Projected Starters and their Prospect rank out of HS

[Footballnut]

Thought this would be an interesting study on who has been the most effective recruits thus far for us. I will be using primarily Rivals ratings since 247Sports hasn't been around long enough and I'm not a huge fan of how Scout.com handles the rankings system. So, here goes.

Offense

QB - Taylor Martinez (3-Star [2009]), Tommy Armstrong (3-Star [2012])

RB - Ameer Abdullah (3-Star [2011]), Imani Cross (3-Star [2012])

FB - C.J. Zimmerer (3-Star [2009]), Andy Janovich (NR [2012])

LT - Jeremiah Sirles (3-Star [2009]), Matt Finnin (3-Star [2013])
LG - Jake Cotton (2-Star [2010]), Chongo Kondolo (3-Star [2013])
C - Cole Pensick (3-Star [2009]), Mark Pelini (NR [2010])
RG - Spencer Long (NR [2009]), Ryne Reeves (4-Star [2011])
RT - Brent Qvale (3-Star [2009]), Andrew Rodriguez (4-Star [2010])

TE - Jake Long (NR [2009]), Sam Cotton (3-Star [2012]) -or- Cethan Carter (3-Star [2013])

Defense

DE - Jason Ankrah (4-Star [2009]), Greg McMullen (4-Star [2012])
DT - Thad Randle (3-Star [2009]), Vincent Valentine (3-Star [2012])
DT - Kevin Williams (3-Star [2011]), Aaron Curry (3-Star [2012])
DE - Avery Moss (3-Star [2012]), Randy Gregory (4-Star [2013])

WILL - Zaire Anderson (4-Star [2012]), Colby Starkebaum (NR [2009])
MIKE - David Santos (4-Star [2011]), Michael Rose (3-Star [2012])
BUCK - Jared Afalava (3-Star [2012]), Josh Banderas (4-Star [2013])

CB - Stanley Jean-Baptiste (NR [2010]), Josh Mitchell (3-Star [2010])
CB - Mo Seisay (4-Star [2012]), Jonathan Rose (4-Star [2011]) -or- Andrew Green (3-Star [2009])

Nickel - Ciante Evans (3-Star [2010]), Jonathan Rose (4-Star [2011])

SS - Corey Cooper (4-Star [2010]), D.J. Singleton (3-Star [2013])
FS - Harvey Jackson (3-Star [2010]), Charles Jackson (4-Star [2011])

 

[Footballnut]

Totally left out WR by accident:

WR - Kenny Bell (3-Star [2010]), Alonzo Moore (4-Star [2012])
WR - Jamal Turner (4-Star [2011]), Jordan Westerkamp (4-Star [2012])
WR - Quincy Enunwa (3-Star [2010]), Taariq Allen (3-Star [2011])

 

[Brasky]

The list of washed 4 stars in the last couple years who either 1. couldn't hack it here and left or 2. haven't done anything is pretty hilarious.

I swear, that one star difference and their attitude often sucks.

Washed 4 stars off the top of my head:

Ryan Klachko OL
Tyler Moore OL
Chase Rome DL
Braylon Heard RB
Aaron green RB

There's plenty more if you look further back under Bo, but those are all the transfers in just the last two years.

 

[Footballnut]

Analysis

Nebraska has only one 4-star starter coming into 2013 (Jamal Turner) but 5 projected starters (Martinez, Abdullah, Sirls, Bell and Enunwa) were rated 5.7 by Rivals. High 3-star recruits (5.8 is low 4-star). Taking a glance at each group one would assume that the defensive side of the ball is more talented.

Defensively Nebraska has FIVE 4-star recruits projected to start this coming season while Thad Randle, Kevin Williams, Ciante Evans and Jared Afalava came in as that 5.7 high 3-star caliber player. Only Harvey Jackson had a rating of 5.6 or under. SJB was not rated coming out of JUCO. It would also seem that Nebraska has more talent in the second level on defense as well.

2nd team projected offense contains four 4-star players while the defensive side of the ball has six 4-star players waiting in the wings.

Not sure what this all means, but definitely found it interesting. It would shift a little bit if you used Scout.com or 247Sports as you base for ratings.

