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Courtesy: NU Sports Information Quarterback...6-3...195...Santee, Calif. (West Hills HS/Grossmont College) Junior-college transfer Jordan Adams is one of three quarterbacks in Nebraska's 2004 recruiting class. Adams played at Grossmont Community College in El Cajon, Calif., this past season and will have four seasons to complete three years of eligibility at Nebraska. Adams shared time at quarterback for Grossmont and Head Coach Dave Jordan, which finished the 2003 campaign with a 13-1 record. Grossmont reached the California state championship contest, where it lost a 38-35 contest to the City College of San Francisco. Adams enjoyed an outstanding effort in that contest, coming off the bench to throw for 347 yards and three touchdowns. Grossmont trailed 21-0 when Adams entered the game to replace the injured starting quarterback. Adams started just one game last fall, but made the most of the appearance. He completed a school-record 30 passes (42 attempts) for a Grossmont single-game record 531 yards and four touchdowns in a victory over Antelope Valley (Calif.) College that closed a perfect regular season. On the year, Adams finished with more than 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns, while completing 67 percent of his passes. As a high school senior, Adams led West Hills High School to a 9-1 record, when he connected on 65 percent of his passes for 2,164 yards and 22 touchdowns. Adams also saw extensive time at quarterback as a junior, when he started four games for Coach Steve Sutton's squad. He was also his team's place-kicker and punter during his senior year, and connected on 33-of-34 PATs and made eight field goals, with a long punt of 63 yards. As a senior, Adams earned Grossmont North first-team all-league honors and second-team All-East County honors. He was East County's leading passer as a senior, was named his team's special teams MVP and was the San Diego Union-Tribune's September 2001 Athlete of the Month. Adams, who also played one year of baseball in high school, is strong in the classroom. He was named to the Grossmont CC Dean's List in the fall of 2003, and was on the S.D. Union-Tribune 2001-02 All-Academic Team. Adams is the son of John and Dawn Adams and was born on June 7, 1984. Why Nebraska? � "Nebraska has a great football tradition and an amazing streak of consecutive sellouts. It is an unbelievable opportunity to have a chance to play for Coach Callahan. The fact they are bringing in the West Coast Offense is very exciting."
Defensive End...6-3...230...Tulsa, Okla. (Union) Adam Blankenship is Nebraska's lone 2004 signee from the state of Oklahoma and becomes the Huskers' first signee from that state since place-kicker Josh Brown and defensive tackle Jason Lohr inked with the Huskers in 1998. Blankenship starred at annual powerhouse Tulsa Union High for his father, Bill Blankenship. The younger Blankenship earned first-team all-state honors from the Tulsa World and the high school coaches association as a senior, while picking up second-team all-state honors from the Daily Oklahoman. Blankenship was also a first team all-district (6A-3) selection and has been chosen to participate in the Oil Bowl this summer, matching all-star teams from Texas and Oklahoma. As a senior, he helped Union to a 12-1 record and a state semifinal appearance in Class 6A (largest) where Union was defeated by rival Jenks High. Blankenship made 85 tackles, had 10 sacks and recovered three fumbles as a senior from his defensive end position. On offense, he rotated in at the tight end spot. Union was a perfect 14-0 and captured the 6A state title during Blankenship's junior season. He totaled 86 tackles, including eight sacks, and recovered four fumbles in Union's title season, earning second-team all-state honors in the process. Blankenship is ranked as the No. 25 weakside defensive end in the nation by Rivals.com, who also ranks him as the No. 7 overall prospect in the state of Oklahoma. Blankenship is listed as the No. 39 overall prospect in the Midlands Region by SuperPrep Magazine, and was a PrepStar Magazine All-Midlands Region pick. Blankenship has two older brothers who have played Division I-A football. Caleb will be a senior tight end at Tulsa this fall, and Josh completed his career as a quarterback at Eastern Washington in 2002, after playing for three seasons at Tulsa. His father, Bill, played quarterback for Tulsa in the 1970s. Blankenship is also a three-year letterman in track and was a state qualifier in the shot put and discus last year. He is the vice president of the student council and president of Union High's chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Adam Blankenship chose Nebraska over Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado State, Texas Tech, Utah and Tulsa. Blankenship was born on June 17, 1985, and is the son of Bill and Angela Blankenship. Why Nebraska? � "It has always been a dream of mine to play for a powerhouse like Nebraska. To have a chance to play for Coach Callahan is an opportunity I did not want to pass up." Linebacker...6-1...220...Overland