2003
National class ratings |
Tom
Lemming
Prep FB Report
1 LSU
2 Florida
3 Southern Cal
4 Notre Dame
5 Miami
6 Oklahoma
7 Michigan
8 Texas
9 Tennessee
10 NC State
11 Texas A&M
12 S. Carolina
13 Georgia
14 Boston Coll.
15 Ohio State
16 Florida St.
17 Stanford
18 N. Carolina
19 Auburn
20 Miss. St.
21 Illinois
22 Virginia
23 Va. Tech
24 Nebraska
25 Iowa |
Jamie
Newberg
TheInsiders.com
1 Florida
2 LSU
3 Southern Cal
4 Oklahoma
5 Notre Dame
6 Miami
7 Ohio State
8 Texas
9 Georgia
10 Texas A&M
11 NC State
12 N. Carolina
13 Michigan
14 Auburn
15 S. Carolina
16 California
17 Colorado
18 Miss. St.
19 Virginia
20 Washington
21 Arizona St.
22 Tennessee
23 Nebraska
24 Texas Tech
25 Clemson |
Bill
Hodge
Collegesports.com
1 LSU
2 Southern Cal
3 Florida
4 Oklahoma
5 Georgia
6 Texas
7 Michigan
8 Notre Dame
9 Miami-Fla
10 NC State
11 Texas A&M
12 Ohio State
13 S. Carolina
14 Miss. St.
15 N. Carolina
16 California
17 Auburn
18 Colorado
19 Virginia
20 Washington
21 Illinois
22 Maryland
23 Nebraska
24 Boston Coll.
25 Arizona St. |
Max
Emfinger
Nat'l Bluechips
1 LSU
2 Florida
3 Southern Cal
4 Tennessee
5 Notre Dame
6 Oklahoma
6 Texas A&M
8 Auburn
9 Fla. St.
10 Miami-Fla
11 Ohio State
12 Miss. State
12 Texas
14 Georgia
14 Virginia
14 Maryland
17 N. Carolina
18 S. Carolina
18 Texas Tech
20 Washington
21 Colorado
22 Michigan
22 Nebraska
22 Okla. St.
25 Kansas St.
|
Allen Wallace
SuperPrep
1 Southern Cal
2 Florida
3 Oklahoma
4 LSU
5 Notre Dame
6 Miami
7 Texas A&M
8 NC State
9 Michigan
10 S. Carolina
(NU "somewhere
between 22-26")
Bobby Burton,
Jeremy Crabtree
Rivals.com
1 LSU
2 Florida
3 Southern Cal
4 Miami-Fla
5 Oklahoma
6 Georgia
7 NC State
8 S. Carolina
9 Texas A&M
10 Auburn
(NU rated 37th) |
Player
capsules
Courtesy of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Athletic Dept.
Greg
Austin
Offensive Line...6-2...290...Cypress, Texas (Cy-Fair)
Greg Austin is one of six players from Texas in Nebraska's 2003 recruiting
class, the most Nebraska has signed from the Lone Star State in 13 years.
Austin was the second out-of-state player to commit to the Huskers,
giving the NU coaching staff his pledge in mid-July. Austin is a powerful
offensive lineman who bench presses 400 pounds and squats 520. He starred
for a Cy-Fair team that finished the 2002 season with a 7-4 record,
earned the tri-district championship and qualifed for the Class 5-A
(largest) state playoffs. Austin played offensive guard for Coach Ronny
Peacock's squad as a senior after lining up at tackle as a junior. He
earned honorable-mention all-district honors in 2002, despite missing
half of the season with a foot injury. Austin graded out at 90 percent
in Cy-Fair's offensive line system. SuperPrep ranked Austin as the No.
66 prospect in the state of Texas. PrepStar named him an honorable-mention
All-Midlands region selection. Austin attended Big Red Football School
last summer and came away from the experience very impressed with what
Nebraska had to offer.
Why
he chose Nebraska:
"I was
really comfortable with everything at Nebraska. I was impressed with
the coaching staff and decided to commit to Nebraska last summer and
avoid all the hassles during recruiting." Austin also considered LSU,
Rice and North Texas, but only visited Nebraska. Austin, who enjoys
spending time with his bible study group, was born on Nov. 19, 1984.
He is the son of Greg, Sr., and Jacqueline Austin and has a brother,
Roydrick (20).
