Nebraska’s recruiting drought is over.
After more than 40 days without securing any new scholarship prospects, the Cornhuskers coaching staff picked up a commitment this weekend just days in advance of signing day.
On Sunday night, linebacker Eric Martin gave his verbal commitment to Nebraska, choosing the Huskers over Arizona and Arizona State.
The 6-foot-2, 227-pound linebacker from Rancho Verde High School in Moreno Valley, Calif., is rated as a three-star prospect and the No. 26 linebacker in the nation on the recruiting Web site Rivals.com.
Martin said the unique football environment Nebraska offered was appealing to him. He said the state’s lack of pro teams and heavy emphasis on Husker football was a benefit.
“They have a lot of stuff that I think can help me get to where I need to go,” Martin said. “Overall, the football environment is just something different. I picked it over other schools because of that.”
Martin visited Lincoln on Jan. 23 and took one final trip to Arizona State this weekend before making his decision. Martin said his campus visit helped seal the deal.
“They gave me a tour of the school and showed me every little piece of the school, and that’s what really stuck out in the trip,” Martin said. “They showed me all the facilities, and I met all the coaches, and it was real cool. I really liked it.”
Rancho Verde coach Pete Duffy said it was a close race and a difficult decision for his linebacker.
“All three staffs did such a great job recruiting him, and Eric is a kid that hates to say no to anybody, especially a coach,” Duffy said.
Duffy said coaches were in and out of Martin’s house over the past week, and all three schools worked hard in the final week to make their cases.
“It was really hard because there was really no wrong answer, and he knew that,” Duffy said. “All three are great places, so it was difficult.”
Although he will be nearly 1,500 miles away from home, Martin said playing far away from his family and the convenience of playing at an Arizona school didn’t factor too heavily into his decision.
“Even though Arizona State and Arizona are on the West Coast right next to where I live, I’m not really worried about it,” Martin said. “My family is going to see me regardless of whether I’m in the Pac-10 (Conference) or not. My family doesn’t have to come to my games to support me.”
Martin is Nebraska’s second incoming scholarship linebacker, joining Chris Williams of Abilene, Tex. The Husker coaching staff recently withdrew its scholarship offer to Shawn Bodtmann, a linebacker commit from Scranton, Pa., who is now looking at Maine and Western Carolina.
Although the Huskers will return a number of linebackers that logged significant playing time in 2008, Martin said he’s been told he will get a chance at immediate playing time.
“They said if I compete, I can be a starter,” Martin said. “I’m going compete just like I always do. I’m not trying to redshirt. They said I could start at special teams and linebacker if I want.”
NU has also picked up another walk-on commitment this weekend. Brandon Chapek, an offensive lineman from Bishop Neumann High School in Wahoo, Neb., has decided to walk on.
“I came down for the walk-on day and got a chance to talk to Coach (Barney) Cotton, who I worked with in a summer camp, and it felt like a good fit,” Chapek said.
Chapek, a 6-foot-5, 305-pound tackle, visited the school Jan. 25 before making his decision.
“I’m excited because I’ll get a chance to come in and redshirt – get a little bit bigger, faster, stronger and learn the offense – and then have a shot at coming in and fighting for a position after that,” Chapek said.
He received offers from many local colleges, including Morningside, Mankato State and Wayne State, but received little attention from Division I schools.
“He’s got good size, and he moves pretty well for his size,” Bishop Neumann Coach Tim Turman said. “The thing that he did really well in high school is when he gets on a block, he stays on it and finishes it.”
Despite the interest from smaller schools, Chapek said the decision was an easy one once the coaching staff offered him a spot on the team.
“Growing up in Nebraska, it’s every boy’s dream just to get a chance to play for the Huskers,” Chapek said. “When I got that opportunity, it kind of made it easy.”
California linebacker Eric Martin commits to Nebraska
Bishop Neumann lineman Brandon Chapek to walk on
Published: Monday, February 2, 2009
Updated: Tuesday, February 3, 2009
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