Nebraska Football: Position-by-Position Grades for the 2015 Recruiting Class
Nebraska Cornhuskers football fans have now had a couple of weeks to digest the 2015 recruiting class and see how it fits into the overall roster makeup—with great thanks to the Omaha World-Herald. We’ve already looked at the Super Six of this class, but now it's time to take a step back and see how the class as a whole looks, position by position.
The overall class grade for each position will consider two factors. First, it will look at how much raw talent was brought in at each position. Second, it will look at the team's needs at each position and how the incoming class fills those needs.
Offensive Line
1 of 7
Jalin Barnett (OG, 4-star, .9207 composite)
Michael Decker (OG, 3-star, .8544 composite)
Christian Gaylord (OT, 3-star, .8882 composite)
The signing of Barnett by new head coach Mike Riley might have been one of the biggest coups of this year’s recruiting class. Barnett, the best of the 2015 class, according to one smart and particularly handsome analyst, was not a Bo Pelini recruit whom Riley held onto. Rather, he was new to the class—and a big addition.
A refreshing of the position is always important, particularly because Nebraska has six seniors set to graduate in 2015. But with a strong class of redshirt freshmen this year, the offensive line might not have been a position of need like some of the others.
Still, the landing of Barnett gives rise to a high mark for this position group.
Final grade: A-
Backs
2 of 7
Devine Ozigbo (RB, 3-star, .8560 composite)
Ozigbo was another Riley-only signing, decommitting from Iowa State after Nebraska lost Kendall Bussey. The I-back position might be Nebraska’s strongest position, and the addition of (with all due respect) an Iowa State-level talent to the mix likely won’t be a game-changer for NU.
Failing to sign a quarterback in the 2015 class might be understandable given the depth of the position and the likelihood that Nebraska’s new staff will be wanting a different type of signal-caller than the previous regime. But it’s always a little concerning to see a recruiting class without a quarterback.
Nebraska also did not sign a scholarship fullback and, after the graduation of senior Andy Janovich, will not (absent giving a scholarship to a walk-on) have a scholarship fullback on the roster next season. While Nebraska did add a walk-on fullback in Austin Hemphill—and there is still uncertainty about the fullback's importance in Riley’s offensive structure—the lack of depth at the position has to at least raise an eyebrow.
Final grade: D
Receivers
3 of 7
Lavan Alston (WR, 3-star, .8832 composite)
Stanley Morgan (WR, 3-star, .8765 composite)
Matt Snyder (TE, 3-star, .8523 composite)
Getting Jamal Turner back from injury should boost Nebraska’s wide receiver corps in 2015, and NU’s depth at the position means quality over quantity could be the rule of the day. Both Morgan and Alston look to add some speed to the position.
But the star of this group might well be Snyder, a receiving-threat tight end who could come in right away and add to the threat Cethan Carter currently poses. If Riley’s offensive scheme is more willing to utilize the tight end in the offense than the previous regime—which, in fairness, means the scheme would simply use the tight end more than once in a blue moon—then Snyder could end up being the steal of the class.
Final grade: B
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Defensive Line
4 of 7
DaiShon Neal (DE, 3-star, .8588 composite)
Khalil Davis (DT, 3-star, .8730 composite)
Carlos Davis (DT, 3-star, .8891 composite)
Alex Davis (DE, 3-star, .8059 composite)
For three of the four defensive line recruits, Neal and the Davis twins (Khalil and Carlos), their retention was a bigger story than their impact on the roster. The Davis twins were thought to perhaps waiver on their commitment to Nebraska after Pelini was fired, and Neal was the target of a late recruiting push by new Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh.
But the recruiting “victories” aside, the additions to the defensive line were sorely needed. The three whom Riley had to sweat about keeping are easily in the top half of the class in terms of overall talent. And at both defensive end and defensive tackle, Nebraska was sorely needing both talent and depth. The absence of a 4-star talent is the only thing that puts a damper on this grade.
Final grade: A-
Linebackers
5 of 7
Mohamed Barry (LB, 3-star, .8398 composite)
Dedrick Young (ATH/LB, 3-star, .8609 composite)
Tyrin Ferguson (LB, 3-star, .8312 composite)
Adrienne Talan (S/LB, 3-star, .8416 composite)
Antonio Reed (S/LB, 3-star, .8026 composite)
If wide receiver was about quality over quantity, then linebacker was the opposite. Coming into 2015, Nebraska only had five (!) scholarship linebackers on the roster, so getting bodies to play the position was critical. One reason why hybrid players like Antonio Reed, Dedrick Young and Adrienne Talan are listed at linebacker is simply because the position is so thin that they will likely be put there first.
There is no standout talent in the group, although Young has the best chance to outperform his star ranking once he gets on campus. But Nebraska was able to fill up the numbers with players who have enough talent to be considered at least lottery tickets in the hopes that some will become good. Still, look for linebacker to be a position of focus for the 2016 class.
Final grade: B-
Secondary
6 of 7
Eric Lee (CB, 4-star, .9414 composite)
Aaron Williams (DB, 3-star, .8610 composite)
Avery Anderson (ATH/DB, 3-star, .8935 composite)
Lee and Anderson have been committed to Nebraska for so long that it’s almost strange to think of them as part of the 2015 class. But holding onto their commitments (particularly Lee, who could arguably be the best player of the class) and have them available for spring practice as early enrollees might be one of the most important feats of Riley’s young career in Lincoln.
Defensive back is an area where Nebraska is very—almost ridiculously—deep in 2015. But don’t be surprised if at least one of these guys pushes for playing time next season.
Final grade: A
Specialists
7 of 7
Jordan Ober (LS, 2-star, .7478 composite)
Don’t laugh. Long snappers are amazingly important. Not being competent at long snapping can result in turnovers on punts and the surrendering of points on field goals. While the position is about as specialized as a left-handed knuckleball-throwing middle reliever in baseball, it’s vital to have a good one for a program that wants to compete for championships.
With the injury to Gabe Miller, Nebraska was without a scholarship long snapper. With Ober’s addition, Nebraska now has that hole filled. Mission accomplished.
Final grade: A
All measurables and rankings from 247Sports.
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