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RECRUITING

The 2002 class
Click on a player's name to jump down to the Athletic Department's biographical information.
Rank indicates player's national ranking at his position as of signing day by Rivals.com.
NAMEPOS.HT.WT.CITYSCHOOLRANKLTR
Bagwell, AntoineDB5-11180East Lansing, Mich.East LansingNR 
Carriker, AdamRE6-6243Kennewick, Wash.Kennewick464
Dukes, CurtQB6-0205Stony Point, N.C.Newton-Conover 9 
Fluellen, IsaiahWR6-1175Ramstein, GermanyRamstein AmericaNR3
Greeson, BrandonDL6-3327High Point, N.C.Central39 
Herian, MattTE6-4215Pierce, Neb.Pierce324
Horne, DavidRB6-0192Omaha, Neb.Central 63
LeFlore, MarkWR5-11177Omaha, Neb.Central154
Leslie, JermaineOL6-2298  Weatherford, TexasWeatherford57 
Mann, KurtOL6-4263Grand Island, Neb.Grand Island263
Miller, GrantFB/LB6-1216Peabody, Mass.Veterans Memorial261
Moore, JayRE6-5255Elkhorn, Neb.Elkhorn 73
Phillips, JemayelOL6-6330Winnfield, La.Winnfield46 
Smith, RonnieWB5-9160Carson, Calif.Nathaniel NarbonneNR 
Timm, CoryOL6-5294Yutan, Neb.Yutan91 
Todd, DaneFB5-11225Lincoln, Neb.Southeast174
Washington, FabianCB6-0175Bradenton, Fla.Bayshore133
Williams, Demorrio**WLB6-2200Longview, TexasBeckville (TX) HS; Kilgore College10*2
*Rated 10th JUCO recruit at any position
** Junior college transfer, will enter as a junior


CLASS SCORECARD
34 letters earned by 11 of 18 recruits
All-America: 0
All-conference: 4 (Carriker, Herian, Todd, Williams)
Notable walk-ons: Stewart Bradley, LB (third-round NFL draft pick); Brandon Rigoni, S (team captain in 2006)

 

Signing day coverage
Frank Solich says it's a speedy bunch that can contribute immediately. Stanley Daniels was a late defection, but NU picked up a DB from Michigan and ended up on a couple of top-25 lists (1, 2).

Class Breakdown:
Total: 18; Freshmen: 17; Junior college transfer: 1

By State/Country:
Nebraska (7); North Carolina (2); Texas (2); California (1); Florida (1); Massachusetts (1); Michigan (1); Louisiana (1); Washington (1); Germany (1)

By Position (First Position Listed):
Offense (12): offensive linemen (4); quarterback (1); running back (1); fullbacks (2); wide receivers (3); tight end (1)
Defense (6): defensive lineman (1); rush ends (2); linebacker (1); defensive backs (2)

All-Americans (7):
Curt Dukes, QB (SuperPrep, PrepStar), David Horne, FB (SuperPrep, PrepStar, Rivals.com, USA Today Second-Team), Mark LeFlore, WR (SuperPrep, PrepStar), Kurt Mann, OL (SuperPrep, PrepStar), Jay Moore, Jumbo Athlete (SuperPrep, PrepStar), Fabian Washington, DB (SuperPrep); Rivals100 Non-High School (1): Demorrio Williams (Rivals.com)
(All-America status is determined by the following method: PrepStar-Top 125 Dream Team; SuperPrep Top 288 All-Americans; Rivals Top 100; USA Today Top 44)

'Greyshirts':
These three players accepted scholarships effective January 2003.
Andrew Shanle,* S, St. Edward
Kade Pittman, WB-DB, North Platte
Trevor Neeman, DE, Lincoln Southeast
   * Joined team in fall 2002 when a scholarship became available

 

PLAYER BIOS
Information from University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.
 