Andy
Birkel
Split End...6-3...175...Lincoln, Neb. (Southeast)
Andy Birkel is one of five Nebraskans in the 2003 recruiting class,
and one of three Husker signees from perennial Nebraska prep power Lincoln
Southeast. He finished his senior season at Southeast with 31 receptions
for 747 yards, an average of better than 24 yards per catch. Birkel
caught 10 touchdown passes for the Knights, who captured the Class A
state championship last year with a 12-1 record. Birkel also started
at defensive back and finished the season with 38 tackles and two interceptions
for Coach Chuck Mizerski's squad. Birkel earned first-team All-Nebraska
honors from the Omaha World-Herald and was also a first-team Class A
all-state pick. The Lincoln Journal Star tabbed Birkel to its Super-State
squad as a receiver. SuperPrep Magazine lists Birkel as the No. 45 overall
prospect in the 11-state Midlands Region, and he was a All-Midlands
region pick by PrepStar. Birkel caught 14 passes for 329 yards and five
touchdowns and had 67 tackles and five interceptions in his junior season,
while playing at Lincoln East, before transferring to Southeast. He
earned honorable-mention all-state football honors in 2001, and as a
sophomore he finished fourth in the 100 meters and third in the 200
meters at the state track meet. He has been clocked at 4.41 seconds
in the 40-yard dash. Birkel committed to Nebraska after attending the
Big Red Football School last summer. He chose the Huskers over Kansas
State and Iowa. Birkel is the son of Nick and Cherie Birkel and was
born on Jan. 30, 1985.
Titus
Brothers
Defensive Back...5-11...190...Converse, Texas (Judson)
Titus Brothers is one of six Texans in NU's 2003 recruiting class and
is among four signees who are slated to play in the Husker secondary.
Brothers played a key role in Judson High's 14-1 record and Class 5A
state championship (Texas' largest class). Brothers intercepted two
passes, had 18 pass breakups and recorded more than 30 tackles during
Judson's title run. He scored two touchdowns during his senior season,
one via a fumble return and one on an interception return. Judson capped
their state title with a victory in front of a crowd of more than 21,000
at San Antonio's Alamodome. Brothers has great speed, having covered
100 meters in 10.3 seconds. In addition to his impressive 100-meter
time, Brothers has covered 200 meters in 21 seconds and plans to run
track at Nebraska. Brothers earned second-team all-district honors as
a senior for Coach Jim Rackley. Brothers was a three-year letterman
for Judson High and also started at cornerback as a junior and saw limited
time at running back as a sophomore and also returned kickoffs. He is
listed as the No. 54 cornerback prospect in the nation according to
Rivals.com, while TheInsiders.com ranks him 84th at his position. Brothers
is listed as the No. 99 overall prospect in the Southwest Region by
SuperPrep and was a preseason All-Midlands Region selection by PrepStar.
He is the 68th-ranked player on the CNNSI.com/TheInsiders.com Big 12
Hot 100 list. Brothers has racked up honors on the track for Judson
High School. As a junior, he was the district and regional champion
in both the 100 and 200 meters and was part of the school's district
championship 4x100 meter relay team. He finished fifth in the state
in the 100 meters and placed seventh in the 200, while the relay team
also qualified for the state meet. Brothers chose Nebraska over TCU
and Arkansas, while he also turned down an offer to run track at Texas
A&M. Brothers is one of five Judson players to sign national letters
of intent. He is the son of Sharon and Morris Brothers and was born
on June 5, 1985. Titus has a twin brother, Tory, and one other brother,
Morris, Jr. (20).
Why
he chose Nebraska:
"Nebraska
offered me an excellent combination of great football and track programs.
I was very impressed with the university and the opportunity to play
in the Big 12."
Brett
Byford
Offensive Line...6-4...290...Hartselle, Ala. (Hartselle)
Brett Byford is regarded as one of the nation's top offensive line prospects.
He helped Hartselle to an 11-3 record and an appearance in the semifinals
of the Alabama Class 5-A (second-largest) state playoffs. Byford finished
his senior season with an average of seven pancakes per game and had
a season-high 15 in one game for Coach Mike Smith's team. He was a first-team
all-state selection by the Alabama Sportswriters Association and was
named to the Birmingham News' Super All-State first team. He was also
a first-team all-region and all-area pick. As a junior, Byford played
tackle and averaged more than five pancakes per game to help Hartselle
to a 9-2 record and a state playoff appearance. He is listed as the
18th-best offensive guard prospect in the nation according to Rivals.com
and the No. 59 overall offensive line prospect by TheInsiders.com. SuperPrep
regards Byford as the No. 10 overall prospect in the state of Alabama,
while Tom Lemming tabs him as the No. 12 prospect nationally among guards
and centers. He was a PrepStar All-Southeast region selection. In addition
to Nebraska, Byford also took visits to South Carolina, Georgia Tech
and Clemson and according to his father, also received offers from Oklahoma,
Oklahoma State and Alabama to name a few. He is Nebraska's first scholarship
recruit from the state of Alabama since Dwayne Harris (Bessemer, Ala.)
signed with the Huskers in the spring of 1991. Byford is playing basketball
as a senior and was a member of Hartselle's baseball team as a freshman.
Off the field, Byford serves as the president of Hartselle's student
council and is the senior class secretary and treasurer of the school's
Fellowship of Christian Athletes group. Byford has also volunteered
his time in a reading program for local elementary students and visit
area nursing homes, while remaining active in his church. Brett, who
was born on Aug. 9, 1984, is the son of Joe and Cathy Byford and has
one brother, Jeff (24).
