Nebraska Recruiting: Five Hot Prospects on Cornhuskers’ Radar

The 2010-2011 recruiting season is in its final stages as only a few weeks remain between now and National Signing Day on February 2nd.

Nebraska currently has 16 commitments, so there’s plenty of room for qualified candidates to join the Big Red bandwagon just in time for the Cornhuskers’ inaugural Big Ten season.

Nebraska has spotted five hot prospects and will be welcoming them to Lincoln.

Who are these young men and what could they bring to the table?

Malcolm Creer (Running Back)

Photo by Jason Lewis

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 200 pounds

Creer was unknown by many across college football’s recruiting landscape until just last week.

Now, his name is as hot as the sun, and his stock is soaring at an amazing rate.

Unfortunately, schools that are late to the party, such as the University of Colorado, may see this excellent talent take his skills elsewhere in the Pac-12 or to the Big Ten before they can blink.

As it stands, Creer will be visiting the University of Nebraska on January 21st.

He is scheduled to visit the University of Washington on the following weekend.

While some are viewing Malcolm as a defensive back, Nebraska would likely employ Creer as a running back due to the departure of Dontrayevous Robinson.

Keeon Virgile (Linebacker)

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 225 pounds

Virgile’s interest in North Carolina remains high, but Nebraska could make headway during his visit to Lincoln on January 21st.

Keeon could find himself working with and learning from 2010 Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year Lavonte David if he chooses to wear scarlet and cream.

David’s rise came as a necessity following injury to Sean Fischer and Will Compton.

Compton would return to action later in the season, while Fischer was sidelined for the season.

Lavonte stood head and shoulders above the rest while posting a single-season school record 152 tackles in 2010.

Virgile’s excellent size makes him a prime candidate to help the Cornhuskers take on Big Ten offenses in the future.

Akeem Gonzales (Offensive/Defensive Lineman)

Height: 6’4”

Weight: 225 pounds

Gonzales' size may seem slight for any lineman.

Should Akeem commit to Nebraska, one has to wonder if his eventual position isn’t at defensive end.

Gonzales would likely spend a redshirt season learning the playbook and working with strength and conditioning coach James Dobson.

Dobson would assist him in putting on a likely 30-40 pounds of muscle depending on position.

Akeem will be visiting Lincoln on January 28th.

Ameer Abdullah (Athlete)

Height: 5’9”

Weight: 177 pounds

Ameer shows outstanding athleticism boasting 4.12 second shuttle time and 37 inch vertical leap.

Abdullah provided 1,013 rushing yards (6.6 YPC) and 18 TDs.

He was also credited with 33 catches for 515 yards and five TDs.

Ameer would give Nebraska a speed demon that secondary coach Marvin Sanders could mold into a true lockdown cornerback in the vein of Prince Amukamara.

Abdullah also has the skills to aid current Nebraska commit Aaron Green as a potential punt/kick return specialist.

He is scheduled to visit the Cornhuskers this weekend on January 14th.

Matt Wile (Kicker)

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 210 pounds

The U.S. Army All-American Bowl showcased two kickers that have had contact with Nebraska.

Current North Carolina State commit Niklas Sade was a part of the Cornhuskers’ class earlier in the season.

During the all-star game, Sade could only convert one kick out of three.

Wile, on the other hand, had a far more productive day at the office, though his team was on the losing end.

He went 10-for-13 this past season kicking for San Diego’s Francis Parker High School.

His season-long was 49 yards, while also converting a handful of kicks from the 45 to 47-yard range.

Wile attended a kicking academy earlier in 2010 where he worked with one of the NCAA’s most accurate kickers and Nebraska’s all-time scoring leader, Alex Henery.

With Sade’s departure, Matt’s addition to the Cornhuskers’ recruiting class may not exactly replace the “Ndamukong Suh” of kickers, but it would go a long way into rubbing some salve onto the wound.

He looks to visit Nebraska on January 28th, though that could change to the 21st depending on how his schedule fleshes out.

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