Cole Pensick had been waiting a long time to sign his letter of intent to become a Cornhusker. He didn't wait any longer than he had to.
Pensick signed his letter of intent at 7:45 a.m. in front of a crowd of slightly more than 100 people at Lincoln Northeast High School.
Pensick, wearing a gray Nebraska sweatshirt, was a two-way lineman for the Rockets who committed to play defensive tackle for NU 382 days ago.
His commitment on January 18, 2008 came two weeks before the class of 2008 was even allowed to sign. Pensick said he "accepted it on the spot" while visiting the coaching staff with his parents.
The first commitment to the class of 2009 was thrilled to end the wait before officially becoming a Husker.
"It's overwhelming," Pensick said after the signing. "I've been waiting over a year and I'm excited to be part of the Pelini era."
Pensick added a little local flavor and Husker tradition to a national event.
He is one of only two scholarship recruits from Nebraska, joining Omaha Gross running back C.J. Zimmerer.
Pensick, like his father, Dan, will spend fall Saturdays in Memorial Stadium. His father was a three-year letterwinner at defensive tackle under Tom Osborne from 1977-1979 and was thrilled to see his son become a Husker.
"He always hoped to be a Husker, and I always hoped he'd follow my footsteps," Dan Pensick said. "He's got a great coaching staff to be with him and he'll have a lot of fun."
The Husker coaching staff impressed both father and son.
"I'm really fired up to play for (NU defensive coordinator) Carl Pelini," Cole Pensick said. "The last two years have been a big turnaround and let's see how they go next year."
Pensick turned in his black and silver No. 63 jersey to Northeast when the Rockets ended their season in October. However, he and his father have their sights set on a different kind of black jersey.
"I want to be a Blackshirt like he was," Cole Pensick said.
johnschreier@dailynebraskan.com
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