Why
he chose Nebraska:
"Brett
is very excited to be a part of the tradition of Nebraska football,"
Joe Byford said. "We believe that is where God led him to be, and personally
I would have been disappointed if he went anywhere else."
Steve
Craver
Free Safety...6-2...195...Hurst, Texas (L.D. Bell)
The younger brother of former Husker All-American Keyuo Craver (1997-2000),
Steve Craver is one of six Texans in Nebraska's 2003 recruiting class.
Craver is a hard-hitting defender who was a versatile player for L.D.
Bell High School. From his defensive back position, Craver had 45 unassisted
tackles and 25 assists, while doubling as a quarterback for Coach Ross
Dodson. Craver rushed for 323 yards from the quarterback position and
also threw for more than 300 yards to earn first-team all-district honors
as a senior. Bell finished the season with a 7-5 record and lost in
the first round of the Class 5-A state playoffs. Craver missed most
of his junior season at Bell with an injury and played quarterback in
his sophomore season at Harleton High School, before transferring to
Bell in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. The Dallas Morning News ranked him
as the No. 25 overall prospect in the metro area and the 75th-best prospect
statewide. Craver was a PrepStar All-American and All-Midlands Region
pick, while SuperPrep ranked him as the No. 42 overall prospect in the
state of Texas. He is ranked as the No. 21 safety in the nation by TheInsiders.com,
while Rivals.com lists him as the 35th-best defensive back in the nation.
He is the 47th-ranked player on the CNNSI.com/TheInsiders.com Big 12
Hot 100. Despite sitting out most of 2001 Craver was widely recruited
and committed to the Huskers in the summer of 2002. Before announcing
his intentions to attend Nebraska, Craver also received offers from
Colorado, Oklahoma and West Virginia, but only visited Nebraska. Craver
plans to run track this spring at Bell and also participates in the
school's One-Act Play. Steve was born on April 6, 1984, and is the son
of Steve, Sr. and Kathy Craver. In addition to Keyuo, who just completed
his rookie season with the New Orleans Saints, Steve has two other brothers,
Damon Moore (27) and Travis Craver (20).
Why
he chose Nebraska:
"I like
to win and I can't lose by coming to Nebraska. Keyuo told me how well
he was treated and how great of an experience he had there. I like the
family environment up there. I don't feel any pressure following Keyuo,
but I am looking forward to keeping the family name going at Nebraska."
Joe
Dailey
Quarterback...6-1...200...Jersey City, N.J. (St. Peter's Prep)
One of the nation's top run-pass quarterbacks, Joe Dailey is the only
signal caller in Nebraska's 2003 recruiting class. Dailey is one of
two Husker signees who hail from the state of New Jersey, joining junior
college defensive end Wali Muhammad. Dailey is Nebraska's first high
school scholarship recruit from New Jersey since current starting quarterback
Jammal Lord inked with the Huskers in the spring of 1999. Dailey completed
better than 50 percent of his passes as a senior, connecting on 74-of-136
attempts. He threw for 1,378 yards and 19 touchdowns and added 783 rushing
yards, 13 touchdowns and seven two-point conversions on the ground.
Dailey's leadership on offense helped St. Peter's Prep, coached by Rich
Hansen, to a 10-1 record and an appearance in the state semifinals.
Dailey also posted big numbers as a junior, passing for better than
1,100 yards and 17 touchdowns, while rushing for an additional 700 yards.
Dailey led St. Peter's Prep to a 36-6 record and four HCIAA titles as
the starting quarterback. He set school records for most touchdown passes,
most touchdown runs, passing attempts, passing completions and rushing
yards by a quarterback. Dailey earned first-team all-area and all-county
honors and was a first-team all-state Parochial school selection. He
was named to the New Jersey Super 100 Team and selected to the MSG All-Heisman
Team. Dailey was the Hudson Reporter Player of the Year. Dailey is ranked
as the No. 13 dual-threat quarterback in the nation by Rivals.com, while
TheInsiders.com lists him as the No. 38 overall quarterback in the country.
He is listed as the No. 19 overall prospect in the state of New Jersey
by SuperPrep magazine, while he was a All-East Region selection by PrepStar.
Dailey chose Nebraska over Syracuse and also received scholarship offers
from Rutgers, Virginia and Virginia Tech. He is the son of Doreen Dailey
and was born on Nov. 19, 1983.
Donald
DeFrand
Cornerback...6-2...180...Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Dodge City CC/Stranahan
High School)
Defensive back Donald DeFrand is one of three junior college players
in Nebraska's 2003 recruiting class. DeFrand comes to Nebraska from
Dodge City Community College and was one of the nation's most coveted
junior college recruits. DeFrand sat out the 2002 season at Dodge City
because of a hip injury and will have three seasons of eligibility at
Nebraska. In his only season of action at Dodge City in 2001, DeFrand
started at cornerback and recorded 24 tackles, three interceptions and
17 pass breakups. He returned one of the interceptions for a touchdown.
