 player, SuperPreps West Coast POY), LB Troy Branch (Philadelphia Inquirer's East Coast POY), and OL Lance Larson (Parade All-American, OL of the Year in Minnesota). Eighteen of 23 signees will letter, with seven recruits earning four letters. The OWH says it's the first time in school history that Nebraska doesn't sign a player from Omaha.

Emfinger ranks Nebraska's class in a three-way tie for seventh while Allan Wallace and SuperPrep rank it 11th.

Recapping the 1980s - So how did Nebraska do in recruiting in the 1980s? It's still a difficult decade to dissect due to the hit and miss nature of the data. Here's what we know:

1) Letterwinners are a tricky measurement because each coach awards them differently, but it's safe to say that if a player never letters at Nebraska he was definitely not an on-field contributor. (If it's okay by you, we'll just call them "busts." If not, insert "non-contributors.")

Through the 1980s, 168 of 234 signees (71.7 percent) went on to letter at Nebraska. On average, there were 6.6 busts per class in the decade. We'll tackle those numbers for the 1990s later this week but by way of comparison, from 2000 to 2006 76.2 percent of Nebraska signees lettered, for an average of 5.14 busts per class. Factor in differing class size between the varying eras and Nebraska missed on slightly more kids, on average, in the 1980s than in the current era.

In the 1980s Nebraska's average class size was 23.4 players for an average "bust-rate" of 28.2 percent. From 2000 to 2006, the last year we have complete letterwinner data, the average class size was 21.6 for an average bust-rate of 23.7 percent. Considering the scholarship limitations and other changes that went into effect in the 80s I think it's safe to say the numbers are very comparable between the two eras. When Nebraska had fewer scholarships to work with they struck out slightly less.

2) For the marquee players, as measured by All-American status, there's an interesting shift midway through the decade. Here are Nebraska's All-Americans from the 1980s broken down by state:

Nebraska led all states in the total number of AA's but none of them came in after 1983. Four of the five AA's from Texas arrived at Nebraska in 1985 or later. The one clear difference between the 1980s and now is the number of in-state kids Nebraska signed to scholarships. Throughout the decade, it wasn't uncommon for Nebraska to sign eight or more scholarship athletes from Nebraska. The 2012 class had one (Sam Cotton). In five years, Pelini has signed 18 Nebraska kids to scholarships.

Does that mean that Nebraska (the state) is producing less high school talent or that Nebraska (the school) is taking less homegrown talent? There are almost too many factors to consider -- increased access to travel, decreased population, different coaching staffs and schemes, etc. -- to make a meaningful judgement but this much is clear: There was a change in where Nebraska's best players, as measured by actual college results and not recruiting hype, were coming from in the 1980s.

(Related: It would really help Nebraska if Omaha Central would get back to producing All-American running backs at a regular clip.)

3) 1980s by the Numbers: Nebraska had 18 All-Americans, one Heisman, one Butkus and one Outland award winner. Irving Fryar was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1984 NFL Draft. Based on the five out of 10 years for which I was able to find some sort of class ranking, and a few others where a general ranking was implied, I think it's safe to guess that Nebraska was in the Top 20 nationally and near the top of the Big 8 in most years.  We know for sure that Nebraska was Top 15 in 1984 (Emfinger), tied for the top-ranked class in 1985 (Emfinger), Top 10 in 1988 (Emfinger) and No. 7 (Emfinger) and No. 11 (SuperPrep) in 1989.

It may not seem like much, and I'm the first to admit there are still a lot of holes, but it's better than where we were when you started reading this approximately six hours ago.

Now give your eyes a rest and be sure to check back later this week for "A Brief History of Husker Recruiting: The 90s" where I can promise you at least one national Top 10 ranking for each year. 

The Big Ten reassessed the division names, Leaders and Legends, and ESPN got a first look at the results.  A survey of 516 fans indicated that 57% felt positively towards the names and the acceptance of the names increased as the season wore on.  There was initially backlash after the new divisions were named when Nebraska joined the conference, with the same complaints still in existence.  Fans feel that the names are confusing and cannot remember which division to which teams are members (Nebraska is in the Legends division, for those who cannot remember).

If you've got some time to kill, here's a video with highlights from each of Nebraska's 2012 walk-ons:

Now that the initial excitement of Signing Day 2012 has ended and most of the over-reactions (both good and bad) have been expressed, it seems like the right time to revisit the Huskers' results with fresh eyes. Thankfully, here at BRN we have a variety of contributors and perspectives. So, a round table discussion seemed in order. Here are our thoughts on the class. Take time to share your ideas in the comments if you like. 

- What is your overall impression of this class? What jumps out at you when you consider the whole group?

Darren - It's impressive considering the small number of kids in it. People get caught up in the national rankings. That's for good reason, because there is some correlation to winning there. But, the quantity of players matters in those rankings. For NU to be in the top 25-30 range with just 17 players tells you a lot about the caliber of the players. Imagine if they had been able to take 23. No 5-star? Not a big problem. The class has lots of players that were ranked as 4-star caliber by at least one of the services. And, there isn't a lot of chaff (lightly regarded players) filling the bottom. What good is a 25+ class if 8 of them are busts?

