Nebraska Cornhusker 2015 Recruits: O Line

There is a big controversy brewing in Nebraska over a pipeline. Well, I say YES to the pipeline, and I mean the Husker offensive line pipeline. Over the years the Huskers have had some phenomenal offensive lines with many of the offensive linemen moving on to the NFL. Each year the offensive line would just reload with someone new taking the next open spot. Since Tom Osborne retired in 1997 as Nebraska’s football coach, the pipeline kind of dried up.

Joe Flannigan-Albion News

The Huskers under Osborne had 25 offensive linemen drafted in the first seven rounds, including 12 in the first three rounds, while the last 17 years Nebraska has had only 12 offensive linemen drafted, 4 of which were in the top three rounds. Of the 12 offensive linemen since 1997, Milt Tenopir and Dan Young, both of whom served under Osborne first, coached 4 of them. The question is, what has caused the decline in Husker Offensive Linemen making their way to the NFL? Maybe Coach Langsdorf (OC) and Coach Cavanaugh (O Line) will have a few things to say about that.

Having just landed 4 star recruit Jalin Barnett is a move in the right direction! Let’s take a look at the upcoming 2015 Offensive Line class, which consists of Offensive Guards, Offensive Tackles, and Centers. The Huskers lost 3 experienced offensive linemen to graduation at the end of the 2014 season, Jake Cotton, Mike Moudy, and Mark Pelini. This leaves 14 returning scholarship linemen, and so ideally at least 3-4 offensive line commits would put the Huskers in a good position. Currently in the 2015 class, the Huskers have 3 offensive line commits.

The first Nebraska offensive line commit pledged himself to the Huskers on February 3, 2014. Three star offensive tackle, Christian Gaylord, of Baldwin City, Kansas, committed to the Huskers (under Pelini) and has not wavered on his commitment. The Rivals Recruiting Service ranks Gaylord as the 47th best offensive tackle in the country. Huskers beat out teams like Ohio State, Texas, and Missouri for his commitment. Gaylord is 6’7” and 290 pounds and is also ranked as the second best high school football player in the state of Kansas. Check out his highlights:

The other offensive line commit who chose the

Huskers

is a Nebraska boy! Three star offense guard

Michael Decker

comes to the Huskers via Omaha North. Decker committed to the Huskers back on April 9, 2014. Decker only has one other FBS scholarship offer which is to Kansas St. This might be because he committed to the Huskers so early and has been committed to the old and new staff ever since. Decker is 6’4” and 288 pounds and is ranked buy Rivals as the 46

th

best offensive guard in the country and the second best high school football player in the state of Nebraska. Here is a video of Decker’s highlights:

On Wednesday, Nebraska landed 4 star offensive guard, Jalin Barnett of Lawton, Oklahoma. He is arguably the best commit of the 2015 class. Barnett had Nebraska as one of his top schools and it appeared to come down to either Nebraska or Oklahoma State. The 6′ 4″, 315 pound athlete was his last stop in December and must have made an impression. He moves very well for such a big man. Tyler Donohue of Bleacher Report said, “Barnett’s ability to blow up two defenders on one play places him among the most dominant run-blockers in this cycle.”

Finally the Huskers have offered two centers, but both have committed elsewhere. Huskers have offered scholarships to 25 offensive tackles, but only 4 are left uncommitted to any school, and it doesn’t look good for Nebraska to get commits from any of them. Huskers have also offered 12 offensive guards scholarships, and only one kid remains uncommitted. Mike Riley may have a few more kids in mind still but signing day fast approaches and getting one or two more offensive line commits is very important.

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• Nebraska Football: Matt Rhule faces tough decision between Heinrich Haarberg and Jeff Sims

Next year the Huskers will lose six offensive linemen on scholarship so I expect next year’s class of linemen to be much larger and definitely more pressing. In the meantime, GO BIG RED!!