He also returned seven kickoffs for 335 yards (47.8 ypr), including
two touchdown returns of 89 and 90 yards. A preseason first-team All-American,
he earned second-team juco postseason All-America honors in 2001. DeFrand
was regarded as one of the nation's top juco cornerbacks according to
Rivals.com and is listed as the 14th-ranked junior college cornerback
according to TheInsiders.com. SuperPrep lists him as the No. 100 overall
junior college recruit. DeFrand is a native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.,
where he attended Stranahan High School, which played in the state's
second-largest class (5A). DeFrand was a three-year starter at cornerback
for Stranahan and started at wide receiver as a junior and quarterback
as a senior in 2000. He earned first-team all-state honors as a cornerback
in his senior season. DeFrand was also a standout on the track in high
school. He won the 100 and 200 meter dashes at the state track meet
as a senior and was also a member of the school's gold medal 4x100 meter
relay team. He posted the state's best time in the 100 meters in 2001
with a time of 10.3 seconds. He qualified for the national meet in the
Bahamas in both the 100 meters (placed fourth) and as a member of the
4x100 relay team, which won the gold medal in a time of 40.5 seconds.
Like Titus Brothers, DeFrand intends to run track for the Huskers. In
addition to Nebraska, DeFrand took visits to Tennessee, Kansas State
and Texas Tech and also considered Florida State. The son of Jinette
Royer and Dard DeFrand, Donald was born on Feb. 4, 1982. He has two
brothers and three sisters.
Why
he chose Nebraska:
"First
of all, I loved the environment at Nebraska. I loved the fans and really
got along well with the players. In fact, I've been in close contact
with the Bullocks twins ever since I visited. I love the tradition and
I feel like I can come in and play immediately."
Darren
DeLone
Offensive Line...6-5...320...Pomona, Calif. (Mount San Antonio (Calif.)
CC/Garey High School)
Darren DeLone is one of three junior college recruits in this year's
recruiting class and one of four offensive linemen signed by the Huskers.
DeLone is the first junior college offensive line scholarship recruit
for Nebraska since at least 1973. The 6-5, 320-pound DeLone comes to
Nebraska after two seasons at Mount San Antonio Community College in
Walnut, Calif. He will be a junior in eligibility at Nebraska this fall.
He was a two-year starter for Coach Bill Fisk. The Mounties finished
the 2002 season with a 4-6 record and DeLone started at offensive tackle
and graded out at better than 80 percent every game. He started the
2001 season at defensive tackle, and moved to offense at the coaching
staff's request after injuries hit the offensive line. DeLone attended
Garey High School in Pomona, Calif., where he started on both sides
of the ball in his career. He primarily played tight end and defensive
end, but also served as a rush linebacker and a goal-line fullback.
He recorded 88 tackles, with two interceptions for touchdowns as a senior
to earn first-team all-league honors on defense. On offense, DeLone
scored another eight touchdowns. He also played basketball in high school,
starting at center all four years. He was a second-team all-league pick
as a senior. A blocked shot specialist, he set the school season record
for blocks, including 10 in one game, also a Garey High record. He was
active in speech in high school and intends to major in communications
at UNL. DeLone is ranked as the No. 13 junior college offensive line
prospect in the nation by TheInsiders.com and Rivals.com lists him as
a three-star prospect. SuperPrep magazine tabs DeLone as the No. 66
junior college recruit in the nation, regardless of position, while
PrepStar ranks him as one of the nation's top 125 juco prospects. DeLone
also received scholarship offers from Arizona State and Mississippi
State, but only visited Nebraska and committed shortly after his December
visit to Lincoln. DeLone was born on Jan. 22, 1982, and is the son of
Alex and Dorothy DeLone. He has two older brothers and three older sisters.
Why
he chose Nebraska:
"I picked
Nebraska because I'll be coming into a great family atmosphere, which
is important because I'll be a long way away from my family. Everyone
at Nebraska treated me great and their communication program is unbelievable.
No other school has a communications program like Nebraska."
David
Dyches
Kicker...6-1...185...Spring, Texas (Westfield)
David Dyches (pronounced dikes) is one of six Texans in Nebraska's 2003
recruiting class and the Huskers' first scholarship place-kicking recruit
in three seasons. Dyches was the final piece in Nebraska's 2003 class,
signing a letter of intent with the Huskers on Thursday. Dyches was
one of the nation's most highly recruited kickers after a standout career
at Westfield High School in Houston. Dyches made 31-of-35 extra-point
attempts as a senior and connected on four field goals, including a
long of 44 yards. Dyches boasts an extremely strong leg and booted 27
of his kickoffs for touchbacks last season. As a junior, Dyches connected
on 11 of 16 field goals and made 52 of his 55 extra-point tries. Dyches
was ranked as the nation's No. 12 kicker according to Rivals.com, while
PrepStar named him a All-Midlands Region selection. Dyches is one of
three Husker recruits who played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl
in San Antonio in early January. He had a strong performance in the
game, including a 42-yard field goal. Dyches chose Nebraska over Ohio
State. His full name is David Dyches III, and he is the son of Dave
and Sandra Dyches. He was born on Oct. 16, 1984.
