In-state players... lose 1 but gain 2

Eventful week for Nebraska-born players on the Huskers' roster.

• June 12 - Sophomore cornerback Corey Young asks for and is granted release from his scholarship. Young signed with Nebraska out of Omaha (Neb.) Millard North in 2006.
• June 14 - Omaha (Neb.) Millard North linebacker prospect Sean Fisher verbally commits to play college football for Nebraska.
• June 16 - Crete (Neb.) safety John Levorson verbally commits to play college football for Nebraska.

What does this all mean for the Huskers and for in-state recruits?

Well, Young's departure doesn't really mean much except that NU now has another scholarship to offer to prospects this year. He was not among the two-deep at cornerback and would likely have been relegated to special teams and mop-up duty for the rest of his career in Lincoln. With incoming freshmen Eric Hagg, Anthony Blue, Shawn Sullivan, and Prince Amukamara along with JUCOs already in school Larry Asante and Armando Murrillo - as well as 2008 recruit David Whitmire - the writing was pretty much on the wall for Young. He will look to transfer, and early possibilities include Iowa and Washington.

What do Fisher and Levorson's commitments mean?

• Nebraska has currently wrapped up 5 of the top 6 players in Rivals.com's Nebraska top 10.
• Number four prospect (tight end) Tim Biere committed to Big Twelve rival Kansas this week after leaving Nebraska's camp without a Husker offer. Rumor is that the NU staff felt that Biere had a "low ceiling" and was therefore only a walk-on candidate. They are considering his high school teammate Damon Bechtold, however.
• Fisher is a Husker legacy and despite being rated "only" three-stars by Rivals had an offer list of 16 and growing. He chose NU over Oklahoma, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Arizona State, Colorado, and Iowa among others. Fisher will start at outside linebacker when he gets to Lincoln, but if he grows any more (he's already 6-foot-5) a move to defensive end might be imminent.
• Levorson was the star of the first day of session 2 of the Husker football camp, recording a 4.5+ second 40 on multiple watches, a 32-inch vertical jump, and a 4.33 second shuttle run. He measured in at 6-foot-3 1/2 and 186 pounds. Levorson is likely to be a safety, but don't rule out head coach Bill Callahan "stealing him" from defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove and moving him to receiver. Levorson is currently rated only two-stars by Rivals, but should move to at least three in the next ratings update this fall.

Led by five-star Baker Steinkuhler and four-star Trevor Robinson, 2008 is one of the best years in recent memory for Division I football talent in Nebraska. Nine of the top ten players in the state have earned scholarship offers from Division I schools, and the top seven all have multiple offers.

Here is Rivals.com's Nebraska top 10 and their scholarship offers of note. Please note that Steinkuhler and Okafor both committed to Nebraska in September of their junior seasons, hence they had only one official scholarship offer.

1 Baker Steinkuhler Lincoln (NE) Lincoln Southwest OL 6-6/290 Nebraska

2 Trevor Robinson Omaha (NE) Elkhorn OL 6-5/300 Nebraska, Notre Dame, Michigan, Texas A&M, Boston College, Iowa, N.C. State

3 Sean Fisher Omaha (NE) Millard North LB 6-5/210 Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Arizona State, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa

4 Tim Biere Omaha (NE) Westside TE 6-4/235 Kansas, Kansas State, Ohio, Colorado State

5 Collins Okafor Omaha (NE) Westside RB 6-1/210 Nebraska

6 John Levorson Crete (NE) ATH 6-3/186 Nebraska, Wyoming, Ohio

7 Shaun Prater Omaha (NE) Central High School DB 5-10/162 Iowa, Iowa State, Ohio

8 Brian Thorson Omaha (NE) Millard North OL 6-3/279 Buffalo

9 Shane Prater Omaha (NE) Central High School WR 5-10/161 NONE

10 Brett Maher Kearney (NE) Kearney Sr High School K 6-0/170 Ohio

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.

All over the board

On the morning of "the matchup" between Padres future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux and Rays current Walk of Shamer Scott Kazmir, I bring you a hodge podge of thoughts.

Maddux is the epitome of consistency, while Kazmir has been maddeningly inconsistent. Kaz has outings where he beats Cy Young winner Johan Santana in Minneapolis (throwing 8 innings, giving up 2 runs while striking out 6 and walking none) and then he has a game like his last outing in Toronto (5 innings, 2 runs, walked 5 while striking out 4).

In 13 starts, Kaz has pitched 5 or less innings 5 times. Every time but one he's thrown over 100 pitches (and that one was 96 pitches).

IMO Kazmir's problem is not throwing strikes, it's getting cute after he gets two strikes on a hitter. I cannot count the number of 1-2 counts he's turned into walks over the last two years.