Antoine Bagwell
DB...5-11...180...East Lansing, Mich. (East Lansing)
A speedy running back and free safety at East Lansing High School, Antoine Bagwell started two years on both sides of the ball for Coach Jeff Smith. Bagwell earned first-team all-state honors the past two years as a defensive back from the Detroit Free Press, as he recorded 109 tackles and four interceptions as a senior and 78 tackles and five interceptions as a junior. He rushed for 1,668 yards as a senior and 1,729 as a junior. He scored 27 touchdowns in 2001, 24 in 2000 and returned two kickoffs for touchdowns as a senior. Bagwell was the Lansing State Journal Defensive Player of the Year the last two seasons and will most likely play in the secondary at Nebraska. He helped lead East Lansing to the Division 3 (highest division) state championship game in 2000 and the state semifinal last season. Named the MVP of his football team as a junior and senior, Bagwell also runs track, posting a 10.7 in the 100 meters (manual) and a 23.1 in the 200 meters. He placed fourth at state in the 100 meters in 2001 and helped his 4 x 100-meter relay team to a silver medal. Bagwell was born on Sept. 13, 1984. The son of Elmer Bagwell and Valarie Bagwell, Antoine joins former Notre Dame and NFL running/defensive back Randy Kinder and former Florida State linebacker Kirk Carruthers among East Lansing High’s elite recruits. Bagwell said, “I really liked everything about Nebraska when I visited in January.”

Adam Carriker
RE...6-6...243...Kennewick, Wash. (Kennewick)
Carriker played quarterback and rush end for Coach Warren Hull at Kennewick High School. Although the team did not win a game, Carriker ranked No. 6 on SuperPrep’s Far West list and No. 46 on Rivals.com’s strongside defensive end national list. On defense, Carriker recorded 15 sacks, five pass breakups, four forced fumbles and 25 tackles for loss in his only season as a defensive end. Was a three-year starter at quarterback and served as a team captain three years. Carriker earned second-team All-Big 9 Conference honors on defense as a senior and will play in the state all-star game in June. He ran track one year, and will compete in baseball for the third straight year, earning all-conference honors the past two years as a DH and first baseman. Academically, was named to the Principal’s list. Born on May 6, 1984, to Nancy Carriker and David Carriker, Adam’s father hails from Hastings, Neb., where Adam was born. He moved to Kennewick when he was three. Adam’s brother Darren lives in Hastings and most of his father’s family still resides in Nebraska. Adam enjoys snow-skiing, four-wheeling and lifting weights. He was also recruited by UCLA, Idaho and Colorado and took visits to Washington State, Oregon, Oregon State and Nebraska. He chose Nebraska after attending Big Red Football Camp in 2001. He said, “I’ve been watching and rooting for Nebraska ever since I was a kid. I love the Huskers and it has always been my front-runner. Once I visited, I knew that was where I wanted to play.” Although Adam visits Nebraska every couple of years with his father, he has never attended a Husker football game.

Curt Dukes
QB...6-0...205...Stony Point, N.C. (Newton-Conover)
Already enrolled and attending classes at Nebraska this semester, Curt Dukes was an option quarterback for Coach Nick Bazzle. At Newton-Conover (Class 2-A, third-largest), Dukes rushed for 1,023 yards and threw for 951 in 10 games in 2001, sitting out one with injury. Dukes rushed for 1,514 yards and 19 touchdowns and passed for 810 yards and 12 scores in 2000, leading Newton-Conover to a 12-3 record. Dukes helped lead Newton-Conover to the state finals in 2000. Curt’s father Dennis, was Newton-Conover’s offensive coordinator. An All-America quarterback as named by SuperPrep, Dukes is listed as PrepStar’s No. 3 quarterback in the Atlantic Region and as the No. 9 “Dual-Threat” quarterback by Rivals.com. Dukes played in the North Carolina vs. South Carolina Shrine game in December. He has run the 40 in 4.43 seconds (hand-held) and can bench-press 400 pounds. Also a standout hurdler in track, Dukes picked Nebraska over Penn State, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Duke and Notre Dame. An excellent student, Dukes boasts a 4.0+ grade-point average and plans to study pre-medicine at Nebraska. As he is already enrolled at NU, he will be allowed to participate in spring camp and will compete for quarterback duties in place of graduated Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch. The son of Dennis and Chris Dukes, Curt was born on Oct. 6, 1983. He attended the Big Red Football camp in 2001. He picked Nebraska because, “it is a great place to go to college and the coaching staff really appealed to me. Nebraska’s style of offense fits me well.”

