Huskers Sign 21 to Letter of Intent

Lincoln -- The University of Nebraska signed 21 recruits to a letter of intent on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2000. Included in the class are 13 prep All-Americans. Six are from Nebraska, including four from Omaha. Nebraska signed four linebackers, four wide receivers and three defensive backs to replace areas hit the hardest by graduation.

The Huskers could easily be looked upon as a preseason favorite for the 2000 Big 12 and national titles, particularly when you look at the offense. Nebraska will keep nine of its 1999 starters and return offensive tackle Jason Schwab who was granted a sixth year. Included in the returnees on offense are all five skill position starters including quarterback Eric Crouch, I-back Dan Alexander, wingback Bobby Newcombe, split end Matt Davison and tight end Tracey Wistrom.

On defense, NU will have to replace two All-Americans in the secondary in Mike Brown and Ralph Brown, but returns five starters and nine players with starting experience, including linebacker Carlos Polk who will contend for national honors next year. Nebraska loses four linebackers (WLB Eric Johnson and Julius Jackson, and Sam linebackers Brian Shaw and Tony Ortiz).

The Nebraska non-conference schedule in 2000 features a matchup at Notre Dame on Sept. 9 and the league schedule includes Big 12 South foes Baylor, Texas Tech and Oklahoma.

Nebraska 200 Recruiting Class

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown	High School
Willie Amos	DB	6-2	185	Sweetwater, Texas	Sweetwater
Jake Andersen	OL	6-2	300	Littleton, Colo.	J.K. Mullen
Manaia Brown	RE	6-4	280	Salt Lake City, Utah	Granger
Terrell Butler	DB	5-11	195	Austell, Ga.	Pebblebrook
Thunder Collins*	RB	6-2	200	Los Angeles, Calif.	East LA College/Manual Arts
Ira Cooper	LB	6-2	220	Omaha, Neb.	Westside
Sandro DeAngelis	PK/P	5-9	200	Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada	St. Joseph's Collegiate (N.Y.)
Mike Erickson	OL	6-4	275	Omaha, Neb.	Papillion-LaVista
M.J. Flaum	OL	6-4	295	Westminster, Colo.	Northglenn
T.J. Hollowell	LB	6-1	215	Copperas Cove, Texas	Copperas
Lannie Hopkins	LB	6-1	195	Rowlett, Texas	Rowlett
Steve Kriewald	FB	5-11	250	Scotia, Neb.	North Loup-Scotia
DeWayne Long	WR	6-0	200	West Des Moines, Iowa	Dowling
Alvin Marshall	WR	5-11	180	Los Angeles, Calif.	Locke
Lornell McPherson	DB	5-10	175	Omaha, Neb.	Central
Ross Pilkington	WR	6-1	185	Fort Collins, Colo.	Loveland
Nick Povendo	OL	6-5	305	Keller, Texas	Keller
Jason Richenberger	LB	6-1	200	Liberty, Mo.	Liberty
Chris Septak	TE	6-4	245	Omaha, Neb.	Millard West
Benard Thomas	RE	6-4	235	East Palo Alto, Calif.	St. Francis
Ben Zajicek	WR	6-0	200	Beatrice, Neb.	Beatrice

* Junior college transfer, will enter as a sophomore

The Class Breakdown:
Total: 21
Freshmen: 20
Junior College Transfers: 1

By State: Nebraska (6) Ira Cooper (Omaha), Mike Erickson (Omaha), Steve Kriewald (Scotia), Lornell McPherson (Omaha), Chris Septak (Omaha), Ben Zajicek (Beatrice); Texas (4) Willie Amos (Sweetwater), T.J. Hollowell (Copperas Cove), Lannie Hopkins (Rowlett), Nick Povendo (Keller); Colorado (3) Jake Andersen (Littleton), M.J. Flaum (Westminster), Ross Pilkington (Fort Collins); California (3) Thunder Collins (Los Angeles), Alvin Marshall (Los Angeles), Benard Thomas (East Palo Alto); Georgia (1) Terrell Butler (Austell); Iowa (1) DeWayne Long (West Des Moines); Missouri (1) Jason Richenberger (Liberty); Utah (1) Manaia Brown (Salt Lake City); Other: Ontario, Canada (1) Sandro DeAngelis (Niagara Falls)

By Position (First Position Listed):
Offense (11)...offensive linemen (4) Jake Andersen, Mike Erickson, M.J. Flaum, Nick Povendo; wide receivers (4) DeWayne Long, Ross Pilkington, Alvin Marshall, Ben Zajicek; tight end (1) Chris Septak; running back (1) Thunder Collins; fullback (1) Steve Kriewald

Defense (9)...defensive linemen (0); rush ends (2) Manaia Brown, Benard Thomas; linebackers (4) Ira Cooper, T.J. Hollowell, Lannie Hopkins, Jason Richenberger; defensive backs (3) Willie Amos, Terrell Butler, Lornell McPherson

Kickers (1)...Sandro DeAngelis (PK/P)

All-Americans (13): Jake Andersen (PrepStar), Manaia Brown (SuperPrep), Terrell Butler (SuperPrep, PrepStar), Ira Cooper (PrepStar), Sandro DeAngelis (PrepStar), Mike Erickson (SuperPrep), M.J. Flaum (SuperPrep, PrepStar), Lannie Hopkins (SuperPrep), Lornell McPherson (PrepStar), Nick Povendo (SuperPrep, PrepStar), Jason Richenberger (SuperPrep, PrepStar), Chris Septak (SuperPrep, PrepStar), Benard Thomas (SuperPrep)