Brandon -The class as a whole is in line with Pelini's past classes and the "quality," as measured by Rivals average star rating, is the second-best under Pelini. Not bad for his smallest class in five years at the helm. Nebraska very obviously put its emphasis on LB and DB and adding a Juco player at each spot -- guys who could and probably will come in and contribute immediately -- was a trend I was happy to see continue 

Tom - I think the negative implications on offense and the concerns in the defensive backs are overstressed. Nebraska does not need 6 and 7 DB's on the field anymore, and the speed and skill on the offensive side is explosive. What this class shows is that Bo Pelini wants to get to the quarterback and stop the run. The front seven on D may be looking deadly for offenses going up against the Huskers.

Steve - I like the front seven players that they got on defense. That seems critical moving forward in the Big Ten. Not a sexy class, but a solid meat and potatoes class.

- Which individual player are you most excited about seeing on the field? Why?

Darren - The gut reaction is to point to a skill player, because they are so visible and because there is a lot to like about both Tommy Armstrong and Jordan Westerkamp. And the question is about excitement. Right? But, ultimately, football games are won by the big people along the line of scrimmage. So, I'll go with Paul Thurston. This kid could have played anywhere. He doesn't get talked about because he only visited NU. I think he is the overall most talented kid in the class. It's not a sexy answer. But this is the kind of player that can help NU win.

Brandon - I like shiny things so I'll take the bait. WR Jordan Westerkamp will play right away next year and that's saying something when you consider Nebraska's depth at receiver. Westerkamp holds almost every career receiving record in Illinois -- catches (235), yards (4,618), TDs (68) -- and he's the son of a coach and former Illinois wide receiver. Lot to like there including this: He didn't end up at Michigan, Illinois or Notre Dame. Those are new recruiting rivals.

Tom - Michael Rose. He was one of those guys that has the "want to" to play at Nebraska. Never wavered. I heard about him from the father of one of his classmates last year and his ethic sounds Burkhead-like.

Steve - I'll say Zaire Anderson. Given the success the Pelini had with Demorrio Williams and Lavonte David, I'm expecting big things from the juco linebacker.

- On the flip side, what disappointed you about this class?

Darren - Sorry Tom, but I think Nebraska needed more cornerbacks, and they didn't get them. Mo Seisay will play right away and could be a tremendous addition to the team. But, NU really needed at least one if not two more cornerbacks and didn't get them. Coach Pelini pointed out that Alonzo Moore and LeRoy Alexander will start out as corners to start their career, and that NU really recruits "defensive backs" more than corners and safeties. But, I'm not buying all of that. If they didn't need corners, why did they visit or host dozens of defensive backs this cycle, and why did they keep recruiting Ford and Shelton until the very end? The Huskers needed one more true corner in the group.

Brandon - I agree. The inability to add DB depth was the big "miss" of this class. Nebraska was in on a lot of intriguing prospects late and all 50 of them went to UCLA. At least that's how I remember it. ATHs LeRoy Alexander and Alonzo Moore will start out in the secondary but last year's experience with creating DBs out of anyone who was willing to try was less than savory. 

Tom - Bo Pelini can say what he wants about adding stars, I like five-star players. I'm not just talking about Peat, the Huskers need to be gunning for more. Even the number of four star guys seems low. If guys come in who are very skillful, it makes coaches jobs easier dealing with less development. Projects are for walk-ons.

Steve - The obvious answer here would be missing out on Peat. And really, the Solich years made me nervous anytime a class has fewer than four offensive linemen in it. It didn't have to be Peat, but one or two more quality offensive linemen would have been nice. But that's me looking for something to be down on. Really, I wasn't particularly disappointed about any part of the class. I'm not quite as down on the secondary in large part because I don't think the pass rush was that good a year ago. Watch the defensive line improve this year and the defensive backs will start looking better as well. The same is true for the future with the front seven foundation that they bolstered.

Who are the "sleepers" in this bunch? What player do you think is being under-discussed or underrated?

Darren - There is a lot to like about Jared Afalava. He's being overshadowed because there is a big and talented total group of linebackers in this class. And, Michael Rose is the headliner in that group. But, when I watch film of Afalava, I see a very explosive player, a great tackler and a player who can do a lot of things. He played in the middle, was able to rush off the edge, and appears to be excellent at dropping in to pass coverage. This is a player who can fit very well with what NU asks its middle linebackers to do. I think he is a real steal for the Huskers.

Brandon - I continue to think that walk-on QB Ryker Fyfe will be a bigger factor than people think in the quarterback battle a few years down the road but as far as scholarship guys I like RB Imani Cross quite a bit. He had a handful of SEC offers -- South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky -- as well as one from Georgia Tech, where his brother, Izaan, has started at DE the past two years. Cosmically, I think severing the Cross brother's connection at Tech led directly to Andrus Peat's decision to head west so Imani better be good.

Tom – I'm torn between Imani Cross and Sam Cotton. It looks like Bo wants to stack up the blocking up front while still having offensive weapons. Offensive players who are versatile are like getting two for the price of one. If you bring in the "blocking" tight end or "change of pace" back, defenses can plan around it. If you bring in a guy who can play multiple roles, defenses have to account for that.

Steve - I agree on Cotton. If he doesn't become a good blocker and regular contributor, I'll be surprised. Likewise, I think Cross can steal the starting job at I-back after Burkhead graduates. Corey Whitaker just needs to add some good weight and I think he can be a very good offensive lineman.

Whether in hindsight you view those remarks as wise or foolish, you can certainly imagine circumstances where a cluttered mind undermines a players progress.  Granted, there's also been no shortage of signing day announcers that had fine college careers. 

