Nebraska Football Recruiting: Grading Each Member of the 2012 Class

After months of waiting, watching and generating traffic for message boards, Nebraska’s recruiting class is now complete.

For the most part, the members of this class are still in high school and years away from showing their talents on the field in Lincoln.

So, naturally, we’re going to grade each one and tell you right now how NU did with the class. Patience? Feh! That’s so pre-Twitter!

OK, that might be a little over the top. Even though we don’t know how each player will pan out, we can look at the data we do have on each prospect, and we can look at how the players address depth chart issues and put grades on the recruits as a result.

So, put on your Speculatron glasses, and let’s take a look at the 2012 Nebraska recruiting class.

Tommy Armstrong

Position: QB

Stats: 6’2”, 210 pounds

Armstrong is a quarterback tailor-made for Tim Beck’s offense, with the ability to run the ball effectively but with a pass-first mentality. Even if he is not able to beat out Taylor Martinez for the starting role, having a legitimate contender for the role will be critical for the development of both players. The most important signing, long-term, of the class.

Grade: A

Mohammed Seisay

Position: CB

Stats: 6’2”, 200 pounds

With the departure of Alfonzo Dennard, and the struggles of the other secondary members in 2011, an immediate infusion of talent was needed.

Seisay brings the size and experience needed to contribute immediately and could be the signing with the biggest impact for NU in 2012.

Grade: A

Zaire Anderson

Position: LB

Stats: 6’1", 220 pounds

Much like at cornerback, the departure of Lavonte David leaves an immediate need to be filled in 2012. Anderson, while not exactly replicating David’s skill set, is still the most likely of the linebacker recruits to see the field in 2012.

Grade: A

Paul Thurston

Position: OL

Stats: 6’5”, 274 pounds

In 2012, Nebraska saw the need for depth on the offensive line. While the 2011 class was full of pipeline talent that should see more of the field in 2012, Thurston is the best line talent coming into the system this year.

Grade: A- (hey, there has to be a little downgrade for his “he’s not Andrus Peat-ness”)

Michael Rose

Position: LB

Stats: 6’0”, 230 pounds

If points were given for enthusiasm, Rose would be at the top of the list. Rose is clearly the best freshman linebacker coming to campus next year and should see the field next year as a true freshman.

Grade: A-

Greg McMullen

Position: DE

Stats: 6’5”, 255 pounds

The defensive line was a position of attrition for Nebraska in 2011, so a talent infusion from the recruiting class was critical coming into 2012.

McMullen, with his size and speed, should provide a needed bolster to that depth.

Grade: A-

Avery Moss

Position: DE

Stats: 6’4”, 245 pounds

Much like with McMullen, Moss has the advantage of coming into a position needing an immediate infusion of depth and talent.

Moss and McMullen will be competing for playing time in 2012, although my money would be on McMullen nudging Moss out.

Grade: B+

Vincent Valentine

Position: DT

Stats: 6’3”, 300 pounds

While the defensive line as a whole struggled with injuries, it was defensive tackle that was the most ravaged throughout the season. Valentine’s addition will immediately add depth and size to a position in desperate need of both.

Grade: A-

Jordan Westerkamp

Position: WR

Stats: 6’2”, 190 pounds

Ironically, the importance of Westerkamp might have been in recruiting, with Nebraska holding onto his commit over a Notre Dame challenge, than impact on the field given NU’s depth of talent at the position.

Still, if Westerkamp can effectively catch the ball (an issue of some concern for Nebraska’s wideouts in 2011), he will have a role to play.

Grade: B

Aaron Curry

Position: DT

Stats: 6’3”, 298 pounds

Curry isn’t quite the talent of Vincent Valentine, but he definitely brings the size and power to contribute immediately at a position where Nebraska needed immediate impact. Look for him to see the field in 2012.

Grade: B+

Imani Cross

Position: RB

Stats: 6’1”, 220 pounds

Nebraska certainly has depth at running back, but none of Rex Burkhead’s backups have the kind of size and power that Cross brings.

Given the backlog, it would be tempting to say that Cross is a year away from seeing the field. But Cross brings an attack that, apart from Burkhead, Nebraska lacks, meaning a redshirt might not be in his future.

Grade: B+

Thomas Brown

Position: LB

Stats: 6’2”, 212 pounds

If 2011 was the class of the offensive line, 2012 is the year of the linebacker. This year is the first recruiting class Nebraska was able to fully adjust to the needs of its new conference, and you can see that focus with the linebacker haul.

Brown may not be a 2012 contributor, but his addition adds important depth to NU’s chart.

Grade: B

Jared Afalava

Position: LB

Stats: 6’3”, 215 pounds

Another in Nebraska’s haul of linebackers in the 2012 class, Afalava brings size, speed and needed depth to the position. Look for him to compete with Brown for playing time in 2012.

But he easily wins the race for best name in the 2012 class.

Grade: B

Alonzo Moore

Position: WR

Stats: 6’2”, 170 pounds

While listed as a wide receiver, given the depth at the position, don’t be surprised if Moore is a target for a position change when he arrives in camp. Still, Moore will provide helpful depth at either position and could play a role on special teams as well.

Grade: B-

Corey Whitaker

Position: OT

Stats: 6’5”, 270 pounds

Offensive line is an area where it’s difficult to have too much depth at.

Still, given the talent brought in from the 2011 class, and the signing of Paul Thurston, Whitaker looks more like a redshirt candidate and a player for the future.

Grade: B-

LeRoy Alexander

Position: ATH

Stats: 6’1”, 188 pounds

Much like Alonzo Moore, Alexander appears to be a wide receiver/cornerback crossover, who will land on a position once camp starts and the position battles shake out a little. A signing that provides both depth and flexibility for the program.

Grade: B-

Sam Cotton

Position: TE

Stats: 6’4”, 235 pounds

Cotton does add depth at a tight end position that will need some in the coming years but likely owes his status as much to his father’s position as offensive line coach as anything else. Very little suggests Cotton will be an impact signing in years to come.

Grade: C

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