Park, Kan. (St. Thomas Aquinas) Lance Brandenburgh is one of two Kansas City area standouts in Nebraska's 2004 recruiting class. Brandenburgh, who committed to Nebraska last summer, racked up nearly 500 tackles in his prep career at Overland Park's St. Thomas Aquinas High School. He was a three-year starter on both sides of the ball, leading the offense as the starting quarterback. As a senior, Brandenburgh recorded 123 tackles, three sacks and an interception despite battling injuries for much of the season. He helped Aquinas and Coach Kevin Kopecky to 9-2 record in 2003. Aquinas reached the state quarterfinals in Class 5A (second-largest) and both of its losses were to eventual state champion Blue Valley. Brandenburgh was the Eastern Kansas League Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight year and also earned first-team all-state honors from the Topeka Capital-Journal for the second straight season. He was also named to the Capital-Journal's all-state Super 11 and earned All-Metro honors from the Kansas City Star for the second straight year. When healthy as a junior, Brandenburgh compiled standout numbers on both sides of the ball. He was the Metro Sports Defensive Player of the Year in 2002, after breaking his own school record with 193 tackles, including seven sacks. As Aquinas' quarterback he rushed for more than 800 yards and 11 touchdowns and threw for nearly 600 yards. Brandenburgh's efforts helped his team to a 9-3 record and a trip to the state semifinals. Brandenburgh first established Aquinas' season tackle record as a sophomore when he had 155 tackles to earn all-country honors. ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Lemming lists Brandenburg as the nation's 15th-best inside linebacker prospect. Brandenburgh is ranked as the fourth-best prospect in the state of Kansas by Rivals.com, which also ranks him as the nation's No. 24 inside linebacker prospect. SuperPrep Magazine is also high on Brandenburgh, naming him a prep All-American. The outlet lists him as the 16th-best prospect in the Midlands Region and the No. 13 linebacker in the nation. PrepStar Magazine also tabbed Brandenburgh as an All-Midlands region selection. Brandenburgh has played for Aquinas' basketball team each of the past three years. He is also a standout in the classroom, where he owns a 97 percent average and is a member of the National Honor Society. He chose Nebraska over Colorado, UCLA and Kansas. Lance was born on Aug. 4, 1985, and is the son of Chuck and Barb Brandenburgh. Why Nebraska? � "I chose Nebraska because of the strong football tradition, and I wanted to go to a place where I have a chance to win a national championship. The coaching staff and the players there are all great people."
Offensive Line...6-3...275...Bennington, Neb. (Bennington) Bennington's Andy Christensen is one of five in-state players who are members of Nebraska's 2004 recruiting class. Christensen was one of the first players to join the this year's class, pledging to the Huskers last June. Christensen was a two-way standout for Coach Greg Bohn at Bennington High School, where he started for three years at offensive tackle and was a four-year starter at defensive tackle. As a senior, Christensen compiled 112 tackles and 10 sacks from his defensive tackle position to help the Badgers to a berth in the state playoffs. Offensively, Christensen was a dominant blocker for the Badgers, earning second-team All-Nebraska honors from the Omaha World-Herald and first-team Class C-2 honors from the paper. Christensen was also honored by the Lincoln Journal Star as a member of its second-team Super State squad and a first-team Class C-2 pick as an offensive lineman. As a junior, he led Class C-2 with more than 120 tackles, while also recording 10 sacks. Rivals.com lists Christensen as the No. 3 overall prospect in the state of Nebraska, and although he is expected to play offense at Nebraska, Rivals ranks Christensen as the nation's 22nd-best defensive tackle. Christensen is listed as the 33rd-best prospect in the Midlands Region by SuperPrep Magazine and PrepStar named him an all-region pick as a defensive tackle. Christensen also competes on the Bennington wrestling team, where he owns a 23-1 record as a heavyweight and is currently ranked second in Class C. Christensen missed his junior season of wrestling because of injury, but finished fourth in the state as a sophomore and was a state qualifier as a freshman. In track, Christensen is one of the state's top performers in the shot put. Last season, he finished third in Class C-2 at the state meet in the event and was sixth as a sophomore. He also qualified for state in the discus as a junior. Christensen has a 4.1 grade-point average and ranks in the top five percent of his class. He is also a member of the National Honor Society. He chose Nebraska over Iowa, Iowa State and Colorado State. Christensen was born on June 24, 1986, and is the son of Don and Denise Christensen. Why Nebraska? � "I believe Nebraska is one of the best programs in the nation. They have great traditions and I've been a Nebraska fan since I was a kid. I have always wanted to play there."