Some Husker fans were distraught to see five-star offensive tackle prospect Andrus Peat choose Stanford.  That might have given NU a nice bump in the recruiting rankings, but do five-star players truly outperform four-star or for that matter three-star players?  The counter-examples are countless.  For every five-star that pans out like Matt Kalil, there are plenty more that don't. 

Nebraska has pulled in its share of four-star offensive linemen in recent years.  This year there was Paul Thurston.  Last year it was Ryan Klachko, Tyler Moore, Ryne Reeves and Zach Sterup.  The year before there was Jermarcus Hardrick and Andrew Rodriguez.  Sure maybe Peat's an inch taller than Moore or comes in a little heavier than Sterup, but does that give him or Stanford some insurmountable advantage?  Hardly.

What will be fun is to look back a few years from now and see whether Peat even turns out to be the best lineman in Stanford's class.  They brought in seven guys.  Peat may never even start.

That brings us to the three previously uncommitted players Nebraska did sign yesterday.  Alonzo Moore is a four-star athlete that could be a defensive back, wide receiver, safety, or even quarterback.  Defensive tackle Vincent Valentine reportedly had offers from Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, Auburn, Michigan, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Penn State, Iowa, Tennessee,  and a bunch of other schools.  If you can't be pleased about a player with a dance card that full, then you're simply not paying attention.  Defensive tackle Aaron Curry similarly had offers from Texas A&M, TCU, Iowa, Boise State and more than a dozen other programs.  The great arms race in college football always seems to be for these interior defensive linemen, and the Huskers added two warheads to their arsenal - one that already included Peat's older brother, Todd.

It would have been exciting to add the younger Peat to the fold, but that doesn't erase the positives for Nebraska on signing day.  They held every previously committed prospect and added three more.  They managed a top 25 Rivals ranking for a class that was only surpassed by two other classes with so few players.  Bo Pelini was in a good mood and with good reason.  He'd just seen his team get better.

On the 25th anniversary of his own signing day, Bo Pelini remembered what it was like for him when he signed to play at Ohio State.

I tell you one thing, in my house there was going to be no grabbing of a hat. I signed and my parents grabbed me and said 'get your butt to school.' That's the way it happened there. That's the way it should be.

This is pure speculation here, but I'm guessing Pelini did not announce via suspenders either.

Here is a complete run down of the recruiting situation as it is known.  Please check back throughout the day for the latest updates.

Click on each rating entry to view breakdowns of each player from the national recruiting sources.

The recruits with decisions to make are expected to hold press conferences at the following times:

• Aaron Curry - 7:45am - update 8:00am - Curry is "N"!
• Alonzo Moore - 9am - update 9:30am - Moore is "N"!
• Devian Shelton - 11am - update 11:30am - Shelton selects USC
• Andrus Peat - 12:35pm - update 12:45pm - Peat selects Stanford
• Vincent Valentine - 1pm - update 1:15pm - Valentine is "N"!

Bo Pelini's press conference to announce the class is at 2:30 this afternoon.

The Huskers have a strong commitment from dual threat quarterback Tommy Armstrong of Texas.  Walk on prospect Ryker Fyfe will add a positive dynamic to the depth chart and push for playing time with a pro-style approach.  Although it was a surprise that Devin Fuller ended up committing to UCLA after Rutgers coach Greg Schiano decided to jump to the NFL, it was not necessarily a surprise that he did not pick Nebraska.  It would have been interesting to see a top 50 type of player compete for QB playing time for the Huskers, but Fuller may have seen the log jam at the position and decided Bo Pelini would have wanted his talent on the defensive side of the ball.

Not unlike stealing a player from a division opponent, the Huskers took Cross away from future opponents in Tennesee and UCLA, who both had reportedly offered Cross a scholarship.  If NU hadn't landed him, chances are they'd have ended up facing him. 

He also seems to provide a good option for life after Rex Burkhead, who at 210 lbs. is Nebraska's biggest scholarship I-back.  Burkhead will graduate after the 2012 season.  While Ameer Abdullah, Aaron Green, and Braylon Heard all are talented running backs, none of them tips the scales over 190 lbs.  At 220 lbs., Cross gives the Huskers a good option to push the pile in short yardage and goal line situations.   

Whether it was part of the recruiting plan all year or a response to changing circumstances, Cross looks like a worthy addition to the roster and may start showing up in the box score very soon.  

Earlier this week, I outlined how things might look for the stretch run of Nebraska's 2012 recruiting class. Three names are the ones that most fans and recruiting zealots seem to be watching closely - Andrus Peat, Devin Fuller and Alonzo Moore. This week, there have been meaningful changes in the recruitment of all three.  

The competition to attract Andrus Peat is one of the most heavily-followed in the country, for good reason. He's a special prospect. Nebraska coaches made their final pitch to Peat this week. It looks like it will boil down to NU vs. Stanford, as Peat cancelled his visit to Florida State.

Many have assumed that since Nebraska has his brother (Todd Peat, Jr.) on the roster already and his cousin (Avery Moss) in the fold for the 2012 class, that Peat will sign with NU as well. But, it appears that Nebraska may be hedging its bets. They signed offensive lineman Corey Whitaker already. And, they gave the full court press to 4-star rated offensive lineman Evan Goodman out of Florida. Goodman has just renewed his pledge to Arizona State. But, do the actions of the Husker coaches appear to be those of men who are confident they are going to get Andrus Peat on February 1? Maybe they are trying to press their advantage, confident they will get Peat and those other players. If so, bully for them. But to me it is a clear reminder that the Peat sweepstakes is still very much ongoing until the fax machine hums on national signing day. 