Tierre
Green
Athlete...6-1...195...Omaha, Neb. (Benson)
Omaha Benson product Tierre (pronounced Tee-air) Green is one of five
in-state recruits in Nebraska's 2003 recruiting class. A superb athlete,
Green could play nearly any skill position for the Huskers. Green earned
first-team Class A all-state honors from the Omaha World-Herald after
a senior season in which he totaled 63 tackles, including 50 solo stops.
He returned one interception for a touchdown and also forced a pair
of fumbles. The World-Herald also picked him as a first-team All-Metro
selection as a defensive back. On offense, Green played running back
for Benson and Coach Lonnie Tapp and rushed 627 yards and averaged nearly
six yards per carry, while scoring eight touchdowns on the ground. Green
earned postseason recognition despite Benson finishing the 2002 campaign
with just one victory in nine games. Green was a PrepStar All-Midlands
Region selection as a defensive back. Green is the cousin of former
Husker running back Ahman Green, now a member of the NFL's Green Bay
Packers. Green's uncle, Michael, also played for Nebraska, lettering
in 1968 and 1969. In addition to Nebraska, Green received a scholarship
offer from Iowa State and attracted strong interest from San Jose State.
Tierre is the son of Lisa Conway and was born on Feb. 4, 1985.
Corey
McKeon
Linebacker...6-2...215...Naperville, Ill. (North)
Corey McKeon (pronounced Mc-CUE-in) is one of two linebacker prospects
in Nebraska's 2003 class. McKeon starred at Naperville North High School,
where he made 60 tackles and intercepted six passes as a safety last
season. McKeon returned two of the interceptions for touchdowns, including
a 98-yarder. The versatile McKeon also played a key role on offense
as a wide receiver and running back, totaling about 1,900 all-purpose
yards and 22 touchdowns. He had 750 yards as a wideout and more than
900 yards rushing. Naperville North finished the 2002 season with a
9-2 record in Illinois' largest class. In all, McKeon played five different
positions for North in his three seasons. He earned first-team all-state
honors from the IHSA, the Illinois High School Coaches Association,
and the Illinois Gazette. He was a two-time all-conference and all-area
pick. McKeon played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in early January
in San Antonio. McKeon, who has been clocked in the 40-yard dash at
4.45 seconds, was ranked by recruiting analyst Tom Lemming as the nation's
No. 9 prospect at inside linebacker. He is listed as the No. 19 safety
in the nation by Rivals.com, which also named him the Illinois Defensive
Player of the Year. TheInsiders.com lists him as the nation's No. 55
linebacker. McKeon was a All-Midwest Region pick by PrepStar, while
SuperPrep ranks him as the No. 46 overall prospect in its six-state
Midwest region. He is Nebraska's first scholarship signee from the Illinois
prep ranks since linebacker Carlos Polk (Rockford, Ill.) inked with
Nebraska in the spring of 1996. McKeon chose Nebraska after also visiting
Purdue and Miami of Ohio. He also considered South Carolina, Wisconsin
and Illinois. McKeon also plays basketball for Naperville North, who
owns an 18-3 record. He averages 21 points, eight rebounds and seven
assists from his small-forward position. He is a three-year starter
on the hardwood and earned all-area honors as a junior. Corey is the
son of Larry and Sandy McKeon, and has a strong football background
in his family. Larry, who is the head coach at Naperville North, played
at Illinois, while three of his uncles played Division I football. Corey
was born on Aug. 29, 1984 and has a sister, Molly (20).
Why
he chose Nebraska:
"I chose
the University of Nebraska because it is a great program with a strong
winning tradition. It is an excellent school and an excellent football
school as well. I like the fan base, the coaches and I like the fact
that there is new blood in the coaching staff this year."
Josh
Mueller
Tight End...6-6...250...Columbus, Neb. (Lakeview)
Josh Mueller is one of five in-state recruits in the 2003 signing class
and is regarded as one of the nation's premier tight end prospects.
Mueller missed most of his senior season at Columbus Lakeview High School
with shoulder and knee injuries. After his injuries, Mueller moved to
wide receiver for the remainder of the season and finished the year
with 10 receptions. As a junior, Mueller played running back for Lakeview
and finished the season with 851 yards and also caught four passes on
his way to honorable-mention all-state honors. Mueller started at tight
end for the Vikings as a sophomore and lettered for four years. Mueller
is regarded as the nation's No. 9 tight end prospect by TheInsiders.com,
while Rivals.com lists him as the 10th-best tight end recruit in the
country. Recruiting analyst Tom Lemming ranks him as the No. 14 tight
end. Mueller was an All-America selection and All-Midlands region pick
by PrepStar, while SuperPrep ranks him as the No. 35 overall recruit
in the Midlands Region. He is the No. 34 player on CNNSI.com/TheInsiders.com's
Big 12 Hot 100 list. Mueller was the second commitment in Nebraska's
2003 class, making his pledge to the Huskers in the fall of 2001. Mueller
attended Big Red Football School each of the last three seasons. He
said his choice to attend Nebraska was an easy decision. "I'm impressed
by the coaching staff. They've been a top-10 team every year except
this past season, and I know they'll be right back up there." Mueller
has been a multi-sport talent during his career at Lakeview. In addition
to his football accomplishments, Mueller lettered for three seasons
in basketball, but is not playing basketball this season because of
shoulder surgery. He was a part of Lakeview's Class C-1 state championship
team during his sophomore year and helped the school to a state runner-up
finish last year. He has also earned two letters in track. Josh is a
member of the National Honor Society and is a member of the Columbus
Youth Council. Mueller is the son of Con and Marla (Lichty) Mueller.