Maybe he'll learn from Maddux tonight how to be more economical with his pitches. Greg will never be considered a strikeout pitcher. Yes he's struck out over 3,200 in his career, but remember that he's pitching in his 21st season. That's under 150/year - not exactly Nolan Ryan or Roger Clemens numbers.

Maddux has made his career by painting the edges and keeping hitters off-balance. His four Cy Young awards have been earned by allowing his teammates to help him by making plays behind him.

I can recall in the mid-90's while watching the Braves on TBS seeing Maddux throw one 3 and one 4 pitch inning in the same game! Kazmir rarely throws less than 3 or 4 pitches to any one batter.

It should be a fun game to watch. The DVR is set!

If Kazmir can get deep into the game, he will be working with a revamped Rays bullpen.

• Gone are Tim Corcoran and Chad Orvella - they of the combined 9.24 ERA.
• Gone from the rotation is Jae Seo who was sent down to Triple-A Durham.
• Moved to the pen from the rotation is Casey Fossum.
• Added to the pen from Durham is Chad Hammel who was 4-5/3.42 as a starter there this year. He will provide help in long relief.
• Throwing in extended spring training today is Jay Witasick who was recently released by Oakland although he'd produced well in their pen (1-0, 3.60, 14 hits and nine walks in 15 innings). Expect Witasick to be added to the bullpen today or tomorrow and (hopefully) Shawn Camp will be sent down.
• New to the rotation are J.P. Howell (obtained in the Joey Gaithright trade last year with KC) and Andy Sonnanstine who "allowed just two runs on solo homers while striking out 10 - including a team-record seven straight from the second through the fourth - and not walking any, throwing 99 pitches." (St. Pete Times) in his last outing against the Marlins in Miami.

Things are looking up in Tampa Bay. The team is 28-33, and with just two less blown saves would be 30-31 and in second place in the AL East (and James Shields would be 8-0 instead of 6-0). Hopefully these changes to the pitching staff will allow them to close out games better and climb into wild card contention.

Rays Wi.... CRAP, not again!!

So the Devil Rays rap out 17 hits and score 11 runs. They put an "insurance run" on the board in the top of the ninth, thanks to Carl Crawford beating out a dropped third strike, stealing second, going to third on a shallow fly ball, and then scoring on a single.

With how reliever Gary Glover had sailed through the eighth inning, I headed out to check on construction of my new deck. I mean 11-6 is insurmountable, right? WRONG!

Joe Maddon didn't send Glover back out to work the ninth. Instead, with closer Al Reyes "unavailable" due to recent workload Maddon went with Chad Orvella who proceeded to go WALK-DOUBLE-DOUBLE-2 RUNS IN.

Orvella was "relieved" by Shawn Camp who went WALK-force out-DOUBLE-2 RUNS IN.

The score was now 11-10.

Former starter Casey Fossum then took over and allowed a game-tying DOUBLE.

This brought in Tim Corcoran who intentionally walked Frank Thomas, then threw a wild pitch to Troy Glaus which left first base open with only one out. So he intentionally put Glaus on base.

Finally, Corcoran walked in the winning run.

Game - Set - Match - SportsCenter highlight.

As Carl Crawford told the St. Pete Times, "I've been through it. As you can see, I don't look surprised. ... We were definitely thinking we could win it, but in the back of your mind and you've gone through this for six years, naturally you think it's going to happen again."

That's the scary part of a game like this to me. I expect the Rays bullpen to fail. It's been pretty much the norm for ten years except for the 2005 season. The problem is that young stars like Crawford, B.J. Upton, and Delmon Young are having their hearts ripped out.

How long before they start causing clubhouse problems? How long before they start demanding a trade and not showing up to spring training?

There are so many young offensive stars - Crawford, Young, Upton, Iwamura, Dukes - that all they need is some help in the bullpen.

There is no way that 11 runs and 17 hits should not win a Major League baseball game - especially with a five-run lead going into the ninth inning.

I blame Maddon for not leaving Glover in after he only threw 13 pitches (10 for strikes) while striking out two in the eighth. I've got little leaguers who can throw 60 pitches, but Gary Glover can't start the ninth after throwing only 13? BS!! Put him out there, Joe!

I blame management - specifically Gerry Hunzeker for not trading for some decent middle relief to allow them to get to Al Reyes.

How about James Shields and Scott Kazmir and the number of wins they've had blown by the "bullpen" in the last two years? Think that's frustrating??

Keep Reyes and Glover, dump EVERYONE ELSE!

Give Seth McClung another shot.

Pull up some of those "promising young arms" in the minors and get them some MLB work!

DO SOMETHING!! Turn that "cow-pen" into a true bullpen.

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.