Huskers sign 21 players, find riches in California DBs, QB
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) Nebraska coach Mike Riley's acumen for recruiting the West Coast appears to have paid off. He and his staff signed four Californians on Wednesday, with three of them rated four-star prospects.
The most talked-out recruit among the fans and media is quarterback Patrick O'Brien of San Juan Capistrano, California. O'Brien, who enrolled in January, looks like a perfect fit for Riley's pro-style offense.
The 21 signees come from 14 states, with only two from Nebraska.
Other things to know:
Top 25 Class: Yes.
Best in class: Lamar Jackson, CB, Elk Grove, California. He's a top-100 national recruit and Nebraska's highest-rated West Coast signee in more than a decade. With Jackson and safety Marquel Dismuke of Calabasas, California, among the four defensive backs in the fold, the Cornhuskers met their needs in the secondary.
Best of the rest: John Raridon, OL, West Des Moines, Iowa. The 6-4, 271-pound guard is the top offensive line recruit and the son of former Nebraska offensive tackle Scott Raridon.
Late addition: Matt Farniok, OT, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Bo Pelini staff started pursuing the 6-foot-5, 319-pounder two years ago and Riley's staff picked up the chase before landing his commitment a week ago.
One that got away: Nebraska thought it had locked up four-star receiver Desmond Fitzpatrick of Waterford, Michigan. That was before Fitzpatrick took a visit to Louisville. He announced he would become a Cardinal on Tuesday. The Huskers are left with two receivers in the class.
How they'll fit in: All eyes will be on O'Brien in spring practice. It would be premature to say he could challenge incumbent Tommy Armstrong, but he's well-positioned to be the No. 2 QB come fall. Raridon and Farniok beef up the offensive line, and Jackson and Dismuke could play right away.
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For the full list: http://www.huskers.com
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