Both of his parents graduated from Nebraska, and his mother played volleyball
for the Huskers, earning three letters from 1978 to 1980. Mueller was
born on Aug. 28, 1984, and has a sister, Janae (16) and a brother, Kale
(9).
Wali
Muhammad
Rush End...6-2...245...Bloomfield, N.J. (Coffeyville (Kan.) CC/Bloomfield)
One of three junior college recruits in this year's class, Wali (Wall-EE)
Muhammad is expected to play rush end for the Huskers. A New Jersey
native, Muhammad comes to Nebraska from Coffeyville Community College
and he will have three years of eligibility with the Huskers. Muhammad
was a first-team All-Jayhawk Conference player last year for Coffeyville,
which finished the year with a 9-3 record under coach Jeff Leiker. He
was a first-team juco All-America pick by Gridwire and was an honorable-mention
All-America pick in the National Junior College Athletic Association.
Muhammad had 118 tackles from his rush end position, with 37 of those
for losses. He was in on a school-record 22 sacks during the 2002 season
and forced two fumbles. Muhammad has great speed to go along with his
245-pound frame. SuperPrep ranks him as the nation's 27th-best overall
junior college recruit. He is listed as a three-star prospect by Rivals.com,
while TheInsiders.com ranks him as the No. 14 juco prospect at his position
and PrepStar ranks him as one of the nation's top 125 juco prospects.
Muhammad played high school football at Bloomfield High, where he was
a second-team all-state selection as a senior with 79 tackles and 13
tackles for loss. Bloomfield finished as the top team in the county
in Muhammad's senior season. He was a two-time all-area pick and a three-year
starter at outside linebacker. Muhammad picked the Huskers over Temple,
Indiana and Kansas and made a visit to Colorado State, but chose Nebraska
shortly after his December visit. Muhammad is Nebraska's first signee
in nine years from Coffeyville CC, the school that sent 1983 Heisman
winner Mike Rozier to Nebraska in 1981. Coffeyville also produced former
Husker cornerback Bruce Pickens (1988 to 1990), who was a two-time All-Big
Eight pick and was the No. 3 overall selection in the 1991 NFL Draft.
Muhammad was born on April 17, 1983 and is the son of Wali Muhammad,
Sr., and Marilyn Tynes. He has two brothers and one sister. His older
brother, Robert Tynes, played football at Arizona State in 1997.
Why
he chose Nebraska:
"I picked
Nebraska because I love the people. I wanted to go to a good program
and be a part of the turnaround from last season. I was very impressed
with Coach Pelini, Coach Gill and Coach Jamrog."
Chris
Patrick
Rush End...6-6...245...Ithaca, Mich. (Ithaca)
Chris Patrick is one of three players in Nebraska's 2003 recruiting
class who are projected to play rush end for the Huskers. Patrick is
just the second player from the state of Michigan since 1974 to sign
a letter of intent with Nebraska. Patrick was the second-leading tackler
for Ithaca High as a senior, making 102 stops. He added eight sacks
and forced four fumbles and had two blocked kicks and six quarterback
hurries. Ithaca finished 7-3 team and captured its conference championship
for the third straight season and captured the school's first-ever district
title in 2002 under Head Coach Jim Ahearn. Patrick also starred for
Ithaca at offensive tackle and graded out at better than 80 percent.
Patrick was named to the Detroit News Dream Team and the Saginaw News
Dream Team. He also earned first-team all-state honors from the Associated
Press and was the Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun's area Defensive Player of
the Year for his efforts. As a junior, Patrick finished the season with
95 tackles and had 20 tackles for loss, including eight sacks, for an
11-1 Ithaca squad. Patrick earned honorable-mention all-state honors
for his play as a junior. He also had five receptions for 110 yards
and two touchdowns as a tight end in 2001. Patrick is ranked as the
nation's No. 13 prospect at defensive end according to Rivals.com, while
TheInsiders.com ranks him 47th in the country at his position. He was
a PrepStar All-American and All-Midwest Region selection, while SuperPrep
ranks him as the No. 45 overall prospect in the Midwest Region. The
Lansing State Journal ranked him as the No. 9 overall prospect in Michigan,
while the Detroit Free Press listed him as the state's No. 4 player.
