Ohio Linebacker Prospect Courtney Love Is Commitment No. 5 for Nebraska

Before 3-star outside linebacker Courtney Love (Youngstown, OH) took a weekend trip to the University of Nebraska, there was speculation that he was leaning toward committing to Ohio State, but on his way back from Lincoln on Sunday, Love decided he wanted to be a Cornhusker and gave the coaching staff a verbal commitment.  

"My family and I talked about it and they really liked it there, and they like my decision," Love told HuskerOnline.com. "...I thought I would have a better opportunity at Nebraska, and I thought I fit in just right there. I felt at home when I went down there." 

Love is a standout prospect from Cardinal Mooney High School, which also happens to be Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini's alma mater. Pelini's connection to the state of Ohio and long relationship with Love ultimately sealed the deal for the nation's No. 29 ranked outside linebacker. 

"(Coach Pelini) graduated from Cardinal Mooney and I've been talking to him from when I was younger until now," Love said. "Once he started recruiting me, we started talking a lot more and when I was there [in Lincoln] we got to talk one on one. 

"I felt the genuine need for me there and he told me that I would be given the opportunity there. He didn't make any promises [of playing time], but he said that if I work hard I would be able to earn a position."

The 6'1", 225-pounder joins his Cardinal Mooney teammate, 4-star safety Marcus McWilson (Youngstown, OH), in the Cornhuskers' 2013 class and is the fifth prospect to commit to Nebraska. 

Love has also made contact with Nebraska's other linebacker commit, 4-star prospect Josh Banderas (Lincoln, Neb.), and the two plan to help recruit other top notch prospects to join them in Lincoln. 

"Yes I talked to Josh last weekend, and I have been talking to him a little bit too on Facebook," Love said. "I'm definitely going to help him recruit others for this class.

Zach Dirlam is the Lead Editor of the College Basketball section as well as Big Ten columnist for the FOX Sports/MSN/YardBarker affiliate website Sports at Work. Check out his blog, Dirlam’s Dirty Dugout Sports Blog, which features this story, along with other articles and video reports on major sports.

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