Huskers? High Energy, Good Vibes Attracting Talent

Randy York’s N-Sider

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The year before Danny Langsdorf moved to Nebraska to reconnect with Mike Riley, he was helping Eli Manning sharpen his focus and strengthen his stats with the New York Giants. Two years later, Langsdorf is a force that’s helping to recruit talented offensive weapons and yes, that includes some of the nation’s finest wide receivers.

That might seem counter intuitive to a program with deep roots in power football, but it’s a wide open opportunity for one of college football’s bluebloods to attract some of the best high school wide receivers in America.

While some programs in the Midwest may ask why, Nebraska asks why not?

“We’ve had good energy in our recruiting,” Langsdorf said, “so we’ve been able to get kids to visit our campus, and they’re more than impressed. There’s a great vibe about Nebraska, about the football program and about the school and the city we live in.

“Lincoln is an underrated place,” Langsdorf said. “There’s a lot of tradition and history here, but it was underrated even for me. I’d never been close to Lincoln or Omaha, but I’ve been nothing but impressed with the people, the community, the vibe of the Haymarket Area and the downtown Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Langsdorf: Nebraska Game Day Atmosphere Better Than Anywhere He’s Been

“The game day atmosphere here is better than anywhere I’ve ever been,” said Langsdorf (pictured above), who has coached on the West Coast and the East Coast. “When kids come here and experience Nebraska, there’s just good energy about everything. That’s why we’re trying to get kids on campus, so they can see what we have to offer. When we get kids on campus to experience what we have, it opens eyes and becomes a big selling point.”

What’s behind the magnetic attraction that appeals to nationally prominent recruits?

“Our brand is pretty broad because we’re right in the center of the country,” Langsdorf said, “so it’s easy to work the West Coast and East Coast. We’re doing a good job of spreading ourselves out, whether we’re in California or right here close to Lincoln.

“We believe every potential recruit has a chance to be a good contributor,” Langsdorf said. “If that translates to the NFL, great. Our style depends on how we want to play.”

Nebraska’s heavy emphasis on academic performance is an important part of the recruiting process. “Obviously, we have to win games but I think one piece that’s really intriguing to kids is how well we support the academic process and the life skills they need to succeed beyond football,” Langsdorf said.

All that Nebraska has to offer helped the Huskers secure one of the best group of receivers in school history in the 2016 senior class.

Jordan Westerkamp Special; Team Captain Well Respected by His Teammates

“Jordan Westerkamp (above, hauling in a tipped pass behind his back) is really special,” Langsdorf said. “He’s a team captain who’s well respected by his teammates. He’s really comfortable about his route running and ability to catch the ball and make big plays.”

Westerkamp is a very humble kid. “You don’t even know about all the records he’ll hold,” Langsdorf said. “He just comes to practice every day with great work ethic. It’s encouraging to see a kid who’s not entitled. He’s just really humble.

“This is a talented group. We have a lot of guys with experience back," Langsdorf said. "There’s great playmaking ability with Jordan, Brandon Reilly and Alonzo Moore. We have De'Mornay Pierson-El back in the fold. He had a good start to his career, then had some injury problems. Getting De’Mornay back and healthy and playing like he is, it’s exciting to see how we use him.”

Rahn's Touchdown Catch against Wyoming was the Experience of a Lifetime

The Huskers also have “some new faces we’re going to be using down the road,” Langsdorf said, referencing JD Spielman, Bryan Reimers and Gabe Rahn (No. 81 above). A walk-on, Rahn caught a 35-yard touchdown pass against Wyoming. "It was awesome to see Gabe get in there and catch a touchdown pass," Westerkamp said. "It's awesome when guys work their tails off and get an opportunity to make a big play. As an older guy, it's just great to see that."

Langsdorf likes the depth his receivers are developing. "Each one can bring something a little different," he said. "We have guys with speed. Some are better route runners. Some are better deep ball catchers. Some are more suited for intermediate stuff. We have a lot of flexibility.”

Langsdorf describes Pierson-El as an exciting player, especially in the return game. “He’s fun to watch and really has high hopes for his career,” Langsdorf said. He’s really worked hard in rehab, has a great attitude and bounced back. He looks healthy and has a burning desire to play.

“Having him back in the fold has been fun, and I love that he’s been able to bounce back,” Langsdorf said. “Some kids are unable to do that. It’s hard to come back, but he’s ahead of schedule and that speaks to his character and work ethic. We’re excited to have him. He’s done everything he can to get ahead. With Alonzo, we have depth there, so we don’t have to overload and push him too fast. We can ease him in there.

“We’re trying to upgrade as much as we can,” Langsdorf said. “If you look at what we’re doing and who we have to do it with, we’re going to continue to recruit the very best. We want to blossom and have a lot of contributors who can burst onto the scene. We’ve done a good job recruiting and have developed depth. We want to do that with every position and continue to build and recruit the high-caliber players with high-caliber character. If we can do that, we’ll have a really strong and talented team.”

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