Isaiah Fluellen
WR...6-1...175...Ramstein, Germany (Ramstein America)
Believed to be Nebraska’s first signee from Europe, Isaiah comes to Nebraska from Ramstein, Germany. Fluellen played wide receiver and safety the last two years for Coach Robert Ermel at Ramstein America High School, which is located at Ramstein Air Base. Fluellen caught 28 passes for 629 yards and recorded nine receiving touchdowns as a senior. He also scored twice on punt returns, playing just six games in a season shortened by the Sept. 11 tragedies, and helped lead his team to the championship game. In 2000, Fluellen scored 11 touchdowns in eight games and also played cornerback. On defense, Fluellen recorded more than 30 tackles and had three interceptions in each of the last two years. A football and track star, Fluellen was selected as the male athlete of the year among students at Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DODDS) in Europe last spring. Fluellen won three gold medals at the Division I track championships, winning the 100 meters in 10.5 seconds, the 200 in 21.2 and the 400 in 46.7 seconds, setting records in each event. The 100 meter record had stood since 1963 and the 200 and 400 meter record had stood since 1979, when Alonzo Babers, now an Olympic double gold medalist, etched them in the record books. Fluellen’s track coach, Bruce Steffensmeier, expects Fluellen to run the 400 in the 45 range this season. His 46.7 mark already ranks fifth among all prep quarter-milers in the United States and Fluellen is expected to compete for the Husker track team as well. Fluellen also played basketball and despite an injury, was named the Ramstein Royals’ defensive player of the year as a junior. He averages 16 points and nine rebounds per game this year at forward. Academically, Fluellen earned academic all-conference honors in three sports last season. Fluellen also considered a scholarship offer from Maryland and was also recruited by Missouri and Auburn. The son of Melvin and Ann Fluellen, Isaiah’s father is a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force. Isaiah, the oldest of four boys, was born in Hameln, Germany, on June 11, 1984. He attended elementary school in Valdosta, Ga., and later lived in South Carolina and Ohio before moving back to Europe two years ago. Semi-fluent in German, Fluellen enjoys learning new languages and reading. He earned the Principal’s academic award and is listed among Who’s Who in High School. Fluellen said it came down to Nebraska and Maryland, but he only visited Lincoln. “The Nebraska coaches gave me their word and they have kept their word. I took a nine-hour flight to visit, missing several days of school, but I loved everything about the program. I felt Nebraska was the place for me.”

Brandon Greeson
DL...6-3...327...High Point, N.C. (Central)
Brandon Greeson was a standout defensive lineman for Coach Gary Whitman at Central High School in High Point, N.C. Starting all four years, Greeson ranked No. 14 on SuperPrep’s Mid Atlantic team and No. 38 on Rivals.com among defensive tackles and earned All-Northwest and all-area honors as a senior defensive lineman. He was picked to play in the Shrine Bowl All-Star game as a defensive lineman. He helped lead his teams to the playoffs each year, and Central went undefeated (15-0) his sophomore year. He earned all-city, all-area and all-conference honors the past three years, totaling 150 tackles each season, with at least 10 sacks, 30 tackles for loss and five breakups in each of his four years. He scored a defensive touchdown in his freshman and junior years. As a senior, Greeson was a team captain and totaled 10 sacks, four fumbles caused, three fumbles recovered, and 155 tackles. He also threw shot and discus in track, qualifying for regionals last year in the discus. The starting center and team captain of his basketball team, he averages 12 points, 12 rebounds and according to Greeson, “fouls out every game.” The son of Kathy Greeson, Brandon’s uncle is Michael Wright. Brandon is the second Central football player to sign with Nebraska, following Eric Alford, who came to Nebraska via Garden City (Kan.) Community College in 1993. He was born on Nov. 2, 1982, in High Point. Recruited by all major schools in North Carolina as well as numerous other Division I schools, Greeson also visited North Carolina State, Virginia Tech, Maryland and Michigan. He said he felt very comfortable at Nebraska. “I liked Nebraska’s system. It is very similar to what I was used to, and I was very comfortable with the coaches, academic staff and the players. I was the only other defensive lineman they recruited this year, and I really liked the stability and tradition of the program.”

