Nebraska Football: Top Seven Cornhusker Recruiting Commits For 2011
"Over? Did you say 'over'? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!" - Bluto, "Animal House"
Much like the Deltas' struggles, college football is never truly over. Although we are just over a week out from crowning Auburn the BCS champions for 2011 (and about 18 months away from the debate about what to do with said championship if Auburn QB Cam Newton is found by the NCAA to have been ineligible), January and February are the most crucial months for recruiting. The foundations of future glories are laid with the work done before signing day.
So, with Nebraska coming off the most disappointing 10-4 season in college football history, what does NU's recruiting class look like for 2011?
#7: Zach Sterup (OL)
1 of 7
HEIGHT: 6'9"
WEIGHT: 265
HOMETOWN: Hastings, NE
HIGH SCHOOL: St. Cecilia
Yes, you read that right. Dude is 6'9", which should give him quite the wingspan to help protect his quarterback. According to omaha.com, Sterup left offers from Iowa, Kansas, and Kansas State waiting to see if Nebraska would come calling for his services.
Come calling they did, and Sterup is a 2011 NU commit.
#6: Ryan Klachko (OL)
2 of 7
HEIGHT: 6'4"
WEIGHT: 280
HOMETOWN: Springfield, IL
HIGH SCHOOL: Sacred Heart-Griffin
In addition to Sterup, Nebraska has signed another standout offensive lineman in Ryan Klachko. Projected to be an interior lineman, Klachko chose Nebraska over offers from Michigan State, Purdue, Illinois, amongst other schools, according to omaha.com.
No.5: Tyler Moore (OT)
3 of 7
HEIGHT: 6'6"
WEIGHT: 290 lbs
HOMETOWN: Clearwater, FL
HIGH SCHOOL: Countryside
Yet another recruit for Nebraska's Pipeline, Moore will be a fourth-generation Husker. He is preceded in Lincoln by his father, Brian Moore, his uncle, Vince Ferragamo (you may have heard of him) and his uncle, Jay Moore (both fans of Nebraska and the UFL's Omaha Nighthawks will have heard of him).
While the stars seemed aligned for Moore to end up in Lincoln, Nebraska still had to beat out Florida to get Moore on campus and wearing red, according to huskerextra.com.
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No.4: Ryne Reeves (OG)
4 of 7
HEIGHT: 6'3"
WEIGHT: 286 lbs
HOMETOWN: Crete, NE
HIGH SCHOOL: Crete
Back to the offensive line. Nebraska signed in-state phenom Ryne Reeves. What is a little more unusual is that NU got Reeves' commitment in 2009, when Reeves was a junior, according to omaha.com. He attended a Nebraska football camp as a sophomore just to get the coach's attention, and was apparently successful.
It seems NU will have little to worry about in terms of a decommitment risk from Reeves.
No.3: Jamal Turner (QB)
5 of 7
HEIGHT: 6'0"
WEIGHT: 170 lbs
HOMETOWN: Arlington, TX
HIGH SCHOOL: Sam Houston
Ah, now the fun begins. Jamal Turner has been pretty vocal in his willingness to challenge incumbent quarterback Taylor Martinez, zinging T-Magic in numerous interviews and saying there are things he thinks he will be able to do better under center.
Time will tell, of course. Turner played in this year's Under Armour All-America game -- as a wide receiver. But he's played QB well in high school, and definitely does not lack confidence coming to Lincoln.
No.2: Bubba Starling (QB)
6 of 7
HEIGHT: 6'5"
WEIGHT: 195 lbs
HOMETOWN: Gardner, KS
HIGH SCHOOL: Edgerton
If Bubba Starling ends up on Nebraska's football roster when the Huskers line up to take on UT-Chattanooga on September 03, 2011, NU will have already gained a big win. Because it means Starling, maybe the most standout athlete on NU's 2011 commit list, will not be playing professional baseball. Starling, a quarterback phenom of the first order, is also a stellar baseball prospect. In August, major league teams will come calling, and may have large checks with them to entice Starling into a professional career that doesn't involve being run into by 300-pound men in armor.
Starling has said he's looking forward to playing for Nebraska, but that he has to keep his options open and see what baseball has to offer. If you're a Nebraska fan, it's time to start rooting for Starling to have a terrible baseball season in 2011.
No.1: Aaron Green (RB)
7 of 7
HEIGHT: 5'11"
WEIGHT: 180 lbs
HOMETOWN: San Antonio, TX
HIGH SCHOOL: Madison
Aaron Green is Nebraska's first five-star running back recruit since Marlon Lucky. According to ESPN.com, Green chose Nebraska over Texas, Florida State and California. Green is the most explosive offensive weapon in Nebraska's 2011 class, with experience at his position and little doubt that he will be in uniform from day one for NU. Given that Nebraska's greatest weakness for the last two years has been on offense, it stands to reason that NU's most dangerous offensive recruit gets the No.1 spot on our list.
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