Pelini: Recruiting Class Designed to Win a National Championship

Bo Pelini's annual Meet the Press on Recruiting Day was about to end Wednesday at Memorial Stadium when one reporter asked Nebraska's head football coach to rank the 2010 recruiting class.   "Talk to me in a few years after we've had a chance to work with them and get them developed," Pelini said before deciding to be as frank as possible.   "I obviously recruited the class," he said. "I came here to win a national championship and win championships. I recruited a class that I fully believe will help us get that accomplished."   Earlier, Pelini said his coaches and staff were "real excited" about the talent they lured to Lincoln, regardless of how any recruiting service might rate the class.   "It played out exactly how I knew it was going to play out today. There were no surprises," Pelini said. "We got most of the guys we went after. I thought we filled some needs. I think we've provided depth in our program."   Pelini said Wednesday was not an end, but a beginning.   "I've said this before, and I'll say it again: Everybody thinks that recruiting ends today, but to me it just starts because now our job is to develop the young men that came to play in this football program and make them become the best players they can be," he said.   "I believe that most people lose sight of that fact," Pelini added. "Now it's our job to take these young men who have high goals and high expectations and help them, enable them, to make those dreams come true. I believe that is where this staff is at its best."   Pelini thanked all of his coaches for their dedication road work to produce a top-notch recruiting effort. He had particular praise for Ted Gilmore, NU's receivers coach and recruiting coordinator. "He really did a nice job of making this go," Pelini said.   Asked if recruits had a different perception of Nebraska's program after Nebraska led the nation last season in scoring defense, Pelini said it's more about "where the program is and where it's headed" than what the defense did.   "It's obvious that we already have a few good men and a nice group of kids committed for next year," Pelini said. "People are starting to take notice of what we're doing. I always say, the best recruiting tool is to win. We're starting to do that. We're right at that point. We're right at that verge of doing some great things in the program. That helps get people's attention. But now we have to take it to that next level."

Scholarship Recruits

Free video highlights of scholarship athletes (available by clicking the player's name below)

*Enrolled at Nebraska in January; **Indicates mid-year signee

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown (School)
Walker Ashburn Video Included in Link	DE	6-3	245	Kenner, La. (John Curtis HS)
Kenny Bell Video Included in Link	WR	6-2	175	Boulder, Colo. (Fariview HS)
Brion Carnes Video Included in Link	QB	6-1	180	Bradenton, Fla. (Manatee HS)
Corey Cooper Video Included in Link	DB	6-2	200	Maywood, Ill. (Proviso East HS)
Jake Cotton Video Included in Link	DL	6-7	265	Lincoln, Neb. (Southeast HS)
Lavonte David Video Included in Link	LB	6-0	215	Miami, Fla. (Northwestern HS/Fort Scott (Kan. CC)
Quincy Enunwa Video Included in Link	WR	6-2	200	Moreno, Calif. (Rancho Verde HS)
Ciante Evans Video Included in Link	DB	6-0	170	Arlington, Texas (Juan Seguin HS)
Tyler Evans Video Included in Link	WR	6-1	180	Waverly, Neb. (Waverly HS)
Jay Guy* Video Included in Link	DT	6-1	300	Houston, Texas (Eisenhower HS)
Jermarcus Hardrick** Video Included in Link	OL	6-7	335	Batesville, Miss. (South Panola HS/Fort Scott (Kan. CC)
Chase Harper Video Included in Link	TE	6-5	250	Plugerville, Texas (Connally HS/Navarro (Texas) JC)
Braylon Heard Video Included in Link	RB	5-11	180	Youngstown, Ohio (Cardinal Mooney HS)
Harvey Jackson Video Included in Link	DB	6-1	185	Fresno, Texas (Hightower HS)
Bronson Marsh Video Included in Link	ATH	6-0	200	Omaha, Neb. (Millard South HS)
Josh Mitchell Video Included in Link	DB	5-11	165	Corona, Calif. (Eleanor Roosevelt HS)
Mike Moudy Video Included in Link	OL	6-6	295	Castle Rock, Colo. (Douglas County HS)
Tobi Okuyemi Video Included in Link	DE	6-3	250	Maple Grove, Minn. (Wayzata HS)
Andrew Rodriguez Video Included in Link	OL	6-6	300	Marquette, Neb. (Aurora HS)
Chase Rome* Video Included in Link	DL	6-3	290	Columbia, Mo. (Rock Bridge HS)
Donovan Vestal Video Included in Link	DE	6-5	240	Arlington, Texas (Bowie HS)

Walk-On Student-Athletes
(list of walk-ons updated on Feb. 3, 2010; future walk-ons will be added to the list once they have completed the admission process and can be released in compliance with NCAA rules)

 

Name

Pos.

Ht.

Wt.

Hometown (School)

Josh Bart

DB

6-1

245

Aurora, Neb. (Aurora HS)

Jason Dann PK/P 6-0 170 Richardson, Texas (Lake Highlands HS) Joey Felici CB 5-9 165 Omaha, Neb. (Millard South HS) Derek Foster DB 5-11 175 Elm Creek, Neb. (Elm Creek HS) Andy Gdowski DE 6-3 235 Grand Island, Neb. (Grand Island HS) Keegan Hughes WR 6-1 175 Roswell, Ga. (Roswell) Tyson McGill LB/FB 6-1 225 Norfolk, Neb. (Norfolk HS) JC Moore DE 6-3 240 Fremont, Neb. (Fremont HS) Mark Pelini OL 6-1 285 Youngstown, Ohio (Cardinal Mooney HS) Trevor Roach LB/RB 6-3 230 Elkhorn, Neb. (Elkhorn HS) Dillon Schrodt WR 6-2 175 Lincoln, Neb. (North Star HS) Zach Taylor RB 6-2 195 Lincoln, Neb. (Southeast HS) Jeff Uher DL/OL 6-2 270 Omaha, Neb. (Creighton Prep HS) Yusef Wade CB/RB 5-10 170 Lincoln, Neb. (North Star HS) Austin Williams DB 5-2 190 Omaha, Neb. (Burke HS)

Tyler Wullenwaber

WR

6-1

180

Utica, Neb. (Centennial HS)