Patrick is also a three-year starter at center for Ithaca's basketball
team. He is currently averaging 11.8 points and 13 rebounds for Ithaca's
10-5 team. Patrick chose Nebraska over Purdue and also received scholarship
offers from Wisconsin and Oregon. Patrick's older brother, Joe, started
eight games as a sophomore offensive lineman at Michigan State in 2002,
before an injury ended his season. The son of Philip and Marie Patrick,
Chris has two sisters, Tiffany (21) and Natasha (9). Chris was born
on Aug. 22, 1984.
Why
he chose Nebraska:
Patrick
said his uncles John and Philip DeMers both live in Winner, S.D., and
are "huge" Nebraska fans. "Coach Jamrog, Coach Solich and Coach Young
were very sincere. I loved the Nebraska weight room and facilities and
I liked the fact that the dean of the law school came to meet with me
personally. Nebraska football has a tradition of great rush ends and
I've followed the careers of Chris Kelsay, Grant Wistrom and Kyle Vanden
Bosch, and I believe that Nebraska can develop me into a great player."
Patrick intends to major in criminal justice at Nebraska.
J.B.
Phillips
TE...6-3...250...Colleyville, Texas (Colleyville Heritage)
J.B. Phillips is one of six Texans in the 2003 signing class and is
one of two talented tight ends to join the Husker program. Phillips
is a physical player, but has good speed, having been clocked in the
40-yard dash in less than 4.7 seconds. Phillips caught about 20 passes
in 2002 for Colleyville Heritage High School, which featured a run-based
offense. Phillips also was dominant as a blocker, helping his team to
a 9-2 record and state playoff appearance in the Texas 5A ranks, the
state's largest classification. Phillips started on both sides of the
ball for Coach Chris Cunningham last fall, lining up at defensive end,
and recorded about eight sacks. Phillips earned honorable-mention 5A
all-state honors from the Texas Sportswriters Association as a tight
end. He was a first-team all-district pick on both sides of the ball
as a senior and earned first-team Northeast Tarrant County honors and
second-team all-area honors as a tight end. The Dallas Morning News
ranked him as the No. 40 player on its list of top 100 area players,
while Rivals.com lists him as the No. 40 tight end prospect in the nation.
As a junior, Phillips played offensive guard and defensive end and earned
all-district honors for his play on offense, helping his team to a 10-2
record and a state playoff appearance. Phillips lettered in track as
a junior and has also earned a letter in power-lifting. Phillips is
a member of the school's National Honor Society and is active in the
Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is a standout in the classroom,
boasting a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average. Phillips chose Nebraska
over Big 12 schools Kansas State and Oklahoma State, the only other
schools he visited.
Why
he chose Nebraska:
"When
it came down to making a decision, I just felt the most comfortable
at Nebraska. I am looking forward to being a part of everything Nebraska
has to offer, both athletically and academically." Phillips' full name
is James Brian Phillips, II. The son of Jim and Kyle Phillips, J.B.
was born on May, 23, 1985, and has three older sisters, Julie, Sara
and Amy.
Bo
Ruud
Linebacker...6-3...210...Lincoln, Neb. (Southeast)
Bo Ruud comes to Nebraska from Lincoln Southeast High School, a prep
power that boasts three players in the Huskers' 2003 signing class.
Ruud is also one of two signees, along with Steve Craver, who follow
their older brothers to the Lincoln campus. Bo's older brother, Barrett,
will be a junior this fall and was Nebraska's starter at Mike linebacker
in 2002. Bo Ruud was the Huskers' earliest ever commitment, making his
intentions to attend Nebraska known in June of 2001, some 20 months
before 2003 letter of intent signing day. Ruud had a standout high school
career at Southeast, helping the Knights to two Class A state championships
in the past three seasons. Ruud was a two-way star for the Knights,
playing running back and linebacker. He rushed for 1,385 yards and 15
touchdowns and also caught four passes for 125 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Ruud played a key role in Southeast's run to the Class A state title,
scoring four touchdowns in a semifinal win over Kearney and scoring
the Knights' only TD in a 7-6 title game victory over Millard North.
Ruud was used primarily on offense during Southeast's 12-1 season, but
he still made 70 total tackles as a senior, including 51 solo stops.
Ruud was named the honorary captain of the Lincoln Journal Star's Super
State team and was a first-team pick as a running back. The Omaha World-Herald
recognized his defensive ability, selecting him to its All-Nebraska
team as a linebacker and making him the honorary captain on the defense.
Ruud was a second-team all-state pick by both the Omaha and Lincoln
papers as a junior, when he made 49 tackles on defense and rushed for
nearly 450 yards and scored six touchdowns as a running back. Ruud also
started for the Knights as a sophomore. He is listed as the nation's
21st-best prospect at inside linebacker by recruiting analyst Tom Lemming,
while Rivals.com lists him as the No. 10 outside linebacker. SuperPrep
ranks Ruud as the No. 26 overall prospect in the 11-state Midlands Region
and the nation's 29th-best linebacker, while PrepStar tabbed him as
an All-American. He is the 73rd-ranked player on the CNNSI.com/TheInsiders.com
Big 12 Hot 100 list. In addition to his outstanding football honors,
Ruud also plays for Southeast's basketball team, which currently ranks
first in Class A. He was an honorable-mention all-state pick on the
hardwood as a junior. In addition to Barrett, Ruud's father, Tom, also
played linebacker for the Huskers (1972-73-74), and earned All-Big Eight
honors before playing five seasons professionally with the Bills and
Bengals. Bo is the son of Tom and Jaime Ruud and was born on Sept. 2,
1984.
