BY MITCH SHERMAN
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
LINCOLN - When Tom Lemming says it, the task sounds simple, like it's nearly a done deal.
"Nebraska is still looking at 50 guys out there," said Lemming, the ESPN recruiting analyst and editor of Prep Football Report. "All they've got to do is get one out of five of them, and they'll have the No. 1 class in the country.
"That's how well they've been doing."
Lemming, in Lincoln today to watch the Huskers host Missouri as part of his tour of Midwestern schools, is a longtime friend of NU Coach Bill Callahan. But Lemming said his friendship with the coach, formed as a result of their shared Chicago roots, has not skewed his opinion of Nebraska's work in recruiting this fall.
With the addition Thursday of Omaha Creighton Prep senior Zach Potter to its class of 2005, NU has 14 oral commitments.
Among them are several immediate difference makers, Lemming said, including running back and defensive back Leon Jackson, linebacker Phillip Dillard, quarterback Harrison Beck and cornerback Zackary Bowman.
"A lot of coaches just don't put recruiting as a huge priority," Lemming said, "and it ends up costing them their jobs. No knock against Frank Solich's coaching, but they just weren't getting the kind of athletes here they needed over the past few years."
Under former Coach Tom Osborne, who won three national titles in his final four years, NU also rarely signed recruiting classes among the nation's top five.
But times have changed, Lemming said. Conference rules that no longer allow academic non-qualifiers and limit partial qualifiers altered the playing field.
"You've got to do it differently now," Lemming said, "It's a huge change, and that's why you have to have great recruiters."
Lemming rates NU Defensive Line Coach John Blake as the top recruiter nationally among assistants. Blake is involved in recruiting many of the top uncommitted prospects who still like the Huskers.
Nebraska has a chance, Lemming said, with running backs Marlon Lucky and Jonathan Stewart, defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh, Jerrell Powe and Callahan Bright, offensive linemen Dan Doering and Dace Richardson, wide receiver Nyan Boateng and tight ends Martellus Bennett and Dajleon Farr.
Farr, of Galena Park, Texas, is part of a small group of visitors to Lincoln today. Nebraska has hosted more recruits this season than any other school. The size of this weekend's group, though, was limited by problems getting visitors into town for the 11 a.m. kickoff.
Lemming selects the rosters for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Jan. 15 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. NU commitments Jackson, Dillard, Craig Roark and Jordan Congdon have been chosen to play in the game. Several others will make their commitments live on NBC during the game.
"It's kind of amazing the number of top players Nebraska is on," Lemming said. "And of their commitments, I haven't seen one guy I'm not impressed with."
The rebirth of Nebraska
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