Matt Herian
TE...6-4...215...Pierce, Neb. (Pierce)
A member of the Omaha World-Herald’s Super Six in 2001, Herian was a three-year starter at tight end for Coach Mark Brahmer at Pierce High School. Ranked No. 32 nationally on SuperPrep’s Midlands Team, Herian was also named to PrepStar’s Midlands Region Team and ranked 32nd among tight ends by Rivals.com. In 2001, Herian caught 38 passes for 786 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also played linebacker, totaling 35 solo stops, 41 assists and three interceptions and served as Pierce’s punter, averaging 36.9 yards per punt. Herian is a three-time Class C-1 (third largest) all-state selection by the Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World-Herald with 500 receiving yards in 2000. As a sophomore in 1999, Herian had 1,100 yards and 14 touchdown catches as Pierce finished 11-2. He has 24 career touchdown receptions and 2,386 receiving yards. Herian helped lead Pierce to the Class C-1 state playoffs all four years. Herian runs a 10.7 (manual) in the 100 meters and can vertical jump 37 inches. Also an outstanding basketball player, Herian is averaging 15 points and nine rebounds per game, starting at center for the 14-3 Bluejays. He earned all-state honors from the Omaha World-Herald at center the last two seasons and second-team honors from the Lincoln Journal Star. Herian turned down scholarship offers by Iowa and Iowa State. He said, I chose Nebraska mostly because of the winning tradition. An attendee of the Nebraska football camp, Matt is the son of James and Diane Herian. He was born on Oct. 7, 1983, in Norfolk, Neb.

David Horne
RB...6-0...192...Omaha, Neb. (Central)
Rated among the nation’s top five running backs by numerous publications, Omaha Central’s David Horne is one of seven Nebraskans on this year’s recruit list. Central is known for producing great running backs such as former Husker I-backs Ahman Green (No. 2 all-time NU rusher with 3,880 yards in 1995-96-97), Calvin Jones (No. 4 all-time NU rusher with 3,153 yards in 1991-92-93), Keith Jones (No. 10 all-time rusher at NU with 2,488 yards from 1984-85-86-87), current Husker junior DeAntae Grixby and Kansas’ Pro Football Hall of Famer Gale Sayers. With a great combination of power and speed, Horne rushed for a Class A-best 1,467 yards on 183 carries and led Class A with 22 touchdowns in 2001. Also a gifted receiver, Horne totaled 298 yards receiving, scoring one touchdown. A two-time first-team All-Nebraska (Omaha World-Herald), Super-State (Lincoln Journal Star) running back, Horne also played defense, recording 25 tackles and three interceptions in 2001 at free safety. Horne started two years at running back for Head Coach Joe McMenamin at Central, where he was a teammate of fellow Husker signee Mark LeFlore. A member of the Omaha World-Herald’s Super Six, Horne was named an All-American by SuperPrep, PrepStar and Rivals.com. Horne ranked No. 27 on SuperPrep’s All-Midland’s Team and ranked as the No. 5 running back in the Midlands Region by PrepStar. He ranked No. 78 by Rivals.com overall, and sixth among running backs and was listed as Student Sports’ No. 21 running back. With great speed, Horne runs a 10.8 (manual) 100 meters, a 4.47 in the 40 (electronic) and was part of a 4 x 400 meter relay team that set a state mark as a junior (3:19.0, fourth fastest time in high school history). Horne visited Nebraska, Colorado, Michigan and Nebraska and was also recruited by Notre Dame, Iowa and Iowa State. He said, “I picked Nebraska because it is one of the best schools in the country. I felt Nebraska would be the best choice for me and my family.” The son of Damond and Pam Horne, David was born in Omaha on July 25, 1984.

