Don't count on recruits until they are playing

Every year those who follow football recruiting closely go through emotional ups and downs. In an interview a highly touted recruit says he favors Nebraska. Big emotional up. On another day, a highly touted recruit that visited Nebraska commits to some other school. Big emotional down. The reality is that even if recruits commit and sign their letters of intent, there still are several hurdles remaining before they actually contribute to the program. So logic tells us to not go overboard either way even though emotions often rule the day.

Today we are reminded about those hurdles with the news about recruit Major Culbert from California. Culbert was being counted on to challenge for one of the corner or safety spots when he arrived in Lincoln this Fall. Now the news reports indicate he has been charged with a crime and Bill Callahan announced that Major Culbert's scholarship offer is suspended. Click for the Major Culbert stories in the Lincoln-Journal Star and the Daily Breeze. Earlier, recruit Ricky Henry from the same recruiting class last year was forced to take the JUCO route when his academics did not meet requirements. Unfortunately the odds are high that other recruits expected in Lincoln also will not make it. We just don't know the other ones are yet or what the circumstances of their situation will be.

Hurdles facing recruits beside legal troubles include academic qualification, complex NCAA qualification rules, adjusting to new football systems, change of mind and injury or undiscovered medical conditions. Any one of these issues can prevent a recruit from ever setting foot on the playing field. So the message to fans is not to get too excited about any recruit or any recruiting class until the recruits actually prove themselves in games. Easy to say, of course. Very hard to do when you are emotionally involved in cheering for your team.

Go Big Red,

RedCap