There are developments in the recruitment of NJ quarterback/athlete Devin Fuller as well. There are no shortage of schools interested in Fuller. But, after narrowing it to a list of finalists, it appears Fuller's options boil down to Nebraska and his home-state Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Here's the twist this week. It appears that Rutgers coach Greg Schiano is leaving the school to go coach the Tampa Bay Bucs in the NFL. If true, the timing couldn't be worse for Rutgers and better for NU. Since recruiting often depends on relationships, the departure of a coach can create turnover for an incomplete recruiting class. There is a chance Fuller could end up some place else entirely. As I said, there is no shortage of demand. But, the changes at Rutgers have to help Nebraska's chances with Fuller.

Louisiana athlete Alonzo Moore also raised some eyebrows this week when he said he will visit Louisiana Tech. Moore has offers from many schools, but he has said that the choice comes down to Nebraska and Mississippi State. He's also said that he informed the coaching staffs of those schools of his choice, but was holding his public announcement until signing day. So, why the last-minute visit to La Tech? It's curious. But, it may boil down to youthful enthusiasm and home town or state loyalty. First, any kid with a chance to take five free recruiting visits probably would or should take advantage of them. It's a good experience. Next, Moore likely feels loyal to Tech, which is his most local school and who likely knew about him first. Again, relationships matter. (You never forget your first, do ya?) Is Tech a viable threat to Nebraska or MSU? Not really. But, it merits watching and discussion. 

Following and writing about recruiting progress is like trying to pick up some water with one hand. You'll likely come away with something, but most of it will slip between your fingers. With all fluid situations, you kind of have to wait until the levy breaks and you can see where things flow. Husker fans just need to continue to hope that Peat, Fuller and Moore will flow to Lincoln. 

You don't see many of those coming out of Nebraska. And, lately, you don't see many of those coming to Nebraska.

Fyfe certainly looks the part of a pro-style QB at 6-4, 195 and, while I don't see much high school football in the state, he throws as good a ball as any Nebraska prep QB I've seen in recent memory. Specifically, see the throw he makes at the 30 second mark in the video below:

If you believe in labels, Fyfe is a departure from the type of spread option style QB Bo Pelini and Tim Beck have been after recently but the pro-style label might be a misnomer as Fyfe (746 rushing yards and 15 rushing TDs last season) seems capable of running it as well. At his size and speed (4.8 40 according to Rivals) he'd also making an interesting WR prospect if the QB slot gets crowded.

And making the QB slot crowded seems to be a primary goal for 2013. Fyfe gives Nebraska at least two QBs in this class with the Huskers still in the mix for QB/ATH Devin Fuller (6-0, 185). Nebraska has already offered scholarships to three dual-threat QBs for next year as well: J.T. Barrett (Wichita Falls, Texas), Travis Wright (Louisville, Ky.), and Malik Zaire (Kettering, Ohio). 

None of those QBs is taller than 6-1, making Fyfe, if nothing else, a giant among his potential peers physically. Size, of course, isn't everything but Fyfe is a departure from what Nebraska's been bringing in behind center and that should make for some interesting practice battles over the next few years.

It's nothing more than a hunch, but something tells me he'll contribute at QB at some point in the future.

Figuring out how many players can fit in the class before before letters of intent can be signed isn't a simple task.  Illinois defensive tackle Vincent Valentine will wait until signing day to announce his college destination.  The same is true for Florida offensive tackle Evan Goodman, Arizona offensive lineman Andrus Peat, and Louisiana athlete Alonzo Moore.  The Huskers would like to bring in all four players.  But what if none choose Nebraska?  Can NU afford to make four last minute offers on signing day?  Or might they have to tell one of these players that they just waited too long?

The departure of running backs Lester Ward and Collins Okafor due to graduation creates some additional space that will give the coaches more room to accept commitments.  But there are still more uncommitted players that the NU coaches have offered or could offer than there are available scholarships.  At some point, the game of musical chairs ends with either a player left standing or some extra chairs.

One thing is certain.  For the next nine days, Husker fans will remain on the edge of their seats.

Numbers Game
Nebraska has 12 players currently included in their 2012 class. You can review a list of the group so far right here.

One, cornerback Mo Seisay, has signed his letter of intent and will be with the team for winter conditioning and spring football. The remaining members of the class must wait until February 1st to sign. With wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp now firmly back in the fold (he had waffled momentarily before reaffirming his desire to play for NU) you can pretty solidly count on the players on this list signing with NU this year. 

Based on the number of players graduating or departing the program, the total class size for Nebraska appears to be 16. That's a small class, relatively speaking. There is a chance for the group to grow if NU has additional attrition that frees up scholarships. For example, JT Kerr's recent departure opens up a slot on the roster. Of course, those same scholarships can be used to reward walk-on players who have earned a spot on the 2-deep roster. Brent Maher and Seung Hoon Choi are examples of players who could have easily earned a scholarship in 2011.

Only the coaches can know their rate of attrition or their future plans for handing out scholarships. For the outsiders looking in at the program, 16 remains the number to watch. But, it's possible for NU to take anywhere from 15 to 18 players in this class. With 12 already in the fold, Nebraska is looking to add four to seven players in the next 10 days. So, basically, five guys. Which five guys will they land?

