More Husker recruiting...

Nebraska's commitment list for the 2008 recruiting class continues to grow at an astounding rate. The list is now at 18 members.

As a point of comparison:

• In 2007 that count was only at SIX at the end of July
• In 2006 there were FOUR
• In 2005 there were FIVE

So there are more early commitments in 2008 (18) than in the prior three years combined (15)!

Part of the reason is the trend of recruits taking more unofficial visits and "getting recruiting out of the way" before their senior year begins. I am also convinced that a big reason for the early commitment wave is that the Internet and other instant communications devices (text messaging, instant messaging, etc.) make it easier for recruits to build relationships - nee bonds - with other recruits. The recruiting of other recruits by committed prospects has led to many of NU's 2008 commitments.

Bryce Givens (6-6/257/5.1/OL) and Blaine Gabbert (6-4/226/4.65/QB) were (early on) the most active "recruiters" for NU, with each contributing to the commitments of Sean Fisher (6-5/210/4.6/LB) and Doug Rippy (6-2/218/LB). They also played a part in Trevor Robinson's (6-6/304/5.2/OL) initial commitment, and (I believe) will be instrumental when he recommits to NU.

The real windfall of other recruits' efforts has been realized in the last month, however. The commitments of Rippy, Will Compton (6-2/214/4.5/LB), D.J. Woods (6-0/169/4.35/WR), and Josh Williams (6-2/220/4.8/DE) were all influenced by Gabbert and Givens' work. Rippy was also instrumental in Woods' decision.

Along with those four, three other highly-ranked recruits are all listing NU at or near the top of their lists.

• Kenny Demens (6-1/224/4.6/LB) and Jonas Gray (5-10/232/4.44/RB) of Detroit (Mich.) Country Day both list NU as their No. 1 school right now, and both may be making their choice public within the next week or two.
• D'Anton Lynn (6-1/177/4.48/CB) of Celina (Texas) also has NU on his short list.

All three of those prospects have mentioned the aforementioned "recruiters" in updates on Rivals.com.

• Lynn mentioned Rippy, Woods, and Compton all by name.
• Demens and Gray are old friends themselves, but each has mentioned Gabbert, Rippy, and Compton

Nebraska has 18 (19 if you count Robinson eventually coming back) commitments already, and will not take more than 28 this year. The class is well past half finished. The coaches can now concentrate on keeping the kids they have committed and can actually start working on 2009 kids.

So THIS is what it feels like to be a Texas fan during recruiting season? I like it!

Good riddance NBA finals

Finally the NBA season is over. Congratulations to the San Antonio Spurs for winning their fourth title in nine years. That's great... but what's even greater is that the NBA season is finally finished and I don't have to hear or read about it until October again!

Any by October, football will be in full swing!!!

Speaking of football, Nebraska continues to pull in a tremendous recruiting class for 2008. Yesterday saw the addition of Omaha (Neb.) Millard North safety/linebacker Sean Fisher's commitment. At 6-foot-5, 210 pounds with 4.6-second speed in the 40, Fisher is slated for outside linebacker. However, it's possible that he's not done growing yet. If he adds a couple of inches to 6-foot-7, then what do they do with him? There aren't many 6-7 linebackers out there, and no safeties of that size, so a move to DE might be imminent. We'll see how it all shakes out, but Fisher was a high priority for the Husker staff since last September. He chose NU over Oklahoma at the end, but also had offers from schools such as Iowa, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Colorado, and Arizona State among his 15+ suitors.

This makes four in-state prospects among the nine to verbally commit to the NU staff for 2008. Fisher - a Rivals.com 3-star player - joins 5-star OL Baker Steinkuhler, 4-star OL Trevor Robinson and 3-star RB Collins Okafor as prospects from the Cornhusker State to give their pledge to NU.

Also joining the NU class recently was WR Adrian Hilburn of San Francisco Community College. At 6-foot-2, 190 pounds with legitimate 4.4 speed in the 40, Hilburn provides a downfield threat to compliment 2007 signees Niles Paul and Curenski Gilleylen. Hilburn chose the Huskers over Tennessee and Texas A&M.

I was told that Hilburn was identified by the NU staff when he was a high schooler playing on a team that ran the ball 95% of the time. He was "placed" at SFCC by the NU staff and was a near lock to sign with them.

With Hilburn joining the fold, it brings up the question of whether this gives Zach Lee the inside track to the starting quarterback job in 2008 over Joe Ganz, Patrick Witt and '08 commit Blaine Gabbert. I do not believe that to be the case.

