Nebraska Cornhuskers Football: Ranking Big Red's 2011 Recruiting Class

The Huskers did all right in National Letter of Intent week.  Rivals.com rated Nebraska's prospects as No. 15 overall and No. 2 in the Big Ten Conference.

Head coach Pelini and his staff deserve an A+ rating, in my opinion.  They made my job difficult, and I apologize to those NLOI signees and walk-ons I left off.   

The prospects who made the list have the potential to forge the nation's best offensive line for the next three to four years—they're that good.

Hope the show is good for you. 

15. Tyson Broekemeier: Aurora, Nebraska (Aurora High School)

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3 Jan 2002: Quarterback Eric Crouch #7 of Nebraska scrambles against the defense of Howard Clark #45 and Jonathan Vilna #51 of Miami during the Rose Bowl National Championship game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Miami won the game 37-14, winn

In addition to the 20 in the 2011 class, the Cornhuskers added 15 walk-ons.  Broekemeier is one of them. 

He was named the Gatorade Nebraska Player of the Year and he was also the honorary captain of the Lincoln Journal Star Super State offense and the Omaha World-Herald' All-Nebraska team.

His older brother, Joe, was a senior receiver for the 2010 Huskers.

14. Richard Wynne Jr.: Omaha, Nebraska (Creighton Prep High School)

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LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 17: Running back Corey Ross #4 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers finds some running room against the Pittsburgh Panthers on September 17, 2005 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska won 7-6. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Imag

Another walk-on, he was named to the Super State first-team by the Lincoln Journal Star.

The Omaha World-Herald selected him to their All-Nebraska first team as well. 

Nebraska's walk-ons are better than some scholarship recipients at other schools.

13. David Sutton: Lincoln, Nebraska (Southeast High School)

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LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 30: Defensive tackle Baker Steinkuhler #55 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers high fives teammate defensive tackle Jared Crick #94 after a third down stop during second half action of their game at Memorial Stadium on October 30, 2010 in

Sutton was a defensive first-team Super State pick by the Lincoln Journal Star.

He was also an All-Nebraska selection by the Omaha World-Herald.

Sound familiar?

12. Daniel Davie: Beatrice, Nebraska (Beatrice High School)

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LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 16: Wide receiver Niles Paul #24 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers during first half action of their game at Memorial Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Texas Defeated Nebraska 20-13. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images)

He was selected to the offensive squad on the Lincoln Journal Star's Super State team (athlete) and the Omaha World-Herald's All-Nebraska squad (back).

Davie is regarded as one of the top three prospects in the state of Nebraska by Rivals.com.

He won the all-class gold in both the 100 and 200 meters at the Nebraska state track meet.

11. David Santos: Spring, Texas (Klein Collins High School)

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LINCOLN, NEBRASKA - SEPTEMBER 25: Nebraska Cornhuskers linebacker Lavonte David #4 tackles South Dakota State Jackrabbits running back Kyle Minett #30 during first half action of their game at Memorial Stadium on September 25, 2010 in Lincoln, Nebraska. N

Out of Klein Collins High School in Spring, Texas, Santos earned District 13 Defensive MVP honors for his effort and was also the Houston Touchdown Club's Defensive Player of the Year.

He's ranked among the top 15 outside linebackers in the country by Rivals.com and among the top 40 linebackers by ESPN and Scout.com. 

Rivals.com also ranked him among the top 40 players in Texas.

10. Daimion Stafford: Norco, California (Norco High Scool/Chaffey College)

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LINCOLN, NEBRASKA - SEPTEMBER 25: Nebraska Cornhuskers linebacker Lavonte David #4 celebrates a tackle with his teammates defensive back Eric Hagg #28 and Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara #21 during their game at Memorial Stadium on September 25, 201

Both Rivals.com and Scout.com rank him in the top 20 overall junior college prospects and the top three defensive backs.

Stafford was also an electrifying special teams player—averaging nearly 28 yards per kickoff return and more than 15 on punt returns.

9. Givens Price: Houston, Texas (Alief Taylor High School)

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LINCOLN, NEBRASKA - SEPTEMBER 25: The Nebraska Cornhuskers offensive line, centered by offensive linesman Mike Caputo #58 lines up against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits during first half action of their game at Memorial Stadium on September 25, 2010

Price is one of the youngest signees ever for the Huskers.  He turns 17-years-old on Oct. 3rd.

He was second-team Class 5A All-State.  Both Scout.com and ESPN ranked him as one of the top 70 offensive guard prospects. 

His only visit was to Lincoln.  Baylor, Rice and UTEP included the other schools after him.

 

8. Ameer Abdullah: Homewood, Alabama (Homewood High School)

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LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 26: Rex Burkhead #22 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers runs the ball during their game at Memorial Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska defeated Colorado 45-17 (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images)

Abdullah was named the year's best player by the Birmingham News. 

