Nebraska Football: Power Ranking Cornhuskers' Best Classes of the BCS Era
Nebraska football fans saw the BCS era come to a close in 2013, just as they began to focus on NU’s recruiting class for the upcoming season. In the BCS era (1998-2013), Nebraska saw three head coaches and one BCS title game appearance.
So as we bid adieu to the BCS and gear up for national signing day 2014, let’s take a look back and power rank Nebraska’s recruiting classes in the BCS era, from No. 16 all the way to No. 1. In compiling this list, we will be looking at actual on-field accomplishments as opposed to potential, which will, by its nature, drive down the ratings of the classes with players still building their careers. Fair warning.
(Aggregation of recruiting data from HuskerMAX.com)
16. 2013
1 of 16
Class size: 26
Head coach: Bo Pelini
Standout player: Cethan Carter
Other notable players: Terrell Newby, Johnny Stanton, Nathan Gerry, Courtney Love
A class full of potential, of course, but precious little has shown out on the field as of yet. Look for this class to skyrocket in years to come, though.
15. 2003
2 of 16
Class size: 19
Head coach: Frank Solich
Standout player: Joe Dailey
Other notable players: Tierre Green, Bo Ruud, Corey McKeon
Remember the whole “gravitating to mediocrity” thing? However you feel about Steve Pederson, this is what The Vision was talking about.
14. 2000
3 of 16
Class size: 21
Head coach: Frank Solich
Standout player: Benard Thomas
Other notable players: Willie Amos, T.J. Hollowell, Lornell McPherson
Missing on Thunder Collins in this draft class certainly didn’t help, but there were a number of misses and no real stars in the 2000 class.
13. 2006
4 of 16
Class size: 24
Head coach: Bill Callahan
Standout player: Pierre Allen
Other notable players: Maurice Purify, Kevin Williams, Rickey Thenarse, Mike McNeill
While Callahan built his reputation as a solid recruiter, 2006 was not one of his banner years.
12. 2012
5 of 16
Class size: 17
Head coach: Bo Pelini
Standout player: Michael Rose
Other notable players: Vincent Valentine, Zaire Anderson, Tommy Armstrong
Another class whose rank suffers because its members have yet to prove themselves on the field. 2014 will be a real test to see how strong the class of 2012 really was for Pelini.
11. 1999
6 of 16
Class size: 22
Head coach: Frank Solich
Standout player: Jammal Lord
Other notable players: Patrick Kabongo, John Garrison, Josh Davies
Nebraska fans can only be left to wonder how this class—and indeed, the future of the entire program—would have been different if Carl Crawford had arrived on campus instead of deciding to play baseball.
10. 2011
7 of 16
Class size: 20
Head coach: Bo Pelini
Standout player: Ameer Abdullah
Other notable players: Aaron Green, David Santos, Jamal Turner
While the book is not yet written on the 2011 class, there will be little doubt as to who will be its standout player. The final ranking of this class, though, may look different once the careers of all its members are finished.
9. 2009
8 of 16
Class size: 21
Head coach: Bo Pelini
Standout player: Taylor Martinez
Other notable players: Rex Burkhead, Eric Martin, DeJon Gomes
In many ways, the 2009 class—and specifically, the arrival of Taylor Martinez—will be the defining moment of the Pelini era in Lincoln. 2014 will be the first year truly in the post-Martinez era, and it remains to be seen what Pelini’s legacy will look like.
8. 2004
9 of 16
Class size: 18
Head coach: Bill Callahan
Standout player: Ty Steinkuhler
Other notable players: Joe Ganz, Cortney Grixby, Lydon Murtha, Terrence Nunn
Callahan’s first recruiting class brought some of the players who would define his tenure in Lincoln—and at least one player in Joe Ganz who would help set the tone for the tenure that was to follow Callahan.
7. 1998
10 of 16
Class size: 21
Head coach: Frank Solich
Standout player: DeJuan Groce
Other notable players: Chris Kelsay, Jeremy Slechta, Keyuo Craver
Still basking in a post-championship glow, Nebraska’s 1998 recruiting class still boasted a number of impressive players. An absence of difference-makers on offense, though, began to appear.
6. 2010
11 of 16
Class size: 21
Head coach: Bo Pelini
Standout player: Lavonte David
Other notable players: Kenny Bell, Corey Cooper, Quincy Enunwa, Ciante Evans
David may have been one of the best junior college signings in recent Nebraska history and certainly made an immediate impact on NU upon his arrival. There is still a little left to be written in the story of the 2010 class, of course, which may affect its ultimate ranking.
5. 2008
12 of 16
Class size: 28
Head coach: Bo Pelini
Standout player: Alfonzo Dennard
Other notable players: Baker Steinkuhler, Kyler Reed, P.J. Smith
In his first recruiting class, Pelini was blessed with having a gigantic number available to take. He managed to land a difference-maker on both sides of the ball in year one.
4. 2002
13 of 16
Class size: 18
Head coach: Frank Solich
Standout player: Adam Carriker
Other notable players: Matt Herian, Jay Moore, Fabian Washington
The inclusion of Carriker in any recruiting class will shoot that class up the charts, even though there was other good talent contained therein. Again, though, the lack of offensive difference-makers demonstrates an ongoing issue with Solich’s recruiting classes.
3. 2007
14 of 16
Class size: 28
Head coach: Bill Callahan
Standout player: Prince Amukamara
Other notable players: Roy Helu, Jared Crick, Eric Hagg, Niles Paul
Callahan’s final recruiting class was certainly one of his most memorable, landing NFL talent on both sides of the ball. Without the turmoil surrounding athletic director Steve Pederson, coupled with the meltdown on the field during the season, a case could have been made for Callahan’s retention given the talent he brought in.
2. 2005
15 of 16
Class size: 32
Head coach: Bill Callahan
Standout player: Ndamukong Suh
Other notable players: Matt Slauson, Marlon Lucky, Barry Turner, Phillip Dillard
The most dominant defensive player in a generation for Nebraska, coupled with a raft of outstanding talent, makes the 2005 class Callahan’s best in his tenure. Of course, Suh’s inability to blossom until Pelini’s arrival highlights Callahan’s deficiencies as well as his prowess as a recruiter.
1. 2001
16 of 16
Class size: 19
Head coach: Frank Solich
Standout player: Daniel Bullocks
Other notable players: Josh Bullocks, Richie Incognito, Barrett Ruud, Le Kevin Smith, Cory Ross
Solich’s other recruiting classes may have struggled, but he crushed it in 2001, even with a smaller class. When you consider the talent he brought in on both sides of the ball, it makes you stop to think what might have been had Solich brought in more classes at least close to 2001’s.
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