Ryan
Schuler
Offensive Tackle...6-7...270...Sioux Falls, S.D. (Washington)
Ryan Schuler was one of the final pieces in Nebraska's 2003 recruiting
class, committing to the Huskers about a week before signing day. Schuler
is regarded as one of the nation's top offensive line prospects and
is one of four players in this year's class who is slated to begin their
Husker career as offensive lineman. Schuler was a dominant offensive
lineman at Sioux Falls Washington High and helped his team to an 11-2
record and a state runner-up finish in South Dakota's largest class
(Class 11AA). Schuler was named the South Dakota Gatorade Player of
the Year and was a first-team all-state Class 11AA pick by the Sioux
Falls Argus Leader. That paper also selected him to its Elite 45 team,
which recognizes the state's top prep players regardless of class. Schuler
is an extremely gifted athlete for his size, running the 40-yard dash
in less than five seconds and bench presses nearly 400 pounds and has
a 24-inch vertical jump. Schuler is listed as the nation's seventh-best
offensive tackle by recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, while Rivals.com
recognizes him as the No. 14 offensive tackle prospect in the nation.
He was a PrepStar All-America and All-Midlands Region pick and was ranked
as the No. 26 offensive tackle in the country by TheInsiders.com. Schuler
was selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio
in early January, but was unable to play because of illness. Schuler
chose to attend Nebraska after originally committing to Oklahoma last
summer. He also considered Colorado and Iowa. Schuler attended Big Red
Football School last summer. Schuler is just the second Husker scholarship
recruit from the state of South Dakota since 1985, joining Mark Vedral
who signed with the Huskers in the spring of 1997. Schuler also excels
in the classroom, boasting a 3.65 grade-point average. Ryan is the son
of Nancy Schuler and was born on Dec. 19, 1984.
Brandon
Teamer
Defensive Tackle...6-5...265...Omaha, Neb. (Central)
Brandon Teamer is the latest in a long line of Omaha Central products
to join the Nebraska football program. Central has produced several
former Husker greats, including current Green Bay running back Ahman
Green. Teamer will join four other former Central players--DeAntae Grixby,
David Horne, Mark LeFlore and Lornell McPherson on the Nebraska roster
in 2003. Teamer helped Central to a 6-4 record and an appearance in
the Class A playoffs last season, while starting at defensive tackle
and offensive guard for Coach Joe McMenamin's Eagles. Teamer finished
his senior season with an average of better than seven stops per game
and had led the Eagle defense in sacks. Teamer's play at offensive guard
helped pace an offense that topped 25 points six times in 10 contests
in 2002. Despite checking in at 270 pounds, Teamer boasts outstanding
speed, covering the 40-yard dash in about 4.8 seconds and has a vertical
jump of better than 30 inches. Teamer was a first-team All-Nebraska
selection by the Omaha World-Herald and was a member of the Lincoln
Journal Star's Super-State squad. Teamer earned honorable-mention all-state
honors as a junior at Central, when he averaged better than eight tackles
per game. Teamer was an All-American according to PrepStar, while SuperPrep
Magazine ranks him as the No. 7 overall prospect in the Midlands Region.
Teamer is listed as the nation's No. 19 defensive tackle by Rivals.com,
while TheInsiders.com places him 29th and he is the 38th-ranked player
on the CNNSI.com/TheInsiders.com Big 12 Hot 100 list. Teamer was one
of the first players to commit to Nebraska, announcing his intentions
in June of 2002. Teamer is the son of Mary Teamer and was born on June
22, 1985.
Adrain
Turner
Defensive Back...5-10...185...Terrell, Texas (Terrell)
Adrain Turner is one of four defensive backs in Nebraska's 2003 class
of signees and one of six players from the state of Texas. The five
signees from Texas represent Nebraska's biggest recruiting haul in the
Lone Star State since signing seven Texas high school prospects in 1989.
Turner spent most of his time during his senior season playing running
back for Terrell High School. He ran for 1,500 yards to lead Terrell
to the Class 4-A playoffs and a 9-2 overall record. Turner, who has
been clocked in the 40-yard dash in less than 4.4 seconds, focused on
defense during his junior season at Terrell. He finished the 2001 campaign
with more than 140 tackles and picked off four passes. Turner is ranked
as the No. 71 overall prospect in the state of Texas by SuperPrep magazine,
while TheInsiders.com ranks him as the nation's No. 27 prospect at safety.
Turner chose Nebraska over Arkansas and TCU, Arkansas State and Louisiana
Tech. Turner is the son of Carl Turner. He was born on Oct. 12, 1984.