Is Lee talented enough to start? Absolutely, but so are the other three guys. Right now if I had to put my money on a 2008 starter it would be on Patrick Witt. He should redshirt this fall, but if Sam Keller gets hurt don't be surprised if Witt's redshirt is burned and he takes over the team instead of #2 man Ganz. The coaching staff is that high on Witt!

With nine verbal commitments, NU is about half-way finished with their '08 class. Who's next?

Currently working out at the Big Red Football Camp is John Levorson, a 6-foot-3 1/2, 185-pound safety/wide receiver from Crete (Neb.). Levorson was very impressive in the first day testing at the camp, running a 4.55-second 40 (captured on multiple stop watches in the 4.5 to 4.55 range) and recording a 32-inch vertical leap. Today he gets some individual work at safety. Don't be surprised if he adds a Nebraska scholarship offer to his Wyoming and Ohio offers, and be even less surprised if he accepts it on the spot.

Levorson may be the last player from Nebraska the NU staff offers this year, unless TE Tim Biere of Omaha Westside sneaks in there. Biere has been impressive at camps and on film, winning the receiver MVP at the Columbia (Mo.) NIKE Camp. However, his 4.88-second speed in the 40 is not exactly what they're looking for. He does have a solid shuttle (4.32) however, which shows the ability to get away from linebackers at the line of scrimmage and in coverage.

Personally I would like them to take Biere and then look nationally for a "speed" tight end. I think they need to sign two at the position this year anyway, and an in-state guy with great hands and decent quickness would be a good pickup in my opinion.

Husker football recruiting

Nebraska's football recruiting class for 2008 is off to a strong start, and just how strong the class could be was made even more evident this past weekend as Rivals.com and Student Sports hosted the NIKE Football Training Camps in Columbia (Mo.) and Boulder (Co.).

On hand in Columbia were Husker commitments Blaine Gabbert (QB from Ballwin, Mo.), Trevor Robinson (OL from Elkhorn, Nebr.) and Dan Hoch (OL from Harlan, Iowa). Another potential Husker target, Omaha Westside tight end Tim Biere, was also in attendance.

As the camp came to a close, the Husker pledges dominated the awards handed out.

Gabbert was named the QB MVP and Robinson the lineman MVP.

Gabbert dominated the camp, and was clearly the top overall player in attendance.

NIKE Camp quarterback coach Bob Johnson said that he expects great things of Gabbert in Lincoln.

"I see him being a great fit what Nebraska does," Johnson said. "He's got every throw and he's strong and physical. When something breaks down, he can also tuck it and run. They're going to throw first there and run second and that's really what I'd like to see him do."

Robinson's footwork and strength were evident as he dominated the line drills.

Hoch was not named MVP, however his style of play is more hands-on and the NIKE camp formats don't really accomodate that style of play. I've seen opinions from people who have seen both players at the same stage of their development comparing Hoch to former Wisconsin and recent first-round draft pick offensive tackle Joe Thomas.

To top the day off in Columbia, Biere (who may receive an NU offer after attending the Husker football camp this June) was named the receiver/tight end MVP. Many recruiting analysts - self included - believe that if Biere receives a Nebraska scholarship offer he will commit on the spot. Analysts in attendance said that Biere clearly had the best hands of any receiving prospect at the camp - receiver or tight end.

NIKE moved to Boulder the following day, and Husker pledge - Bryce Givens (OL from Denver, Colo.) - was again named the lineman MVP.

At 6-foot-6, 260 pounds Givens has room to grow. His footwork and quickness reminded some analysts more of a skill position player than an offensive lineman.

Despite his commitment to Nebraska, other schools have not stopped recruiting Givens. In fact, he received an offer from Texas not long before the camp. He's still committed to NU, but said he will take an unofficial visit to Austin.

Givens did state that he's "99.9 percent" sure he's going to stick with Nebraska. That "0.1 percent" is enough to scare most Husker recruit-nicks who remember Reggie Smith, A.J. Wallace, and Travis Lewis flipping on or near Signing Day in recent years after professing their love for the Big Red.

Givens' teammate Jimmy Miller (6-3, 290 OL) also showed well as the runner up for lineman MVP honors. Miller - like Biere - is hoping for a Husker scholarship offer following his upcoming camp trip. He grew up a Husker fan, and his mother is from the Lincoln bedroom community of Waverly. With Aaron Schulte not qualifying academically the Husker staff could take another lineman for '08, and Miller could fill the bill.

The 2008 recruiting class is off to an amazing start for Nebraska. They have a good shot at finishing with a top ten and possibly a top five-ranked class when all is said and done.