Grading the 2012 Signing Class
By Jimmie Allen
Baring some last minute surprise the Husker 2012 recruiting class has been filled out. The Huskers landed 17 recruits, but had room for 18. They may offer a walk-on player scholarship, or give a current walk on the extra scholarship. Here is how this signing class grades out.
Quarterback
Tommy Armstrong out of Steele High School in Cibolo, TX. is the only quarterback in this class. He is the only one the Huskers need. Armstrong completed 189 of 341 passes for 3,288 yards, 48 touchdowns and just 4 interception in his two years he started at Steele.
With the new look offense that Offensive Coordinator Tim Beck has brought in to Nebraska, Armstrong’s running ability will serve him just as well as his big arm.
Armstrong rushed the ball 262 times for 1,793 yards, and 24 touchdowns in his high school career. Armstrong could come in and compete for playing time early.
Running Back
Imani Cross is 6-foot-1, 220 lbs. and is the big back Nebraska has been lacking since the departure of Quentin Castile.
The Huskers have three very talented freshman running backs in Lincoln in Braylon Heard, Aaron Green, and Ameer Abdullah. None of which are over 200 lbs, and could use a couple extra pounds added to their frame.
Cross could come in and compete for playing time early.
Wide Receiver
With only one wide out in this class, the position gets a C. The Huskers didn’t exactly need a wide receiver, but they got a good one in Lombard, IL. Montini High School’s Jordan Westerkamp.
Westerkamp is 6-f00t-2, 195 lbs. In his senior season he caught 91 passes for 1,659 yards, and 29 touchdowns.
Nebraska landed two athletes who could play either wide receiver or defensive back.
Offensive Line
C
Nebraska landed two big time recruits on the offensive line. Murrieta, CA. Vista Murrieta High School’s Corey Whitaker, and Arvada, CO. Arvada High School’s Paul Thurston.
Thurston is regarded as a 4 star prospect, and Whitaker a 3 star.
The Huskers are pretty deep on the offensive line, and both players will more than likely redshirt.
The biggest story line of the 2012 Signing Day for Nebraska was the loss of Andrus Peat, offensive linemen out of Carona De Sol High School in Tempe, AZ. If the Huskers would have landed Peat, this group would have been an A. Peat picked Stanford over the Huskers, Florida Sate, and USC.
Tight End
D
Sam Cotton is a good player, but he is not the type of tight end Nebraska is looking for. Both starters in Lincoln Kyleer Reed, and Sam’s brother Ben are both taller, and more athletic than Sam.
Nebraska could have used one more tight end in this class.
Defensive Tackle
B
The Huskers land two defensive tackles in Keller, TX. Fossil Ridge High School’s Aaron Curry, and Edwardsville, IL. Edwardsvill High School’s Vincent Valentine.
Curry, and Valentine were both signing day decision makers. Curry picked the Huskers over Iowa. Valentine chose Nebraska over Illinois and Florida.
Curry is the biggest get of Signing Day for the Huskers. He is 6-foot-3, 298 lbs., and looks ready to contend for playing time already.
Defensive End
B
Nebraska landed two defensive ends in Greg McMullen from Hoban High School in Akron, OH., and Avery Moss from Corona De Sol High School in Tempe, AZ.
McMullen is the star of this class. He is 6-foot-5, 255 lbs. He will be a force for years to come at the defensive end position. He is the one player who can come in early and for sure compete for playing time.
Moss is 6-foot-4, 245 lbs., and will more than likely redhshirt in his freshman year.
Linebacker
A+
The biggest need of this class was linebacker, and the Huskers landed 4 really good ones.
When we look back at this class, the corner stone of it is going to be Kansas City, MO., Rockhurst High School linebacker Michael Rose. He was as big of a recruiter for this class as any of the coaches. He was the first recruit to commit, and with a 6-foot-0, 230 lb. frame, and as athletic as Rose is he can come in and compete for playing time early.
The diamond in the rough may be South Jordan, UT., Bingham High School, linebacker Jared Afalava. He is 6-foot-3, 215 lbs., and is one of the hardest hitting guys in the class.
The other two linebackers are Junior college transfer Zaire Anderson who will come in and have the best shot at playing early, and Thomas Brown out of Gardena, CA. Junipero Serra High School, who will most likely redshirt.
Defensive Backs
B+
This rating would have been much higher if Nebraska would have landed one more defensive back to compliment Eastern Arizona Junior College’s Mohammed Seisay.
Seisay is 6-foot-2, 200 lbs., and will come in and make an instant impact. He will more than likely take over for the loss of Alfonzo Dennard to the NFL.
Athlete
B+
Nebraska landed 2 athletes in Toledo, OH., Whitmer High School LeRoy Alexander, and Alonzo Moore out of Winnfield, LA., Winnfield High School.
Alexander was the very first letter sent in to Nebraska early Wednesday morning. Moore waited till later in the day and picked the Huskers over Louisiana State, and Northwestern State.
It looks like both of these guys may play defensive back in college.
By Jimmie Allen
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