Mark LeFlore
WR...5-11...177...Omaha, Neb. (Central)
A member of the Omaha World-Herald’s Super Six team, Mark LeFlore earned first-team All-Nebraska (OWH) and first-team Super-State (Lincoln Journal Star) honors in 2001 as a wide receiver. In 2000, LeFlore earned first-team All-Nebraska honors as a defensive back with three interceptions. LeFlore started three years at wide receiver for Head Coach Joe McMenamin and Omaha Central where he was a teammate of fellow signee David Horne. An All-American as ranked by SuperPrep and PrepStar, LeFlore ranked as SuperPrep’s No. 11 wide receiver overall, No. 8 on SuperPrep’s Midlands Team, No. 1 on PrepStar’s Midlands Team and No. 15 among wide receivers by Rivals.com. LeFlore had 41 receptions for 871 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior and made 42 catches for 736 yards and 10 touchdowns scored as a junior. Three of his receptions went for more than 50 yards. He also returned three kickoffs and two punts for touchdowns. He attended Big Red Football School and orally committed to Nebraska before his junior season began, the first commitment of the 2002 class. At Nebraska’s camp, LeFlore ran an electronically timed 4.47-second 40-yard dash, the second-fastest time ever recorded on the FieldTurf surface in the indoor Cook Pavilion. LeFlore also scored 2,300 points in the Performance Index, the second-best score all time by a high school athlete behind Ahman Green, another Central High School star, who now starts for the Green Bay Packers. LeFlore was also recruited by Colorado, Iowa, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Iowa State, but only visited Nebraska. The son of Mark and Floretta LeFlore, Mark, Jr., was born in Omaha on Feb. 25, 1984. LeFlore said, “Nebraska has a great tradition and a great coaching staff. Everyone in my family is a Husker fan so Nebraska is a great place for me to be.”

Jermaine Leslie
OL...6-2...298...Weatherford, Texas (Weatherford)
Leslie started on the offensive line as a senior for Coach Mike Sneed at Weatherford High School in Texas. He played at tight end as a sophomore and junior, but suffered a season-ending knee injury three games into his junior season. He has only played one year on the line, but still ranked No. 76 on SuperPrep’s Southwest Team and selected as the 26th-best offensive lineman nationally by Rivals.com. Leslie earned all-district and all-area honors as an offensive guard in 2001. He served as team captain and is also a power lifter. Leslie, who has squatted 625 pounds, ranks sixth in the state in heavyweight competition and consistently bench presses 400 pounds. He tested out as the fastest lineman at every camp he attended with a best of 4.80 in the 40. Leslie also competed two years in the shot and discus. Turning down scholarship offers from Oklahoma State and SMU. He received letters from more than 72 schools. Leslie was also recruited by Texas, Texas A&M, SMU, Colorado State, Oklahoma State and Colorado State, but only visited Nebraska. The son of Sherry and Brent Glover, Jermaine was born on Oct. 10, 1983. His stepfather, Brent, lived in North Dakota for a time and has extended family in Lincoln. Leslie chose Nebraska because “of the stability of the coaching staff and of course the fans. I thought the chemistry on the team was really good, and I admired Coach Solich.”

Kurt Mann
OL...6-4...263...Grand Island, Neb. (Grand Island)
A member of the Omaha World-Herald’s Super Six, Kurt Mann earned first-team All-Nebraska and Super-State honors from both the Omaha World-Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star in 2001, respectively, as an offensive lineman. Mann also started on the defensive line at Grand Island for the past three years. He earned first-team Class A (largest) all-state honors from both the Lincoln Journal Star and the Omaha World-Herald for the past two years. Grand Island went 2-7 in 2001 under first-year Coach Mark Fritch, but Mann was still named a SuperPrep All-American. Mann ranked as SuperPrep’s No. 33 offensive lineman, No. 29 on SuperPrep’s Midlands Team, was named to PrepStar’s Midlands Region Team, ranked as the 26th-best offensive lineman by Rivals.com, and the 24th offensive lineman by Tom Lemming. A team captain, Mann attended the Big Red Football School two years. Mann also plays post for his 16-1 basketball team, averaging 12 points and 10 rebounds per game and threw the shot (59-2 best) and discus (172-2 best) in track, finishing second at state in the shot put as a sophomore and junior. Ranking first in his class of 350-plus students, Mann boasts a 4.03 cumulative grade-point average (based on a 4.0 scale) and scored a 30 on his ACT. He has been on the honor roll every year and earned academic all-state honors. Mann committed in June before his senior season, choosing the Huskers over Iowa State and Stanford. The son of Kent and Cindy Mann, Kurt was born on Aug. 17, 1983 in Hutchinson, Kan. He moved to Nebraska in 1987. Kurt said, “I’ve always been a Nebraska fan. They have great facilities, great people and they are consistently one of the best teams in the nation.”