Quarterback...6-4...185...Venice, Calif. (Venice) Beau Davis is one of three quarterback recruits in Nebraska's 2004 recruiting class. Davis had a standout senior season at Los Angeles Venice High School for Coach Angelo Gasca. Davis completed 64 percent of his passes last season for more than 3,150 yards and 40 touchdowns, against just 10 interceptions. Davis spread the ball around the field effectively, as three of Venice's wideouts topped 1,000 yards receiving this past season. Davis led Venice to a 13-1 record and a berth in the sectional championship game where they were defeated by Carson High School. Davis threw for a season-high 340 yards against Santa Monica High and had 190 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a key early-season victory over Loyola. Davis was named the Los Angeles Times Westside Back of the Year in his only season at Venice High School. He also received first-team All-City honors from the L.A. Times. He was also an all-region selection by PrepStar Magazine. Davis transferred to Venice from Carson (Calif.) High School. As a junior at Carson, Davis threw for 1,105 yards and 11 touchdowns and guided his team to a state playoff berth. He becomes the fourth consecutive quarterback from Venice High to receive a Division I scholarship, joining J.P. Losman (Tulane), Anton Clarkson (Oregon State) and Eddie Miller (Louisville). Davis turned down a scholarship offer from Utah State, and was also pursued Arizona, Cincinnati and Hawaii. Davis was born on July 15, 1985, and is the son of Billy and Sandra Davis. Why Nebraska? � "I really like the facilities at Nebraska and the tradition is unbelievable. Those two things really caught my eye on the visit there. There are nice people at Nebraska and they were all very helpful on my visit." Quarterback...6-3...190...Palos Heights, Ill. (Stagg) One of three quarterbacks in Nebraska's 2004 recruiting class, Joe Ganz comes to Nebraska from Illinois, the homestate of Husker Head Coach Bill Callahan. The 6-3, 190-pound Ganz is one of two new Huskers from the state of Illinois, joining Libertyville's Santino Panico. Ganz was a dual threat as a three-year starter at quarterback for Stagg High School in Palos Hills, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. He threw for 3,428 yards in his career, with another 1,328 yards on the ground. Ganz operated an offense for Coach Tim McAlpin that was based on an option attack early in his career, but moved to the shotgun last season. As a senior, Ganz completed 60 percent of his passes for about 1,250 yards and 10 touchdowns, while adding 600 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. He guided Stagg to a 6-4 record and a second consecutive state playoff appearance. During his junior campaign, Ganz completed better than 60 percent of his passes for 1,400 yards, leading his team to a 10-3 record and state semifinal appearance. Ganz also started three seasons at safety for Stagg, which competes in Illinois' second-largest class. Ganz earned Class 7A all-state honors from the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association, was a first-team all-conference (SICA Gray) and all-area pick. As a junior, he earned second-team all-state, all-conference and all-area recognition. A two-time team MVP, Ganz is listed as the No. 22 prospect in the state of Illinois by ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Lemming. Rivals.com lists Ganz as the No. 24 overall prospect in the state of Illinois. Ganz chose Nebraska over Eastern Michigan and Northwestern. In addition to football, Ganz also lettered three times in baseball at Stagg. Last season, he batted .480 with seven homers and 38 RBIs from his shortstop position. He is the son of Mike and Debbie Ganz and was born on Dec. 6, 1985. Why Nebraska? � "I've been a huge Nebraska fan for a long time. They really didn't have to sell me on Nebraska. When they knocked on my door, it was an offer I couldn't turn down. I like to throw the ball and the West Coast Offense fits my talents real well."
Defensive Back...5-9...160...Omaha, Neb. (Central) The younger brother of 2003 Husker senior DeAntae Grixby, Omaha Central's Cortney Grixby is regarded as one of the state's top college prospects this season. Grixby was a two-way star for Coach Joe McMenamin's Eagles, playing quarterback on offense and cornerback for the Central defense. During an injury-plagued senior season, Grixby passed for 474 yards and ran for another 344 yards and two touchdowns as the Eagles' quarterback. On defense, Grixby had one interception and about 10 pass breakups, despite defenses regularly avoiding his side of the field. His performance earned him second-team All-Nebraska honors from the Omaha World-Herald as a defensive back and second-team Super State honors from the Lincoln Journal Star. As a junior quarterback, Grixby rushed for 700 yards and 12 touchdowns and passed for another 1,200 yards while also excelling in the secondary, where he had two interceptions and about 15 pass breakups. Grixby had the top offensive game of his career as a junior, when he threw for 220 yards and ran for another 175 yards against Millard West. In 2002, he earned second-team All-Nebraska honors from the World-Herald and first-team Super State honors from the Lincoln Journal Star as a cornerback. Grixby also lettered as both a freshman and sophomore for Central, including time as a starter on both sides of the football in those seasons. Grixby is ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the state of Nebraska by Rivals.com, who lists the 5-9, 160-pounder as the nation's fifth-best cornerback recruit. Grixby is also regarded as the No. 75 overall player in the country by Rivals and the 16th-best player in the Midlands Region. TheInsiders.com ranks Grixby as the No. 40 overall player in the country, while SuperPrep Magazine named him an All-American. Grixby is listed as the 11th-best prospect in the Midlands and the nation's No. 4 Skill Athlete by SuperPrep. Recruiting analyst Tom Lemming lists Grixby as the nation's No. 7 cornerback recruit, while PrepStar Magazine named him to its Dream Team, signifying the top 100 players in the country. Grixby is also a standout on the basketball court. He is his fourth year on the varsity and has led Central to the state tournament each of the past two seasons. This winter the Eagles are poised for a third straight state tournament berth with an 11-2 record (Feb. 2) and a No. 2 ranking in Class A by the World-Herald. Grixby averages about 10 points and four assists per game and hopes to walk on to the Husker basketball team. He is also a member of Central's track team and part of the Eagles' 4 x 100 meter relay team that finished second in the state last year. He was on Central High's student council as a junior. Grixby chose Nebraska over Notre Dame, and was also recruited by UCLA, Minnesota and Kansas State among others. Grixby was born on Feb. 14, 1986, and is the son of Evelyn and Ronald Grixby. Why Nebraska? � "Nebraska felt like home to me. I've been around the program with my brother being there. I really like the coaching staff and all the players I've met have made me feel at home."