Top Drawer
Of the dozen or so players still active on NU's recruiting board, three stand out most - Andrus Peat, Devin Fuller and Alonzo Moore. Regardless of class need or their position, these three are the players NU has the highest combination of either overall talent and likelihood to sign with the Huskers. These are the first ones to watch.

Offensive tackle Andrus Peat it the biggest target remaining for NU. Arguably the best offensive line prospect in the country, Peat has offers from every program worth considering. Right now, it appears that Stanford is the top competition for NU in getting his pledge. Nebraska's case for landing Peat are helped considerably by the fact that his brother - Todd Peat, Jr - is part of NU's program currently (a redshirted defensive tackle from the 2011 class) and that his teammate and cousin - Avery Moss - is a defensive end in the current Husker class. This will come down to a signing day decision.

Quarterback Devin Fuller is another high-profile prospect that will likely come down to a signing-day decision. The top prospect in the state of New Jersey, the multi-talented Fuller could play a number of positions but is being recruited as a quarterback for NU. He's an extremely explosive play maker. Like Peat, Fuller has no shortage of suitors. He's narrowed his list from dozens of schools down to just NU and his home-state school of Rutgers. Any place other than one of those two would be a surprise. 

Alonzo Moore is another significant talent who is most likely to pick NU. Moore is being recruited as an "athlete" who could play on either side of the ball for Nebraska. He would likely first get a look as a wide receiver with the possibility of seeing a few snaps at quarterback as well. Moore is from Louisiana, so Nebraska's competition for him comes from SEC schools - Arkansas, Texas A&M, Mississippi and Mississippi State. He has publicly said that his choices come down to NU and the MSU Bulldogs. He's told the coaching staffs from both schools his intent. But fans won't know - and the commitment won't be real - until he signs in February.

Addressing Needs
Nebraska must also finish up addressing their roster needs with the remaining players in this class. Linebacker was the most screaming need for Nebraska in this class, and they have addressed it well - adding four quality linebacker prospects. But needs still remain at defensive back, defensive tackle and tight end.

As I said last week, NU appears to have some personnel issues in the back end of their defense. Right now, they have just one defensive back - Mo Seisay - in the fold for the 2012 class. They ideally need to add another cornerback and a safety to the group. The Husker coaches have visited or brought in more than a dozen defensive backs for visits throughout the last year. Boiling that list of names down to just the two that are the most likely to sign is difficult. But, at safety, the name to know is Devian Shelton. The 6'2'' Shelton fits the mold for what Nebraska wants at safety. The Huskers are a finalist for his services. Other schools in the mix include Oregon State, Washington, Arizona, and Arizona State from the PAC-12 and Tennessee from the SEC. At corner, Raymond Ford - the cousin of former Husker Ricky Thenarse - seems the most likely commit for NU. The Huskers are battling a dozen PAC-12 schools for this California product. The whispers are that he has already made his choice. But, again, things won't be revealed until signing day. 

Nebraska also appears committed to taking at least one defensive tackle in this class, possibly two depending on how the scholarships work out. The names to know are Vincent Valentine and Aaron Curry. They are very different players, despite both playing tackle. Valentine is a load. The 315 pound prospect is a real run stuffer. He has offers from most every school in the Big Ten and SEC. The Huskers are battling his home-state school Illinois and the Florida Gators for his services. Curry, from Texas, has an impressive offer list of his own. Nebraska is a finalist for him, along with TCU, Missouri and Iowa. The 6'3'', 275 pound prospect recently visited Lincoln, and would be welcome sight to see in scarlet and cream. 

Nebraska also needs a tight end in this class. They have seniors Kyler Reed and Ben Cotton at the spot now, and not a lot of developed players behind them. While walk-on players can often be cultivated to fill this spot, it certainly isn't a place where the now run-focused NU offense can afford to skimp on talent. Nebraska just missed out on Nate Iese, a TE prospect out of California. He picked UCLA instead. Nebraska is bringing in Keoni Bush-Loo, a tight end from Hawaii for a late visit. Bush-Loo attended camp and NU this summer, so the coaches are familiar with his ability. Nebraska is going up against California, Boise State, Arizona, Washington and Hawaii for this island prospect. 

Plan B
It's not likely that every player Nebraska targets will become a Husker. Far from it, in fact. And there are some positions that are too vital at this time to leave any gaps in the roster. The coaching staff needs to have some contingency plans in place. So, they also target and recruit other players at these spots. For Nebraska, this includes defensive backs Sabastian Smith and Mark Meyers and offensive lineman Corey Whitaker. That's not to say that these players are bad prospects. Any one of the could easily be a productive player or college star. But, at this time, they don't have the intense recruiting interest that players like Peat or Raymond might. Recruiting is a very inexact process. Some "can't miss" 5-star players turn out to be busts. Some less highly regarded players turn in to stars. The key, especially with a small class like Nebraska's, is to have as few "misses" as possible and to keep the roster stocked with quality players. 

Nebraska AD Tom Osborne issued the following statement on Sunday following the death of former Penn State coach Joe Paterno:

I am saddened to hear the news of Joe Paterno’s passing. Joe was a genuinely good person. Whenever you recruited or played against Joe you knew how he operated and that he always stood for the right things. Of course, his longevity over time and his impact on college football is remarkable. Anybody who knew Joe feels badly about the circumstances. I suspect the emotional turmoil of the last few weeks might have played into it. We offer our condolences to his family and wish them the very best.

