On Day One, they were in the homes of ...
Committed linebacker Chris Williams (6-1/220/4-stars) of Abilene (Texas)
"Yes, coach (Barney) Cotton came to our house and it went real good. We was just hung out and talked a little about football and everything. He was just getting to know my mom better and giving her some facts about Lincoln because that's where I'm going to be living."
Defensive tackle Latu Heimuli (6-3/296/4-stars) of Salt Lake City (Utah) was the first player that head coach Bo Pelini visited.
"It was really good," Heimuli's father said. "He was just pointing out the needs of the football team and the academic stuff – how they check on all the freshman to make sure they're off to a good start, and make sure everybody is going class… so it was really good – as far as my point of view.
Running backs coach Tim Beck was in the Tampa Bay area visiting Tampa Plant high school's Orson Charles' (6-3/230/4-stars) mother.
“Yes sir, a couple schools have been here. The first one to talk to my mom (on Monday) was coach Tim Beck. I didn’t get to talk to him too much, but my mom said it went good. I also saw Purdue at my practice.”
On the other coast in California were defensive coordinator Carl Pelini and defensive backs coach Marvin Sanders. They were in the school of Long Beach Poly DB Lazarri Middleton (6-1/190/unrated).
“Nebraska and SMU are my leaders, and I’m really interested in Nebraska right now. After I come back from SMU, in some short time frame I’ll make my decision. Yes, I could easily choose Nebraska before I visit them.”
Middleton only sports offers from SMU and Idaho State along with NU at this point, however schools like Kansas State, UCLA, Oklahoma State, and Texas A&M are actively recruiting him and likely to offer. NU seems to have beaten everyone to the punch on this one!
Carl Pelini also visited linebacker Eric Martin (6-2/215/4-stars) of Moreno Valley (Calif.). He's taking his SAT this weekend so he can begin official visits after that.
"Hopefully, Nebraska will be my first one, and then Arizona, and maybe Washington. It's all about what I could do my first year there - if I'd have to red shirt or if I'd have a chance to play early. I'm looking to see how many of their linebackers are seniors. I'd like the chance to play my freshman year. That would be nice."
Defensive end Sean Stanley (6-2/250/4-stars) of Gaithersburg (Md.) who is committed to Penn State but visited Lincoln recently is also on the list. Coach John Papuchis is scheduled to visit him Thursday and head coach Pelini is planning to visit next Wednesday. That Pelini visit could be canceled if Stanley likes what he sees on his official visit to Penn State this weekend.
"It just depends on my visit," Stanley said. "If I go and I'm sure Penn State is the right choice, then I'm going to Penn State. If there is any doubt, I'll tell coach Pelini to come out and maybe take another trip back to each school."
There are others in process which have not been reported yet. Suffice it to say that the NU staff is not only hitting the trail hard, but they are also turning over rocks to find top prospects (see Middleton) that other schools have yet to approach.
This class is shaping up to be very strong!
