Looking Back At Signing Day (2007)

You never really know how important a signing class is until four or five years down the road. In 2007 Nebraska signed 27 recruits. Most of them made a major impact on the program, some didn’t pan out. Here is an in-depth look at the 2007 class.

Prince Amukamara, 3 star cornerback, Glendale, AZ. Apolo High School : Amukamara came in to Lincoln, as an undersized wide receiver who was a little lost in an advanced offense. After a coaching change Amukamara moved to defensive back, put on some healthy weight and became a first round draft pick by the New York Giants in the 2011 NFL draft.

Larry Asante, 4 star safety, Coffeyville, KS. Coffeyville Community College: Asante came in as an expected two year starter. He did exactly that. He was a staple in the Nebraska secondary both years he was in Lincoln.

The Cleveland Browns selected Asante with the 160th overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft. He and the Browns agreed to a four-year contract worth about $1.96 million on July 16, 2010. He was waved by the browns in the same season. He is currently on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster.

Shukree Barfield, 3 star defensive tackle, Garden City, KS. Garden City Community College: Barfield was a major player in his two years in Lincoln. He worked at defensive tackle in his junior season. With the lack of depth at defensive end in his senior season he moved to defensive end and finished the season with two sacks against Colorado.

Anthony Blue, 3 star cornerback, Cedar Hill, TX. Cedar Hill High School: Blue owns the title of most sad story of the 2007 class. He came into Lincoln with high expectations and a large skill set. He ended up tearing his ACL in both knees. He was forced to stop playing before his senior season, and was replaced in the starting roll by Alfonzo Dennard. Blue was projected as a possible first round draft pick after his sophomore year.

Jaivorio Burkes, 4 star offensive linemen, Phoenix, AZ. Moon Valley High School:  Burkes is a close second for sad story. He came in and made All-Big 12 freshman team, and was a major player on the offensive line  his sophomore season. In his junior year he was forced to leave the team due to a major illness that made him loose a lot of his weight and could never come back from the illness.

Quentin Castille, 4 star runningback, La Porte, TX. La Porte High School: Castile came in to Lincoln with some of the best high light film of any running back in a long time. The Texas native struggled with fumble problems his first two years in Lincoln. He seemed to his his stride by rushing for 125 yards on 18 carries, against Clemson in the Gator Bowl. He was later dismissed that Spring for undisclosed reasons.

Jared Crick, 3 star defensive tackle, Cozad, NE. Cozad High School: Crick came into his freshman season at Nebraska as an undersized defensive tackle. He left as a Sports Illustrated cover boy, the leader for most sacks in a game (5), and as one of the most loved Blackshirts of all time.

Demetrious Davis, 3 defensive tackle, St. Joseph, MO. Benton High School: Davis never made it to Lincoln due to a low ACT score, and grades.

Kevin Dixon, 4 star  defensive tackle, Garden City, KS. Garden City Community College: Dixon was a force on the defensive line at Nebraska. He played in 14 games at Nebraska.

Curenski Gilleylen, 3 star wide receiver, Leander, TX. Leander High School: Gilleylen came in regarded as the second most athletic player aside from Amukamara. He came in to Lincoln with high expectations. After not fitting in at wide receiver, he moved to I-back in his senior season. He did not get one carry.

Eric Hagg, 3 star defensive back, Peoria, AZ. Iornwood High School: Hagg may have been the diamond in the rough of this class. He came in slightly undersized at 192 lbs. After putting on some good weight he ended his career in Lincoln as the nickle corner in Nebraska’s Peso package. He is currently in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns.

Roy Helu Jr., 3 star running back, Danville, CA. San Ramon Valley High School: Helu came in slightly over shadowed by Castile, and wasn’t really expected to do much. In his time at Nebraska Helu was honored numerous times. 2nd team All-Big 12 in 2010, Walter Camp National Player of the Week, Rivals.com National Player of the Week, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week (all on Oct. 30, 2010 against Missiouri), Maxwell Award Preseason Watch list, Second0 Team Academic All-Big 12, School Record Single-Game Rushing Yards (307 yards vs. Missouri), Nebraska Offensive MVP (2009 & 2010), 2010 Team Captain, Big 12 Commissioner’s Spring Academic Honor Roll (2010), Big 12 Commissioner’s Fall Academic Horno Roll (2010). Helu finished the 2011 season as the Washington Redskins starting running back.

Ryan Hill, 3 star tight end, Avanda, CO. Avanda High School: Hill proved to be a reliable blocker, and saw some time at fullback in his time in Lincoln.

Marcel Jones, 3 star offensive tackle, Phoenix, AZ. Trevor Browne High School:  Jones came in and made an immediate impact in Lincoln. He had a whole career plagued by injury. His senior season was no different. He saw limited playing time in his senior season but has been invited to the NFL Combine, and will be a draft pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Audi Kunalic, 2 star kicker, Fort Worth, TX. North Crowley High School: Kickers are never highly touted. Kunalic’s body of work spoke for it’s self. Every kick off Husker fans would jump and wave their shoes in the air as Kunalic boomed a kick out of the back of the end zone.

Blake Lawrence, 4 star linebacker, Overland Park KS. Shawnee Mission West High School: Lawrence was a major player on Nebraska’s defense until he suffered several concussions, and never really recovered from the concussions. He missed his senior season.

Zac Lee, 4 star quarterback, San Francisco, CA. San Francisco Community College: Lee come into Nebraska with two years of eligibility left.  He took a redshirt and then started his junior year at quarterback before being replaced by Taylor Martinez in his senior season.

Marcu Mendoza,3 star running back, Houston, TX. Spring Woods High School: Mendoza came in as the fastest player in the class, and maybe the team when he arrived. When he saw limited playing time at running back he moved to wide receiver, and then to cornerback. Mendoza never saw major playing time at either position.

Armondo Murillo, cornerback, Thatcher, AZ. Eastern Arizona Community College: Murrilo finished his Husker career as a two year starter with 115 tackles, and 13 interceptions.

Niles Paul, 4 star wide receiver, Omaha, NE. Omaha North High School: Paul came in to Lincoln as the big wide receiver Nebraska had been missing in their offense. He left with 103 catches, 1,532 yards, and 5 touchdowns. He didn’t pan out to be the big play wide receiver everyone thought he would be. Paul was picked by the Washington Redskins with 155th over all pick.

Austin Stafford, 3 star linebacker, Hayward, CA. Hayward High School: Stafford, was released out of his scholarship after his sophomore season. He never made an impact and was a miss for the coaching staff.

Shawn Sullivan, 3 star cornerback, Brenham, TX. Brenham High School: Sullivan’s grades kept him out of Lincoln.

Joseph Townsend, 4 star defensive tackle, Los Altos Hills, CA. Foothill Community College: Townsend never qualified academically to make it Lincoln.

Latravis Washington, 3 star linebacker, Bradenton, FL. Bayshore High School: Washington came to Nebraska to play linebacker. After a lack of depth and explosion at quarterback Washington moved to his original at quarterback in his junior season. Washington only took two snaps at quarterback in his time in Lincoln.

Patrick Witt, 4 star quarterback, Wylie, TX. Wylie High School: Witt was expected to be the next big thing in Lincoln. After not making the two deep on the depth chart, Witt decided to better his education and transferred to Yale.

William Yancy, 4 star defensive end,  Glendale, AZ . Ironwood High School: Yancy never made an impact or a illegitimate push for playing time in Lincoln.

By Jimmie Allen 

Contact the writer at JAhuskercorner@gmail.com

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