Nebraska picked up a somewhat unexpected commitment this weekend, when LeRoy Alexander verbally pledged to play at NU. The 6'1'', 185 Alexander is labeled as an "athlete" in this class, as he could play on either side of the ball in college. He comes from the heart of the Big Ten recruiting territory, having played at Whitmer high school in Toledo, Ohio. He's rated as a 3-star prospect by Rivals.com and had a scholarship offer from Toledo before choosing NU. Other Big Ten schools - Michigan State in particular - had also shown interest in recruiting Alexander. He becomes the 12th member of the Husker recruiting class. Nebraska is expected to have a relatively small class this recruiting cycle. National signing day is February 1st.

 

Bo Pelini will also get a $100,000 raise to $2.875 million. All told, Nebraska will spend $4.975 million on its coaching staff next year, up from $4.905 million in 2011. Seems like a big number and it is. Nebraska spent the third-highest amount on football coaching salaries in the Big Ten last year according to USA Today. But that number doesn't really mean much on its own given the wide gaps in football revenue across the Big Ten.

What is interesting is the percentage of Nebraska's football money the school is spending on football coaches.

The numbers in the following chart are taken from USA Today's 2011 coaching salary database. You can read the full methodology behind those numbers here, but the chart below is (an admittedly simple) calculation of total coaching salaries as a percentage of reported football-only net profit from 2011.

A couple of notes:

--USA Today used the income numbers reported to the NCAA but this isn't necessarily a uniform number, particularly when it comes to shoe company money. Ohio State's income seems low but that could be due to how they allocated their school-wide Nike deal. The Buckeyes' also had a relative bargain this year in interim coach Luke Fickell.

--Penn State's numbers are a little shaky as well, due in part to Pennsylvania's strange public records laws that offer some protection to public institutions and also in part to Joe Paterno's senior discount salary. Unrelated to that: Holy (blank)! $49 million!

--Northwestern isn't required to disclose but I think it's safe to assume the Wildcats would rank in the top half of this list.

A couple of thoughts:

--To be honest, I thought Nebraska would rank lower than it did but at 15.29 percent (8th out of 11 teams) but Nebraska is in line with most of its perceived "contemporaries" (i.e. Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa, Michigan State).

--What this calculation really illuminates for me:

1) Schools that aren't traditional football powers are in a losing battle with ever escalating coaching salaries. According to USA Today, college coaching salaries have risen 55 percent over the last six seasons. For schools like Purdue and Indiana the simple "cost of doing business" resulted in them spending more than 30 percent of their football income last year on staff alone. The idea of devoting major resources to football and hiring a big name coach is almost impossible to do at those schools without running at a defecit. And that's in the Big Ten, a conference with a wide, devoted and monied alumni base. To put it another way, Ohio State will pay Urban Meyer, and just Urban Meyer, $4 million next year. That was 63.5 percent of Purdue's total football income last year.

2) Widening the scope, Nebraska is well-placed among its national contemporaries as well. Nebraska's total 2011 coaching salary ($4.905M) ranked 16th nationally in 2011. The net profit of the football program ($32.1M) ranked 12th while the net profit for the athletic department as a whole ($1.75M) ranked 17th. Could they go higher? Sure. Alabama spent 20.8 percent of its football income ($40.77M) last year on coaches, but Nebraska is far from lagging behind.

Individually, Pelini's $2.775 million per year ranked 13th nationally last season and you'll hear both sides of the argument from Nebraska fans -- for some it's too high, for other it's not high enough when you consider the arms race going on at places like Texas, Alabama and Ohio State. But when factoring in football income, Nebraska is pretty competitive and you also have to consider this: Pelini's maximum bonus potential of $1 million based on contract incentives (12th nationally) seemed like a fair number as well. Only four coaches -- Kirk Ferentz, Gene Chizik, Chip Kelly and Steve Spurrier -- had a higher base salary and a max bonus of $1 million or more.

So, how much does Nebraska spend on its football coaches? The raw number doesn't really matter but in comparison to the rest of the schools and coaches in FBS I think you can definitively say this: It's a very fair amount.

One of the biggest advantages the emerging class of 2012 has over 2007 is the size. The class of 2012 might have only 15 players whereas the class of 2007 had 28 names. That might seem like an advantage for 2007, but really it's an indicator of how much better recruiting and retention has been from 2008-2011 versus 2003-2006. The four-year track record for Bo Pelini's staff of finding "keepers" improved by about 3 players per year. That bodes well for the upcoming class.

Still, the 2007 class had a lot of good names. There was Prince Amukamara, Jared Crick, Roy Helu, Eric Hagg, Larry Asante, and Niles Paul. Not to mention a bunch of other contributors in Marcel Jones, Curenski Gilleylen, Terence Moore, Armando Murillo, Zac Lee, Adi Kunalic, Blake Lawrence, Quentin Castille, Ryan Hill, and Patrick Witt. Other names that didn't pan out so well included Aaron Schulte, Kevin Dixon, Jaivorio Burkes, Shukree Barfield, William Yancy, Joseph Townsend, LaTravis Washington, Marcus Mendoza, Anthony Blue, Shawn Sullivan, and Demetrious Davis.

It's far too early to name the sure hits and misses for 2012 but there are some that seem as "can't miss" as we've seen. Barring injury, it would be shocking if Mohammed Seisay does not become a contributor at cornerback. Likewise, recent history with junior college transfers tells us to expect contributions from linebacker Zaire Anderson. So far, both Ben Cotton and Jake Cotton have become contributors so you'd expect things to work out for Sam Cotton as well.