Grant Miller
FB/LB...6-1...216...Peabody, Mass. (Veterans Memorial)
A three-year starter on offense and defense, Grant Miller played fullback and linebacker for Veteran’s Memorial High School and Coach Ed Nizwantowski. Miller was named to PrepStar’s East Region Team and ranked No. 26 among fullbacks by Rivals.com. In 2001, Miller rushed for 1,150 yards and 14 touchdowns, despite missing the season’s first three games with an injury. Peabody finished 6-3 in the state’s largest class. Miller had 26 receptions for 308 yards and two TDs. As a linebacker, Miller recorded 50 tackles, eight sacks, one interception and four fumble recoveries. He was his team’s MVP as a junior and senior and earned Greater Boston League All-Star honors in 2000 and 2001. He will play in the East-West Shrine Game in Boston in June. With good speed, Miller has run the 40-yard dash in 4.55 seconds. He also throws the shot put and javelin and runs the 100, 300 and low hurdles. The son of Christine Miller and John Miller, Grant has a sister Tammi and five older brothers, Michael, Kenny, Ronnie, Lee and Christopher. Lee (UTEP) and Christopher (Amherst) both played college football. In a lift-a-thon at school, Grant bench pressed 190 pounds, 37 times and in the summer pulled a pickup truck in neutral as a training exercise. Grant was born on Dec. 23, 1983 and picked Nebraska after also visiting Penn State, USC and Boston College. He said, “The weight room was far superior and the coaches were very sincere. It is the best program and the best match for me. I want an opportunity to help my team win a national championship and at Nebraska I will have that opportunity.”

Jay Moore
RE...6-5...255...Elkhorn, Neb. (Elkhorn)
A member of the Omaha World-Herald’s Super Six, Moore played tight end for Coach Mark Wortman at Elkhorn High School. An All-American as named by SuperPrep and PrepStar, Moore was listed as SuperPrep’s No. 7 “Jumbo” athlete and the 12th-best defensive end by Student Sports. He also ranked No. 25 on SuperPrep’s Midlands Team and seventh among weakside defensive ends by Rivals.com, despite ending his senior season early with a knee injury. He also ranked No. 12 among defensive linemen by PrepStar. In 2000, Moore earned second-team Super-State honors from the Lincoln Journal Star and was the LJS Class B (second largest) Offensive Player of the Year and the Omaha World-Herald Honorary Class B offensive captain after rushing for 1,742 yards with 31 touchdowns (8.8 ypa). In 2001, Moore had 92 carries for 822 yards (8.9 ypa) and scored 16 touchdowns in five games before an ACL knee injury, which required surgery. He attended the Big Red Football School at Nebraska and scored 2,040 points in the performance tests, the fourth-highest mark by any camp attendee all time. Moore committed to the Huskers in June before his senior season. Moore joins rush ends Phil Peetz and Kyle Ringenberg as Husker players from Elkhorn. Moore also earned honorable-mention all-state honors from the Omaha World-Herald in 2001 for basketball, but is not playing this season. The son of Jim and Marion Moore, Jay was born on Aug. 16, 1983. A member of the FCA board, he is the vice president of the “E”Club (Elkhorn letterman group). Moore only visited Nebraska, but was also recruited by Iowa State, Iowa and Missouri. He picked Nebraska because, “it has always been my childhood dream to play for the Huskers. It was an easy decision.”