Offensive Line...6-5...305...Ralston, Neb. (Ralston) One of five in-state prospects in Nebraska's 2004 recruiting class, Mike Huff is the first Ralston High product to receive a Husker scholarship since 1982. The powerful Huff excelled on the offensive and defensive lines for a Ralston team that finished the 2003 season with a 5-5 record for Coach Tyler Zahn, a Nebraska letterman in 1991. Huff was a second-team All-Nebraska pick by the Omaha World-Herald as a senior, and also was also named to the Lincoln Journal Star's second-team Super State squad. He earned first-team Class B all-state honors from both publications in 2003. Huff was a four-year starter at offensive tackle for the Rams, while starting each of the past three seasons at defensive tackle. As a senior, Huff made about 85 tackles and had 10.5 sacks from his defensive tackle spot. Ralston earned a spot in the Class B playoffs each of Huff's final three seasons, and reached the state title game in 2002. Huff is listed as the 14th-best prospect in the state of Nebraska by Rivals.com and was a PrepStar Magazine all-region selection. In addition to his on-the field honors, Huff was chosen as Ralston High's Lifter of the Year each of the past three years. Huff has lettered in track in each of his first three years of high school and lettered in basketball as a junior. He committed to Nebraska last October, but had drawn recruiting interest from Colorado State, Iowa and Kansas State, among others. The last Ralston High grad to receive a scholarship from Nebraska was offensive tackle Brad Johnson in 1982. Huff is the son of Mike and Chris Huff and was born on Aug. 23, 1985. Why Nebraska? � "It is a natural for me growing up in Nebraska. I've always wanted to play for Nebraska. I'm extremely excited about the new coaching staff and the future of Husker football." Running Back...6-0...220...Horn Lake, Miss. (Horn Lake) Running back Brandon Jackson comes to Nebraska from the state of Mississippi, and is the Huskers' first signee from that state since current Philadelphia Eagle running back Correll Buckhalter joined the NU program in 1997. Jackson rushed for 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns for Horn Lake last season, helping Coach Larry Gann's squad to a 6-6 record and a trip to the second round of the Class 5A playoffs (largest class). Jackson also had 200 receiving yards and one touchdown reception. As a junior, Jackson rushed for 1,783 yards and 28 touchdowns, and made 20 receptions for 200 yards and two touchdowns. His performance helped Horn Lake to a 10-3 record and an appearance in the second round of the state playoffs. Jackson was chosen as the 5A Offensive Player of the Year by the Mississippi coaches association each of the past two years and was also an all-region and all-state selection. He was named to the Dandy Dozen by the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, signifying the top 12 players in the state of Mississippi. Jackson also received all-metro honors in the Memphis area each of the past two seasons, and was a team captain and Horn Lake's MVP as a senior. Jackson is ranked as the nation's 55th-best overall prospect by recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, who tabbed Jackson as the No. 9 running back in the country. Jackson was ranked as the fifth-best prospect in the state of Mississippi by Rivals.com and is listed as the No. 17 running back in the nation by Rivals. The recruiting service also places him in its Southeast Elite 88. SuperPrep Magazine lists Jackson as the No. 7 prospect in the state of Mississippi, while PrepStar named him to its All-Southeast region squad. Jackson has been a standout for Horn Lake's track team each of the past three years. Jackson has a best time of 10.6 seconds in the 100 meters and narrowly missed qualifying for the state meet last year. He was part of three state qualifying relay teams (4x100, 4x200 and 4x400) each of the past two years. Horn Lake's 4x400 team finished second at the Class 5A state meet lasst season. Jackson also visited Mississippi State and Memphis, and also had scholarship offers from West Virginia, Marshall, Tennessee and Oklahoma State. Jackson is the son of Barbara Jackson and was born on Oct. 2, 1985. Why Nebraska? � "I really like the atmosphere at Nebraska. The coaches and players are great and it is just a fun place to be. When you say 'Nebraska' you think big-time football and five national championships." Linebacker...6-2...220...Kansas City, Mo. (Oak Park) One of the top two-way players in the nation, Michael Keenan comes to Nebraska from Oak Park High School in Kansas City, Mo. Keenan is expected to play linebacker at Nebraska, but produced huge numbers as a running back for Coach Keith Ross at Oak Park. As a senior, Keenan rushed for 1,908 yards and scored 23 touchdowns. Defensively, he racked up 86 tackles and had three sacks and a pair of forced fumbles to lead Oak Park to a 7-3 record in Class 6A (state's largest). For his efforts, Keenan received the Simone Award as the best player in the Kansas City metro