Linemen can be hard to project, but Paul Thurston is a highly rated offensive tackle prospect. The same could be said about young linebackers but Michael Rose appears to be as highly rated as any player in the upcoming class. Jordan Westerkamp is the most highly touted wide receiver recruit for Nebraska since Niles Paul and compares favorably with NU's number two all-time receiver Nate Swift. Greg McMullen is more highly touted than any defensive end recruited in 2007. Likewise, Tommy Armstrong is more sought after as a quarterback than either Zac Lee or Patrick Witt. Thomas Brown, Avery Moss, and Jared Afalava all had multiple Pac-12 offers, which sets them ahead of some recruits at similar positions in 2007 like Jospeh Townsend and Austin Stafford.

Don't expect to see Nebraska garner national attention for its class on signing day. But if the name of the game is to make improvements over time, there's evidence of that here. Considering how hastily the class of 2008 was assembled, you might expect an even bigger step forward in 2013.

Lyell Bremser served as the voice of the Huskers for several decades. He was witness to the birth of NU's football greatness. His radio calls included NU's first two national title teams, the "Game of the Century" against Oklahoma and describing Osborne's clubs in the early 1980s. For multiple generations of Husker fans, this man served as the voice of Nebraska football. This April, he will be included as part of the 2012 class of the Omaha Sports Hall of Fame. It's a very deserving honor. While current Husker fans may not know Bremser's work through more than YouTube clips or phone ring tones, his voice is still the one that echoes in most fans' minds when they think of the Huskers. Man, woman and child indeed.

In his first year with the Washington Redskins Roy Helu did what he never did at Nebraska -- he gained some much deserved national attention. Helu was named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie team on Monday after rushing for 640 yards and two TDs and adding another 379 yards and a TD receiving. Not bad for a guy who never made first team all-conference while at Nebraska. Not bad for a guy who ended up fourth on the all-time rushing list...at Nebraska. Not bad for a guy who had the best single-game rushing performance in history...at Nebraska. Husker fans always seemed to have a quiet appreciation for Helu but did he deserve more? The three guys ahead of him on Nebraska's all-time rushing list -- Mike Rozier, Ahman Green and Eric Crouch -- all played for national titles and are easily considered Husker legends. (Two of them won the Heisman which didn't hurt either.) Meanwhile Helu quietly and consistently produced in a period of great tumult for the program. Does "winning" factor that heavily into legacy? The answer may seem obvious but the reason I ask is Rex Burkhead, currently at 2,654 career rushing yards, could climb as high as second on the all-time list next season. Nebraska fans have a deep and abiding love affair with Rex, but what if the Huskers don't win anything more than a division title during his run? How will he be remembered? Discuss.

Missing Ingredient
Nebraska lacked great corners for much of the year. Other than a stud defensive tackle, no position is as vital to a great defense. Cornerbacks are rare. They are much more scarce than safeties. It is common to see great athletes plugged in at safety. Safeties need to see, run and hit. Corners have to be able to swivel their hips, have the speed to defend against the deep ball, be willing to support against the run and play with extraordinary confidence. Having a corner that can lock down a great player or defend an entire half of the field is a luxury. Consider what Alfonzo Dennard did against Michigan State as an example. The Spartans didn't have any other play makers on the outside or down the field, and it crippled their offense. 

Look at the 2011 Husker season in review. Great cornerback play was missing throughout much of the year. Dennard was injured for five games. Andrew Green was, well, green. Ciante Evans didn't play with confidence. After those three, it was a crap shoot. Things were especially thin when Dennard was injured to start the season. Keep in mind, a team's third cornerback also often serves as their nickel (or fifth defensive back), and gets on the field often. When a team has two strong corners - think of Dennard and Prince Amukamara a year ago - a defense is tough. When they have two great corners and a strong nickel back (i.e. Eric Hagg), things get downright fun to watch for fans.

The film doesn't lie either. Whether it was the Husker defense getting confused by the Fresno State and Washington offenses in the non-conference, or Evans getting completely turned around by a simple square-in route (on 3rd and 18!) during the Capital One bowl, there was suspect cornerback play throughout the year for NU. The coaches' actions demonstrate that they knew they had a problem at corner. They wouldn't name a starter opposite Dennard. They kept hoping Green or Evans would compete to win the job. They converted and started a safety (Corey Cooper) at the spot for one game and a wide receiver (Stanley Jean-Baptiste) for another. 

To be fair, both Green and Evans improved throughout the season, especially Green. He won the job outright, and made many more plays as the year progressed. But, now, with Dennard set to depart for the NFL, Nebraska's roster appears especially devoid of elite cornerback talent. The coaches know it. Corey Raymond said as much after the bowl game.

Seeking Athletes
Read what Raymond (the defensive backs coach) had to say to the Omaha World-Herald about the match up with South Carolina following the bow game.

“Just be honest,” Raymond said. “Look at them, look at us. It’s pretty obvious.” What did Raymond mean? He didn’t spell it out, but he made veiled criticisms of Nebraska’s personnel. For instance, what did he take from this game going into the offseason?

“Hopefully it helps recruiting. Get athletes.” 

Was he encouraged by how NU matched up man-for-man? “Not necessarily.”

Raymond went on to compare the mentality of Southern players versus Nebraska’s players. His guys needed to learn how to punch back once they got “hit in the mouth.”