Jemayel Phillips
OL...6-6...330...Winnfield, La. (Winnfield)
Phillips was a standout lineman for Coach Joey Pender at Winnfield High School in Louisiana. The biggest player in the class at 6-6, 330, Phillips ranked No. 22 on SuperPrep’s Southwest Team and 46th on Rivals.com’s offensive tackle list. Phillips was also named to PrepStar’s Southeast Region Team. Phillips is a four-year starter on offense and lost just six games in his four-year prep career. In 2001, Phillips helped lead Winnfield (Class 3A) to the second round of the state playoffs and to a 10-2 record. A team captain, he earned team honors as the most valuable offensive lineman the past two years. He also earned second-team LHSCA honors as an offensive lineman, was named to the “Baker’s Dirty Dozen” team and earned third-team all-state honors as a senior. Phillips also threw the shot put, winning districts last season. Phillips picked Nebraska after also visiting Louisiana Tech and Auburn and canceled visits to Louisiana State, Texas A&M and Southern Mississippi. He said, “It was a no-brainer, especially as an offensive lineman-Nebraska is the best place to be. Nebraska’s excellent grade-point average flipped my mom out.” Phillips attended Big Red Football School the past two summers. The son of Donna Prater, Jemayel (pronounced Jeh-MILE) was born on March 24, 1984. He was mentored by former Husker basketball standout Cliff Moller (1969).

Ronnie Smith
WB...5-9...160...Carson, Calif. (Nathaniel Narbonne)
Ronnie Smith committed to the Huskers two days before the National Letter-of-Intent signing day. A speedster, Smith rushed for 1,370 yards and scored 19 touchdowns splitting time at the position. He also had nearly 300 receiving yards playing for Coach J.R. Munoz at Nathaniel Narbonne High School (4A, largest). He earned first-team all-conference honors in the Marine League and third-team honors on the Long Beach Press Dream Team. He was named honorable-mention Las Vegas Sun Super 11 on offense. Smith played just one game as a junior, when transferring between schools. Recruited as a wingback to Nebraska, Smith runs the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds (manually). He was also recruited by UNLV and Kansas State. The son of Regina Smith-Pittman and Robert Pittman, Ronnie was born on Oct. 1, 1984. Smith said he picked Nebraska, because “Overall, it was a great school. I liked the fans, academic programs, tradition and coaching staff.”

Cory Timm
OL...6-5...294...Yutan, Neb. (Yutan)
Cory Timm, the younger brother of Husker sophomore right-handed pitcher Dustin Timm, jumped at the chance to play for Nebraska. Timm, at 6-5, 294, is much larger than his brother (6-3, 180) and will be an offensive lineman at Nebraska. Cory’s other brother Bucky (6-1, 190, is a senior pitcher for Midland College in Fremont, Neb. Timm started at tackle on both sides of the ball for Coach Rod Thayer for four years. He earned first-team All-Nebraska honors from the Omaha World-Herald and was a Class C-2 (fourth largest) first-team member at offensive guard for the OWH and the Lincoln Journal Star. He ranks 91st nationally at his position by Rivals.com and was named the lineman of the year at his high school the last two years. Timm is also the starting center for his basketball team, averaging 10 points and 11 rebounds per game and earned honorable-mention all-conference honors last season. He qualified for state in the discus the last two years and in the shot put as a junior. A solid student, Timm was named to the Honor Roll and plans to major in pre-medicine. He attended football camp at Nebraska and picked Nebraska after also visiting Colorado State, Wyoming and New Mexico State. He said, “All the top linemen go there. I know at Nebraska I will be able to push myself to the limit.”

Recruiting stories: 1, 2
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Dane Todd
FB...5-11...225...Lincoln, Neb. (Southeast)
A Super-State (Lincoln Journal Star) and All-Nebraska (Omaha World-Herald) first-team all-state linebacker, Dane Todd was a standout fullback and middle linebacker at Lincoln Southeast. Todd was named the Gatorade Circle of Champions Nebraska Player of the Year starting on both sides of the ball the last two years for Coach Chuck Mizerski and is the only Lincoln native in the 2002 class. Mizerski calls Todd “a devastating blocker” and said that Todd has recorded more knockdown blocks than any other fullback in Southeast history. Todd rushed for 453 yards (7.95 per carry) in 2000, when Southeast won the Class A (largest) state title, despite suffering a late-season injury. He rushed for more than 400 yards and 12 TDs as a senior. He also started at middle linebacker in 2000-01, recording 130 tackles as a senior. Todd was named to the PrepStar Midlands Region Team and ranked No. 17 among fullbacks by Rivals.com in 2001. As a junior, Todd earned honorable-mention all-state honors. Todd also considered an offer from Duke and received interest from Iowa, Iowa State and Northwestern. Dane ranks third in his class of 606 students and chose Nebraska in part because of its honors program. Todd carries a 4.488 grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) and plans to study pre-medicine. His mother Kim attended grad school at Nebraska and his father Loy, earned his bachelor’s and law degrees from Nebraska. Dane is a member of Southeast’s Student Council, earned academic all-state honors and was a member of the honor roll every semester. He volunteers with the Sunrise Equi-Therapy program. He played junior ice hockey until his senior season. Todd said he liked everything about Nebraska. “The whole program is great. I have spent a lot of time there and I feel like I fit in well with the program.”