 

[Brasky]

I'm gonna start calling it "4 star syndrome". Their sense of entitlement is often higher and their work ethic generally suffers because of it.

 

[blkflagmafia]

Secondary should be on point and they are going to need to because DL will be raw and so will the talented but young lb corp.

I gotta say this group of WR are best Nebraska had with swift/Peterson co.

I hope incoming player are ready to go ESP front seven wise

 

[Brasky]

Not saying that's the case for all 4 star guys, but it's a pretty common thing that's been going on here lately.

 

[Footballnut]

The list of washed 4 stars in the last couple years who either 1. couldn't hack it here and left or 2. haven't done anything is pretty hilarious.

I swear, that one star difference and their attitude often sucks.

Washed 4 stars off the top of my head:

Ryan Klachko OL
Tyler Moore OL
Chase Rome DL
Braylon Heard RB
Aaron green RB

There's plenty more if you look further back under Bo, but those are all the transfers in just the last two years.

True enough... Klachko ended up having to give up football for concussion reasons. A few you are missing are:

Chris Williams LB (knee injuries)
Todd Peat Jr. DT (transfered to JUCO)
Dijon Washington CB
Cody Green QB (transfered to Tulsa)
Chase Harper TE (never made it to campus)
Brion Carnes QB (transfered to UNI)
Bubba Starling QB (floundering in A ball)

None of those players have done anything of substance elsewhere... the only one that seems to be on the right track to playing time at a major institution is Tyler Moore (OL).

 

[Brasky]

Great stuff btw FB nut

 

[blkflagmafia]

The list of washed 4 stars in the last couple years who either 1. couldn't hack it here and left or 2. haven't done anything is pretty hilarious.

I swear, that one star difference and their attitude often sucks.

Washed 4 stars off the top of my head:

Ryan Klachko OL
Tyler Moore OL
Chase Rome DL
Braylon Heard RB
Aaron green RB

There's plenty more if you look further back under Bo, but those are all the transfers in just the last two years.

I don't miss Green but heard had talent

Yeah he ran lil too high but he was smooth and would been a great duo with AA.
I still felt like we should have redshirted one of em, thank goodness AA was a beast

 

[Footballnut]

I don't miss Green but heard had talent

Yeah he ran lil too high but he was smooth and would been a great duo with AA.
I still felt like we should have redshirted one of em, thank goodness AA was a beast

IMO Heard hurt himself by not having his academics up and ready to go. If he had enrolled when he was supposed to none of this would have happened to him.

 

[blkflagmafia]

IMO Heard hurt himself by not having his academics up and ready to go. If he had enrolled when he was supposed to none of this would have happened to him.

Yeah that maybe true but when he got here he was good back just didn't get much tick bc of Rex and AA. I don't think the staff was prepared to get all three backs.

That why the diamond would have Brenda great formation to use with 3 different style backs that are talented.

 

[chucksker]

Spencer long and Jason ankrah are perfect examples of showing that whole recruiting is important (for sure, and I'm not questioning this....it is very important), the shitty ranking system we drool over is pretty damn flawed

Spencer long: NR-walk on. Potential all American, and what like 4 year starter?

Jason ankrah: 4*. Hasn't done shit. Been solid as just a body to take up some space but that's about it.

 

[Brasky]

I thought Ankrah's play picked up toward the end of the season.

Lookin' for him to have a nice Senior campaign.

 

[blkflagmafia]

I thought Ankrah's play picked up toward the end of the season.

Lookin' for him to have a nice Senior campaign.

Need all DL to have a good campaign

 

[Tomhusker]

I thought Ankrah's play picked up toward the end of the season.

Lookin' for him to have a nice Senior campaign.

Same here. I thought he was the one who stood out on an otherwise invisible defensive front.

 

[Footballnut]

Same here. I thought he was the one who stood out on an otherwise invisible defensive front.

Truth... is kryptonite is definitely staying disciplined on the misdirection... zone-read killed him last year against Ohio State and Northwestern. If he can be more disciplined this year and then play looser on passing situations he could have a very good season. But to this point, he's had a mediocre career for sure. BUT if we didn't have him we likely wouldn't have landed Marcus Newby last cycle and wouldn't be in on a great 4-star DT in Adam McLean for next cycle.