Nebraska recruiting making strides in Texas

It went from bad to worse for Nebraska. After being one of the most prominent football programs in decades, things went downhill. But the Huskers seemed to have turned the page.

Head Coach Bo Pelini took the struggling program and turned it into a Big 12 title contender. The Big 12 North division is up for grabs and many feel that the Huskers could be the ones on top once the dust is settled. So what has been Pelini's secret to success? Getting his type of players is one of them.

Coming off a 8-4 season, including a bowl win over Clemson, Nebraska is hitting the recruiting road hard.  And the road to Texas has been good so far.

Pelini has picked up some of the Lone Star State's best in the 2009 class. Leading the class is Superman himself, Rex Burkhead of Plano. The all-purpose back found the endzone 30 times his senior year and should be a nice fit in the Husker offense.

Another back expected to be a big part of the offense is Dontrayevous Robinson of Euless Trinity.  He is projected to be an every-down back at Nebraska. Interesting to see that there is a possibility the Nebraska backfield could feature both Robinson and Burkhead, considering all the classic playoff games these two played against each other over the last couple of years. I'm sure football fans in Texas haven't forgot the battles they had on the biggest stage in the state.

In order to have backs like this you have to have the big men up front to clear a path. Nebraska was able to grab some of the best in the DFW metroplex in Nick Ash and Jesse Coffey. Ash, the 6-foot-5 and 261-pound guard from Keller, simply manhandled opposing defenses last season. Coffey, a 6-foot-7, 270-pound tackle from Denton Guyer, was sold on Nebraska the minute he had a visit there.

Those four are not the only Texas natives that will soon be wearing the Red and White. Chris Williams of Abilene, one of the best linebackers in the state, has verbally committed. Others on their way are cornerback Andrew Green from San Antonio James Madison, dual-threat quarterback Cody Green from Dayton and defensive tackle Thaddeus Randle from Galena Park North Shore.

One man responsible for some of these recruits heading to Lincoln is Tim Beck. Beck coached at Mansfield Summit and R. L. Turner before becoming the running backs coach at Nebraska. So he is very familiar with the talent that Texas provides.

So Pelini, who is also familiar with Texas talent after coaching at OU and LSU, has managed to rake in one of Nebraska's best recruiting classes in a long time. Now Husker fans are hoping that results in the forward progress of proud football program looking to make its way back to the top.

Date of Article: Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:12 pm

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- Abilene  - Carrollton R.L. Turner  - Dayton  - Denton Guyer  - Euless Trinity  - Galena Park North Shore  - Keller  - Mansfield Summit  - San Antonio Madison  - Nebraska Cornhuskers