Fabian Washington
CB...6-0...175...Bradenton, Fla. (Bayshore)
Widely regarded as the top defensive back to come out of Florida this season, Fabian Washington is an All-American as ranked by SuperPrep. He ranks 16th on SuperPrep’s Dixie Top 90 list and as the No. 15 defensive back overall. Washington ranked 13th on Rivals.com list for all-around athletes and was named to PrepStar’s Southeast Team. A standout cornerback and return man for Coach Raymond Woodie at Bayshore High School in Bradenton, Fla. (Class 4A, third-largest), Washington comes from the same hometown as former Huskers Tommie Frazier (QB, 1992-95) and Leslie Dennis (CB, 1994-96) although Frazier attended Manatee and Dennis went to Southeast High School. Dennis was Washington’s position coach at Bayshore. Washington totaled 60 tackles, broke up 14 passes and picked off four passes as a senior. He had three picks and 12 PBU as a junior. He scored 10 touchdowns as a senior and returned four kickoffs and one punt for a touchdown. He was a four-year starter at corner, and a two-year starter at wide receiver and served as the backup quarterback. Washington earned first-team all-state honors as a senior by the Florida High School Coaches Association. Coach Woodie said Washington had just eight balls caught on his side of the field in four years. He has been timed manually with a 4.3 40-yard dash and a 10.5 100-meter dash and boasts a 38-inch vertical jump. Washington said he picked Nebraska because of NU’s defensive scheme. He said, “Nebraska’s style is to play man-to-man defense, and that’s what I played in high school and that’s what I liked.” The son of Chandra Washington, Fabian was born on June 9, 1983. He picked Nebraska after visiting Auburn, Iowa, North Carolina, Michigan State and NU. He was also recruited by Miami, Florida, Georgia and Florida State. Washington also plays small forward for his basketball team and averages 10 points per game. He placed third in the state in the 100 meters as a junior.

Demorrio Williams
WLB...6-2...200...Longview, Texas (Beckville HS/Kilgore College)
Nebraska’s only junior college transfer in the class, Williams is already enrolled and attending classes at Nebraska this semester. He signed his letter of intent in January, after graduating from Kilgore College in Texas. Williams will participate in spring ball and will have two years of eligibility for Nebraska. Williams was a standout linebacker at Kilgore (Texas) College for Head Coach Jim Rieves. He led Kilgore to a 12-0 record, with nine sacks, two interceptions and 127 tackles in 2001. He also returned a fumble for a touchdown as Kilgore allowed just 8.2 points per game. He was an honorable-mention junior college All-American in 2001 and a second-team All-American in 2000 after leading the Southwest Junior College Conference with 130 tackles as a freshman. Williams ranked No. 10 on Rivals.com’s Non-High School Top 100 rankings, and earned a rare five-star rating. Williams has been timed at 4.6 in the 40. Originally from Beckville, Texas, Williams graduated from Beckville High School (Class 1-A, smallest in Texas) in 1998, where he played free safety for Coach Joe Koesel. He earned all-district honors with 115 tackles and seven interceptions. Out of high school, Williams intended to immediately attend a junior college in Texas, but sat out a year, working in Beckville. The son of Veronica Hicks, Demorrio was born on July 6, 1980. He plans to major in psychology. Demorrio said he picked Nebraska because he “liked the powerhouse program. Nebraska has a good, clean program.” He was also recruited by Colorado, Texas, Florida and Texas A&M, but only visited Nebraska.