area. He was also a first-team all-state pick by nearly every source in the state of Missouri and was a first-team all-metro selection by the Kansas City Star. During his junior campaign, Keenan rushed for nearly 1,900 yards and 18 touchdowns, and made about 80 tackles from his linebacker position, including five sacks and six forced fumbles. His play in 2002 earned him first-team all-state and all-conference honors. Keenan also started for Oak Park at linebacker as a sophomore, helping his team to a berth in the 6A state playoffs. Keenan earned Oak Park's Offensive MVP honor each of the past two seasons. He was one of three members of the Husker recruiting class who participated in the U.S. Army All-American Game (West team) last month in San Antonio. Keenan is ranked as the nation's eighth-best inside linebacker prospect by ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, while Rivals.com lists him as the No. 16 outside linebacker prospect in the country. Rivals.com also ranks him as the No. 9 overall recruit in the state of Missouri and listed him among its Midlands Sweet 66. SuperPrep Magazine ranks Keenan as the No. 37 prospect in the Midlands Region, and he was also tabbed an All-Midlands pick by PrepStar Magazine. Keenan chose Nebraska over Kansas and Kansas State. Keenan has also earned three letters in track, running sprints and competing in the high jump for Oak Park. He was born on Feb. 9, 1986 and lives in Kansas City with his grandmother, Marylse Keenan. Why Nebraska? � "They are Dedicated to Excellence. It is on everything Nebraska sends out and that says it all. I'm also real excited about Coach Callahan and the new staff." Offensive Line...6-8...305...Hutchinson, Minn. (Hutchinson) Offensive lineman Lydon Murtha is one of two players from Hutchinson (Minn.) High School in Nebraska's 2004 recruiting class, joining wide receiver Nathan Swift. The two Hutchinson High products are the first players from the state of Minnesota to sign with Nebraska since 1995. Murtha is regarded as one of the nation's top offensive line propsects by several recruiting services. This past season, Murtha helped Hutchinson and Coach Andy Rostberg to a 9-4 record and a state runner-up finish in Class 4A (second-largest). Murtha helped pave the way for Swift to rush for more than 2,000 yards this fall as Hutchinson's starting tailback. Murtha was a first-team all-state selection by several outlets, including the Associated Press and earned first-team All-Missota Conference honors for the second straight year. He has also been an all-metro pick in the Minneapolis area each of the past two years and this past fall was named the Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year. In his first two years as a starter, Hutchinson reached the state semifinals in his junior year and made the playoffs in 2001. Murtha is ranked as the nation's No. 1 offensive tackle prospect by ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, who lists the 6-8 Murtha as the nation's 31st-best overall prospect in 2004. Murtha was named an All-American by SuperPrep Magazine, which also lists him as the No. 7 overall recruit in the Midwest Region, the sixth-best offensive line prospect nationally and the No. 45 overall recruit in the country. Rivals.com is also high on Murtha, ranking him as the No. 42 overall recruit in the country and the fourth-best offensive tackle. Murtha is also listed as the top player in the state of Minnesota and the No. 8 player on Rivals' Midwest Major 50. The Insiders.com lists Murtha as the No. 40 overall recruit in the nation, while PrepStar placed him on its Dream Team, which includes the nation's top 100 players. Murtha is one of three Husker recruits who participated in the U.S. Army All-American Game in early January in San Antonio. Murtha chose Nebraska over his homestate Minnesota Gophers. Listed at 6-8 and 305 pounds, Murtha has the potential to be one of the largest players in Nebraska history. The Huskers' tallest letterman in school history was offensive tackle Tom Punt (1988-90), who also measured 6-8. In addition to his football honors, Murtha is also one of the state's top shot putters. In his first year of track competition in 2003, Murtha finished third at the state meet with a throw of 57-6. He also throws the discus. Off the athletic fields, Murtha has been an Honor Roll member the past two years and is a youth leader at his church. Lydon is the son of Bill and Kim Murtha and was born on Nov. 13, 1985. Why Nebraska? � "Nebraska is all about winning football and that is what I wanted. Coach Callahan has proven he's a good coach and all the assistant coaches are good coaches and good people." Offensive Line...6-4...270...Tallahassee, Fla. (Lincoln) Offensive lineman Danny Muy (pronounced MOO-ee) comes to Nebraska from Florida prep powerhouse Tallahassee Lincoln High School. Muy is one of nearly a dozen Lincoln High players expected to sign National Letters of Intent with Division I schools. Muy is one of five offensive linemen in Nebraska's 2004 recruiting class and was the first player to