Lincoln Atmosphere Key for Westerkamp

Jordan Westerkamp committed to Nebraska on May 6, before Nebraska had even played a game of the 2011 season.

His first trip to Lincoln sold the wide receiver right away.

“I really felt at home,” said Westerkamp, a Lombard, Ill., native. “You want to have that feeling. The community and the people is what really got me.

“I’m 100 percent committed to Nebraska.”

With that full commitment, Westerkamp, who shattered the Illinois state record with 58 career receiving TDs (the previous record was 43), has decided not to take any visits to other schools.

“I am completely done,” Westerkamp said. “I get some mail from some schools still.”

Westerkamp, who is 6 foot 1 and 195 pounds, has caught 66 passes for 1,111 yards and 19 touchdowns this season. He has stayed in contact with wide receivers coach Rich Fisher and assistant offensive line/tight ends coach John Garrison on a regular basis.

On his last visit to Nebraska, which was on Oct. 7 for the comeback victory over Ohio State, Westerkamp said he was impressed with how his future teammates handled themselves.

“What really stuck out to me was the heart the Nebraska team had,” Westerkamp said. “It was unbelievable to see a game like that.”

In the past few weeks, Westerkamp has been impressed with how the offense has grown and is showing promise.

“Seeing the offense and how much they’ve progressed has got me really excited,” Westerkamp said. “The offense is looking pretty good. I’m just really excited to get out there and be a part of it.”

For now, Westerkamp can help the team by recruiting for them. This means staying in contact with fellow-Husker commit Michael Rose and talking to other Husker recruits in Illinois like defensive tackle Vincent Valentine.

“I try and be in contact with those guys,” Westerkamp said. “I tell them to just go out there and see (Nebraska).”

Although Westerkamp doesn’t have any set-in-stone plans to visit Nebraska again this season, he said he and a teammate, an Iowa-commit, may come to Lincoln for the first annual Heroes Game on Nov. 25 when Iowa and Nebraska play for the Corn Bowl Trophy.

Speaking of corn…

“The cornheads kind of stood out to me as well,” Westerkamp said. “But, I caught on to that.”

Photo Courtesy the Chicago Tribune

By Chris Peters