Coaches receiving positive vibes on recruiting trail
Print
digg it!
Facebook
del.icio.us
Seed Newsvine
Fark It
Reddit
By the Lincoln Journal Star
On the recruiting trail during this bye week, Husker tight ends coach Ron Brown said there was just an air of good feeling.
It felt familiar.
“I just came from recruiting down south and the reception down there from high school coaches was great,” Brown said. “Just their view of Nebraska again is of a team that’s back and playing well, and that was exciting to hear because that’s what I was used to in the past. I think it’s got a different note to it because we went through some adversity and some trials. I think everybody in this country loves a comeback story.”
Related Media
Vidcast: Crystal ball segment - 11.20.08
There seems to be a disagreement on the favorite to win the Texas Tech - Oklahoma game. (Anthony Roberts / JournalStar.com)...
A late-season surge by the Big Red has not just boosted the morale of the fan base. It’ll no doubt also help the Husker recruiting sales pitch.
Recruiting has been a major focus of the Husker staff during the bye week leading up to the Nov. 28 home finale against Colorado.
“We’ve identified a lot of guys over the last couple of days,” Husker head coach Bo Pelini said. “We should have a decent group come in for the Colorado game. I like where recruiting is right now. We’re going to have another big meeting tomorrow as a staff to make sure we’re all on the same page. I think we’re in pretty good shape.”
The Huskers currently have 16 known commits — eight of them from Texas. Coming off a 5-7 season, NU coaches knew the recruiting climate wouldn’t be the easiest for them in this first year with a new staff.
But as the team has progressed to a positive 7-4 record this fall, Brown has seen people take note of Nebraska’s step forward.
“As this season has unfolded, I think coaches are saying, ‘Man, you guys have really turned the corner. We just see a different team than we have the last few years,’” Brown said. “So it was good to hear that, positive in recruiting efforts and just as a measuring stick for us. These high school coaches are often pretty good barometers.”
What’s up with Joey?: Quarterback Joe Ganz sat out for the second straight day, but he’s expected back at Nebraska’s next practice on Sunday.
“He’s fine. He could have practiced today. He could have practiced yesterday,” Pelini said.
With Ganz out, backups Patrick Witt and Zac Lee got to really take the reins of the offense.
"They're both learning. This was good to give them a couple days to really get out there with the 1s,” Pelini said. “We kind of split those reps. They did well. I thought Kody Spano did good. I think they're all coming along, they're developing."
This and that: Running back Marlon Lucky sat out again Thursday with a toe injury. It’s not a big deal, Pelini said. “He could have practiced today, but we chose to hold him. He wanted to go today but it wasn’t the right day to go. That toe’s been bothering him for a while. This gave us a chance to give him a good rest and get him back on Sunday.” ... The Huskers will take today and Saturday off. The days off were earned, said Pelini, who has liked his team’s effort this bye week. “We had good tempo,” he said. “The guys have practiced well the last couple days. I like where we are. I feel we’re ahead of things as a staff with the game plan. I think we’re in good shape.”
Scouting Report: TE, Mike McNeill
Sophomore Mike McNeill is closing in on a school record that has stood for 17 years.
McNeill’s 26 catches this season are the most by a Nebraska tight end since Johnny Mitchell collected a school-record 31 in 1991.
The receiving success of McNeill, who has 345 yards receiving, shouldn’t come as much surprise given Nebraska’s offensive coordinator, Shawn Watson.
“I’ve always been a big tight ends guy,” Watson said. “My history’s been tight ends. I think they’re a big part of the passing game. You’re handicapped if you don’t have a tight end in the passing game. Those guys have delivered for us this year.”
Watson said McNeill’s not the only guy who has impressed him this year. He has also liked what he’s seen from sophomore Dreu Young (nine catches for 140 yards) and redshirt freshman Ryan Hill (3-9).
“When I sit back and look at these guys and what the future holds, I’m excited about it,” Watson said. “But Mike in particular and Dreu, I think you have to account for them in the passing game because those guys can separate and run. They can flat run. They will create matchup issues on linebackers or safeties.”
Just Asking: What team does prognosticator Pelini predict will win the Oklahoma-Texas Tech game this week?
The Husker head coach didn’t pick a winner, but said: “I know Oklahoma is hard to beat at home. That will be a difficult place for Texas Tech to go in and play, but they’ve shown the ability to win the tough, close football games this year,” Pelini said. “So I think it will be a great football game. I’m looking forward to watching it.”
— Brian Christopherson and Steven M. Sipple