commit to the Huskers after the hiring of Head Coach Bill Callahan. Muy played guard and tackle for Lincoln High and Coach David Wilson, but is expected to line up at center at Nebraska. Muy's play helped Lincoln High to a 9-3 record and a trip to the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs in 2003. He graded out at 82 percent and recorded 19 "decleaters" as a senior, despite missing the first four games of the regular season because of a sprained knee. He was named first-team All-Big Bend by the Tallahassee Democrat and received third-team all-state honors from the Florida Sportswriters Association. Muy also started for Lincoln as a junior, helping his team to a state semifinal berth. In 2001, Muy was a reserve offensive lineman and earned a championship ring as a member of the Class 4A state championship team. The Orlando Sentinel recently named Muy one of the top 100 recruits in the state of Florida, and he participated in the CaliFlorida Bowl game in January. Muy showed his versatility in that game, as he played guard and had an outstanding performance in helping Florida to a 24-22 victory. Muy is ranked as the nation's No. 9 center by Rivals.com and Max Emfinger ranks him as the nation's No. 7 center recruit. He was also named to PrepStar Magazine's all-region team. Before the start of his senior year, Muy was named to Bill Buchalter's Florida Super Six Team, signifying that Muy was one of Florida's top six players at his position. Muy chose Nebraska over Clemson, Florida and Alabama, among others. Muy was born on Feb. 27, 1986, in Miami, and his family moved to Tallahassee in 1991. He lives with his mother, Marta McPherson and stepfather, Scott McPherson. His father is Mario Muy. Why Nebraska? � "The tradition and fan base at Nebraska are great. They have a great coaching staff and Nebraska has always been a big-time program for offensive linemen. I was also impressed by their team unity."
Wide Receiver...6-0...185...Houston, Texas (Cypress Falls) One of the top receivers in the Texas high school ranks, Terrence Nunn comes to Nebraska from Houston's Cypress Falls High School. Nunn originally committed to Nebraska last summer, then recently re-affirmed his committment, choosing the Huskers over Wisconsin. Nunn was a first-team all-district selection each of the past two seasons for Coach David Raffield at Cypress Falls. Nunn hauled in 34 passes for 471 yards and scored five touchdowns as a senior. A preseason second-team All-Greater Houston selection, Nunn was named Cypress Falls' Offensive MVP in 2003. His top game came against Jersey Village when he had a pair of touchdowns. Nunn also excelled as a junior for Cypress Falls in his first season as a varsity player. In 2002, Nunn caught 27 passes for 623 yards and five touchdowns, an average of better than 23 yards per reception. His top game as a junior came against Cypress Creek when Nunn had three touchdown catches. Nunn is ranked as the No. 67 receiver in the nation according to Rivals.com, while SuperPrep Magazine tabs him as the No. 102 overall prospect in the state of Texas. Nunn was also chosen an all-region selection by PrepStar Magazine. Also a standout on the track, Nunn has outstanding speed, with a 10.6 100-meter dash time. He has lettered in track each of the past three years at Cypress Falls. Nunn is also a member of the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relay teams. In addition to Wisconsin, Nunn also considered Oklahoma State before choosing Nebraska. He was born on July 25, 1986, and is the son of Allester and Arlene Nunn. Why Nebraska? � "I chose Nebraska because I thought it was the best school for me. With Coach Callahan bringing in the West Coast Offense, I knew Nebraska was the place for me." Athlete...6-0...200...Libertyville, Ill. (Libertyville) A versatile performer from the Illinois prep ranks, Santino Panico (pronounced Pan-EE-coe) is one of two Nebraska recruits from Illinois, the home state of Husker Head Coach Bill Callahan. Panico lined up at several positions on both sides of the ball during his prep career and last fall helped Libertyville High School to a 13-1 record and a state runner-up finish in Class 7A (second-largest), losing in double-overtime to Oswego in the state title game. Panico scored 23 touchdowns and accounted for more than 2,000 total yards, including 1,300 yards by rushing and 550 via receiving. Of his 23 touchdowns, 20 were by rush, including 18 of 30 yards or longer. He also scored touchdowns by reception, interception (school-record 85-yarder) and by punt return for Coach Randy Kuceyeski's squad. Panico also started on defense for four years, playing defensive back and linebacker and saw extensive action on special teams. He had 72 tackles, three interceptions, three forced fumbles and two recoveries as a senior. As a reward for his standout play, Panico was named the Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year. He was a first-team all-state selection by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun, The News Gazette, The Pioneer Press-News and