“You can’t live on what other guys have done in the past around here,” Raymond said. “You have to live on yourself…We’re not Prince. We’re not Eric Hagg. We’re not those guys. We have to do much different things. We have to work harder. We’re not the same athletes as those guys.” 

The sub-text of Raymond's comments are pretty obvious. He thinks NU lacks talent in the back end of their defense. He's pointing to the upcoming recruiting class as a solution. But, what about the other defensive backs on the roster? 

Well, when you look at that roster, of the 23 players listed in some sort of defensive back position - cornerback, safety or just 'defensive back' - only seven are designated as true cornerbacks by the coaches. We know quite a bit about two of them. Green and Evans are known quantities. Jean-Baptiste is still obviously raw. Antonio Bell and Jase Dean will be seniors next year. Maybe they could contribute. But, by the time a player is a senior, the coaches have a pretty good idea of what they are capable of. Fans have not seen enough of Josh Mitchell (a sophomore) or Dijon Washington (a junior) to know what they can do. But, if anyone in that group was seeking a chance to show their stuff, it was last season. The conversion of a safety and wide out to the corner spot really speaks volumes.

Attrition has hurt the cornerback spot some in recent years. In the 2011 class, the highly-regarded Charles Jackson has been unable to get qualified to play for NU. The fact that the coaches rolled the dice on him getting qualified and on the roster this spring says a lot about their current situation. They were not willing to wait a year or two for him to try the junior college route. Now that he has failed to get eligible, Jackson has basically had a year without football and will likely end up going the JC route anyway. Ouch. The 2010 recruiting class appears pretty well intact, which is good news. But, the 2009 class lost cornerback prospect Lazarri Middleton. 

Who is Next?
So, Nebraska's top recruiting priority for 2012 is cornerback. Some could argue the Huskers need linebackers more. But, NU returns Will Compton, Alonzo Whaley and Sean Fisher. They also get to take the wrapping off of David Santos. That, and the coaching staff has done a good job of getting four quality linebacker prospects in the 2012 class. Their work in the defensive backfield is just as critical and is still incomplete.

For all of these reasons, junior college cornerback Mo Seisay is the most vital part of the 2012 class right now. He will have the most opportunity to do the most good for Nebraska's defense right way. Here's the problem, there are no other defensive backs in the class right now. That's not to say the Huskers aren't beating the bushes to try and get some. The list of  interested prospects and confirmed visitors is almost ridiculous. The coaches are bringing in scads of defensive backs. Again, actions speak louder than words.

From the beginning of the season, NU has targeted prospects like Brandon Beaver and Jordan Diggs to try and add talent to their defensive backfield. Those two players may have cooled on NU, but there are still several high-level players considering NU. The names to keep in mind include (in no particular order) Marcus Rios, Raymond Ford, Derrick Raymond and AJ Leggett. Of the more than a dozen defensive back prospects considering NU, those four most fit the bill of being a true cornerback prospect and having the talent to make an early contribution to the NU defense (possibly as a nickel). If Nebraska can get two of these players to go along with Seisay, they will have shored things up at corner. Adding at least one more is essential.

Husker fans craving a more consistent, "Pelini-like" defense are wise to watch the development at defensive back, and corner in particular. When the corners are great, the defense is often great. Whether players like Green and Evans (or others) improve or the Husker coaches import a new crop of talent in the upcoming class, corner is the key for the 2012 D.

Below is a pretty boilerplate -- for a traditional news outlet at least -- piece from CBS News and Mo Rocca on those weird and wacky Oregon Ducks football playing outfits. It's not bad, worth the six minutes for three reasons: 1) The part where the Nike man tries to convince Rocca that the wings on Oregon's shoulders actually serve a function (it's hilarious), 2) Uni Watch's Paul Lukas bringing some sense to the whole thing, and 3) Nebraska standing in as the anti-Oregon. Enjoy.

Bo Pelini had a tough task in returning to Nebraska. He took over a team with a losing record playing horrible defense and he had to satisfy a spoiled fan base. The Husker Nation wasn't going to wait long for their team to climb back into the national rankings. They'd been raised to believe that nine win seasons were an entitlement. With the release of the final AP poll, NU finishes ranked in the top 25 for the third consecutive season coming in at number 24. The ranking may not be something to brag about to fans of Alabama or LSU, but does indicate that NU is doing something right. Going nine and four doesn't guarantee a ranking. But navigating one of the toughest schedules in the country and beating teams like Michigan State, Penn State, Washington, Iowa and Ohio State apparently did.

The ranking might seem trivial, but it's something to put in your media guide and recruiting materials. It puts the Huskers in some select company of having been ranked in the final AP Poll each of the past three years along with Alabama, LSU, Oregon, Boise State, Wisconsin, TCU, and Virginia Tech. That's it, that's the list. There are eight teams, and Nebraska is one of them. No small feat.

The other break Nebraska got this week came from wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp. The standout recruit who'd committed to Nebraska back in May had opened up his options a bit to consider Notre Dame. Thankfully, he opted to remain true to his earlier inclination and now appears solid for Nebraska. We've seen this season how much a player like Kenny Bell can help the offense. Just imagine what happens if you can put another standout receiver on the field with him.

Undoubtedly, there will be more critical moments in Nebraska's future that may determine the direction of the program. In the last 24 hours, we've seen this program get just a little bit stronger. And every little bit helps.