Answer's some questions on LB recruits that some folks have asked on here....thus the possible addition of JUCO LB Princton Jackson (other thread)....
http://www.omaha.com/section/BIGRED03/
9:44 a.m., Friday: Assistant coach Mike Ekeler said Nebraska's been looking for more bigger-sized linebacker recruits ever since it was announced that the Huskers were moving to the Big Ten.
The search isn't all that easy, though.
That conference realignment decision was made in June, several months after the Husker coaches had already evaluated and analyzed the 2011 recruiting class. They had prospects targeted and contacted well before that announcement.
So they've sort of been playing catch-up, Ekeler said, in terms of finding a prototypical middle linebacker that would fit nicely in Nebraska's projected plans to match up against the Big Ten's bigger offenses.
Teams in the Big Ten use extra tight ends and running backs more regularly than those in the Big 12. And since the Huskers' defensive philosophy centers on matching personnel, it makes sense to add more linebackers.
But NU's just a little behind in the recruiting process for that position.
“You're getting on to some guys a little bit later,†Ekeler said at the Big Red Breakfast Friday morning. “One thing we don't want to do, is we don't want to take somebody just to take somebody. If we don't take somebody at that position this year, if our numbers don't work, then we'll use that next year.â€
Nebraska did get an oral commitment from Max Pirman, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound defensive end from Orrville, Ohio. He's the 17th known member of the 2011 class. Some recruiting services project him to make the move to linebacker at the next level.
Michael Rose, a 6-foot, 210-pounder from Kansas City, Mo., has already pledged to NU for 2012.
Expect the Huskers to go after more linebackers in the future. And that's good news for Ekeler, who joked repeatedly about the fact that he's had it easy since Lavonte David's often been the only linebacker on the field for Nebraska this year.
“You're going to see a lot more linebackers playing,†Ekeler said, “so I won't have to restructure my contract again this year to take another pay cut.â€
http://www.omaha.com/section/BIGRED03/