the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association. He also earned all-area and all-conference honors. Panico was one of three Husker signees who played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in early January in San Antonio, where Panico played defensive back and wide receiver. Panico was also selected as an All-American by PrepStar Magazine and Reebok and was a USA Today honorable-mention All-American. As a junior, Panico gained over 1,100 yards of total offense and scored 13 touchdowns. Panico won the 2003 Chris Zorich Award, given to the Chicago area prep player with the top achievement on and off the field. He also works with mentally impaired children as part of the "Best Buddies" program and gives motivational speeches to local area elementary schools. Panico chose Nebraska over Indiana, South Carolina, Ball State and Eastern Michigan. Panico is the son of Anthony and Deanna Panico and was born on Feb. 7, 1986, in Chicago. He plans to major in psychology at Nebraska. Why Nebraska? � "I picked Nebraska for three reasons�Coach Callahan's honesty; the kind players I met on my visit; and because of my meeting with psychology professor Calvin Garbin."
Tight End...6-4...230...Elkhorn, Neb. (Elkhorn) The brother of Husker senior linebacker Chad Sievers, Clayton Sievers will join the Husker program after a standout prep career at Elkhorn High School, a powerhouse in Nebraska's Class B ranks. A versatile two-way performer for Coach Mark Wortmann's Antlers, Sievers starred at outside linebacker, defensive end and tight end this past season. Sievers finished his senior year with about 70 tackles, including seven sacks for the Elkhorn defense, while playing fullback on offense, where he served primarily as a lead blocker. His performance helped the Antlers to a 6-4 record last fall. Sievers made 65 tackles and five sacks as a junior, and played tight end for the Antler offense, helping Elkhorn reach the Class B quarterfinals. Sievers was a second-team Super State selection as a defensive lineman by the Lincoln Journal Star, and a second-team All-Nebraska selection as a defender by the Omaha World-Herald. Sievers earned first-team Class B all-state honors from both publications. Sievers is ranked as the nation's No. 29 prospect at outside linebacker by Rivals.com, which also ranks him as the fourth-best overall prospect in the state of Nebraska. SuperPrep Magazine ranks Sievers as the No. 48 prospect in the Midlands Region, while PrepStar Magazine tabbed him as an all-Midlands selection. Sievers, who began his high school career at Valley High School, is one of five in-state players to ink with the Cornhuskers in 2004. He chose Nebraska over Iowa, Iowa State, Colorado State and Wyoming. Clayton is the son of Scott and Karen Sievers, and was born on Jan. 13, 1986. His older brother, Chad, has been Nebraska's No. 2 middle linebacker the past two seasons and carries a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. Why Nebraska? � "I just thought Nebraska was the place for me to be. I felt right at home. It is a program on the rise and I think Coach Callahan brings a lot to the program." Defensive End...6-3...235...Lincoln, Neb. (Southwest) Lincoln Southwest product Ty Steinkuhler adds to a long line of father-son combinations in Nebraska football history. Steinkuhler's father, Dean, won the 1983 Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award in helping Nebraska to one of the most prolific offensive seasons in college football history. Dean's No. 71 is one of 15 retired Husker jerseys. The younger Steinkuhler helped build the Lincoln Southwest football program from the ground up. The Silver Hawks struggled to an 0-9 record in their inaugural season in 2002, but Steinkuhler's play during his junior year did not go unnoticed. He racked up 134 tackles, including 72 unassisted stops, to earn second-team Super State and first-team Class A honors from the Lincoln Journal Star. Steinkuhler excelled on both sides of the ball as a senior for Southwest and Coach Mark King. The Journal Star named him a first-team Super State selection as a linebacker. The World-Herald honored his offensive play, naming him a first-team All-Nebraska pick as an offensive lineman, but listed him as a first-team Class A all-state pick at linebacker. Steinkuhler totaled 163 tackles, including 98 unassisted tackles, with an interception and a fumble recovery as a senior. He also played on the offensive line and helped Southwest make one of the state's biggest improvements with a 5-5 record and the school's first-ever trip to the state playoffs. Steinkuhler is ranked as Nebraska's fifth-best overall prospect by Rivals.com, which lists him as the nation's No. 28 strongside defensive end. PrepStar Magazine tabbed Steinkuhler as an All-Midlands region selection. Ty is the son of Dean Steinkuhler and Sue Steinkuhler. He was born on Sept. 11, 1985. Steinkuhler was one of the first players to commit to Nebraska's 2004 recruiting class, announcing his intentions last June. Why Nebraska? � "It is the program I've