In the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic last December, he scored the game-winning touchdown.

Scout.com also ranks him as one of the nation's top 60 running backs in the country. 

Abdullah chose the Huskers after also visiting Tennessee and Vanderbilt.  He had many more offers from schools including USC, Texas A&M and South Carolina.

In the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl, he showed his defensive back skills. 

7. Kevin Williams: Holland, Ohio (Springfield High School)

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LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 17: Defensive end Adam Carriker #90 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers celebrates a sack on Tyler Palko #3 of the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second quarter on September 17, 2005 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska won 7-6.

He was the Division II co-defensive player-of-the-year in Ohio.

First-team All-Ohio as a junior, he is one of the top 20 defensive tackles in the nation, according to ESPN.

Rivals.com ranks him among the top 20 players in Ohio. 

6. Jamal Turner: Arlington, Texas (Sam Houston High School)

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LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Zac Taylor #13 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers throws against the Pittsburgh Panthers on September 17, 2005 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska held on to win 7-6. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Rivals.com ranks him in their top 140 players in the nation.  They say he's one of the great state of Texas' top 20 prospects. 

He's also their seventh ranked dual-threat quarterback.  He lined up at wide receiver during the Under Armour All-American game. 

Scout.com lists him among the top 10 quarterbacks in Texas.

ESPN believes he's in the top 50 prospects in the country and is the nation's No. 6 athlete.

5. Charles Jackson: Spring, Texas (Klein Collins High School)

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LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 30: Cornerback Prince Amukamara #21 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers breaks up a pass intended for wide receiver T.J. Moe #28 of the Missouri Tigers during first half action of their game at Memorial Stadium on October 30, 2010 in Lincoln

He is probably the second-best cornerback prospect in the country.  That's where Scout.com ranks him. 

The 13th-best overall prospect in Texas, according to Rivals.com, they also list his among the top 10 cornerbacks.  

His high school teammate was Huskers signee David Santos.

4. Tyler Moore: Clearwater, Florida (Countryside High School)

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LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 26: Mike Caputo #58 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the rest of the Nebraska offensive line powered their way past the Colorado Buffaloes during their game at Memorial Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska defe

Moore played for the East team in the U.S. Army All-Star game in San Antonio—a game in which several Huskers signees made it to.

Moore is ranked among the top 100 overall prospects in the nation, according to Rivals.com.

Moore's father, Brian, played tight end for the Huskers in the 1980s, and his cousin Jay Moore did from 2002-2006. 

3. Aaron Green: San Antonio, Texas (Madison High School)

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LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 30: Running back Roy Helu Jr. #10 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers break a long run against the Missouri Tigers during second half action of their game at Memorial Stadium on October 30, 2010 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska Defeated Missou

With the departure or Roy Helu Jr,. Green arrives to assist Rex Burkhead in the backfield.  Green was the No. 11 overall prospect in the country, according to ESPN.

Both Rivals and Scout.com list him among the nation's top 10 running backs.  Green was offered by nearly every school in the country, according to Huskers.com. 

One reason could be his father played for Baylor from 1975-78.  His uncle, Gary, also played at Baylor and in the NFL as a cornerback for nine seasons.

Gary Green made four Pro Bowls.  

2. Ryne Reeves: Crete, Nebraska (Crete High School)

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LINCOLN, NEBRASKA - AUGUST 25: Offensive lineman Jon Rutherford #66 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers stands with his teammates before the NCAA football game against the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs on August 25, 2001 at Municipal Stadium in Lincoln

Reeves was the first player to commit to the Huskers' 2011 class.  It didn't stop Stanford, Miami, USC or UCLA from pursuing him. 

He was a Super State selection by the Lincoln Journal Star.  All-Nebraska, according to the Omaha World-Herald, Reeves was Class B All-State offense's honorary captain.

He played guard in high school, but was named Rivals.com All-America as a center.

He is regarded as one of the top five center prospects in the country by both Rivals and Scout.com.  Rivals believes he's the second-best prospect in the state of Nebraska.

1. Bubba Starling: Gardner, Kansas (Gardner Edgerton High School)

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ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 04: Quarterback Taylor Martinez #3 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers looks for an open receiver against the Oklahoma Sooners at Cowboys Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Sooners beat the Cornhuskers 23-20. (Photo by

As a senior, he was the Gatorade Kansas Player of the Year.  He also played baseball.

He's Baseball America's No. 1 high school prospect. 

Rivals.com ranks him as the nation's No. 6 "athlete."

Scout.com and ESPN also rank him among the nation's top 10 quarterback prospects.

A coup for Pelini's camp.

That does it for this installment of either Big Red Reasoning, or Reasoning on Big Red—whichever you prefer.  I hope you were all entertained.  

Stay tuned for my next posts and thanks for reading.