followed growing up and I've always wanted to go there. Coach Callahan is a great guy and has a lot of experience in both the college and pro ranks. I really liked the coaching staff when I was on my visit there." Wide Receiver...6-3...185...Hutchinson, Minn. (Hutchinson) Wide receiver Nathan Swift was the first player to commit to Nebraska's 2004 class, making his decision last June after attending the Big Red Football School. Swift is one of two Husker recruits from Hutchinson (Minn.) High, joining All-America offensive tackle Lydon Murtha. The pair are the first two Minnesotans to sign with Nebraska since 1995. Swift was a three-year starter on both sides of the ball for Coach Andy Rostberg's team each of the past three seasons, playing wideout, tailback, free safety, and returning kicks. Swift did most of his damage as a senior from the tailback position, when he led the state with 2,500 yards rushing and scored 30 total touchdowns, including 29 by rush. Swift averaged 8.6 yards per carry and also caught 16 passes for 204 yards and helped Hutchinson to a 9-4 record and an appearance in the Class 4A (second-largest) state title game. He topped 200 yards rushing six times in 2003, including 329 yards against Northfield High. His most extensive time at receiver came in the first two games of the season, when he caught 11 passes, before moving primarily to the backfield. Swift was named the Metro Player of the Year by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and was the Minnesota Player of the Year according to the Associated Press. He also earned first-team all-state and all-metro honors as a running back, and for the third straight year earned first-team All-Missota Conference and all-area honors. As a junior, Swift rushed for more than 1,000 yards and had more than 900 receiving yards with 25 total touchdowns. He helped his team to a berth in the state semifinals and was a first-team all-state pick (AP) as a kick returner. Swift earned second-team all-state honors as a kick returner as a sophomore. Swift finished his prep career with 4,396 yards rushing, 1,648 yards receiving and 72 total touchdowns. He also had 16 interceptions from his defensive back spot. Swift is ranked as the No. 4 overall prospect in the state of Minnesota by Rivals.com and is listed as the nation's 50th-best wide receiver prospect by the service. He was an All-Midwest region selection by PrepStar Magazine, while SuperPrep listed him as the 36th-best prospect in the Midwest. Swift has also participated in basketball and track for Hutchinson High. He is a three-year starter in basketball and was an honorable-mention all-conference pick last season. This year, he averages about 10 points per game. He ran track as a freeshman and sophomore and earned all-conference honors each year. He chose Nebraska over his homestate school Minnesota. Swift is the son of Jeff and Lori Swift and was born on Aug. 24, 1985. Why Nebraska? � "Everyone down there is on the same page and together as a team. The coaches are real comfortable working together and in tune with each other. Everything is set up so well for the student-athletes." Offensive Line...6-6...300...Honolulu, Hawaii (Farrington HS/City College of San Francisco) Cornelius Thomas is the second California junior college offensive lineman to join the Nebraska program in as many years and comes to Lincoln from the City College of San Francisco. Thomas started every game at offensive tackle this past season, helping the CC of San Francisco to a perfect 12-0 record and California JUCO state championship. Thomas is noted for his outstanding pass blocking, helping CC of San Francisco and Coach George Rush put up prolific offensive numbers. Thomas played guard as a freshman and helped CC of San Francisco to a 10-2 record and an appearance in the Hawaiian Punch Bowl. Thomas earned All-NorCal honors as a sophomore and was voted the Most Improved offensive lineman on his team last fall. The 6-6, 300-pound Thomas is ranked as the nation's No. 91 junior college prospect by SuperPrep Magazine. He earned three stars from Rivals.com and is regarded as one of the nation's top junior college offensive linemen by that service. Recruiting analyst Max Emfinger lists Thomas as a five-star prospect and one of the nation's top 100 juco recruits in 2004. Before his career at the City College of San Francisco, Thomas played two seasons of high school ball at Farrington High School in Honolulu, where he started on the offensive line for Coach Harold Tanaka and helped his team reach the state playoffs. Thomas, who hails from the Kalihi area of Honolulu, chose Nebraska over Oregon State, Oregon and Utah. He is the son of Seraphine Fuamatu and was born on Feb. 4, 1983. Why Nebraska? � "It's Nebraska. It is the best football program in the country. It is the right place to for me to become a better football player and a better person. Coach Blake convinced me that Nebraska was the place for me and to commit. I'm also excited about the opportunity to play for Coach Callahan and have Coach Wagner as my line coach."