NU Football Recruit Jordan Westerkamp chooses Huskers over Fighting Irish

Jordan Westerkamp committed to play wide receiver at Nebraska almost four months before the 2011 football season began.

In December, he started to have second thoughts.

After Westerkamp led Montini Catholic High School (Lombard, Ill.) to its third-straight Illinois 5A State Championship, he received an offer from Notre Dame.

Westerkamp grew up watching the Fighting Irish play – his parents are Notre Dame fans – so he took a visit to South Bend, Ind.

On Jan. 9, Westerkamp decided to pass on the Irish and honor his commitment to the Huskers.

"I really felt at home," Westerkamp said. "You want to have that feeling."

One of the most impactful moments on Westerkamp's decision to stick with Nebraska was his visit on Oct. 9 – Nebraska's record-setting come-from-behind victory against Ohio State.

"What really stuck out to me was the heart the Nebraska team had," Westerkamp said. "It was unbelievable to see a game like that."

Westerkamp, like fellow recruit Michael Rose, tried to stay in contact with other Nebraska targets throughout the season.

One of his biggest selling points, something coach Bo Pelini agreed with, was to get recruits to take a visit to Nebraska and see the program firsthand.

"I try to recruit as much as possible," Westerkamp said. "I tell them just to go out there and see it."

Westerkamp's own recruiting was essentially a battle between Nebraska and Notre Dame, though he had over a dozen other offers from schools like Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern and West Virginia.

In his three seasons playing for Montini, Westerkamp never had fewer than 1,000 yards receiving. His career 235 receptions for 4,618 yards and 68 touchdowns are all Illinois state records.

Westerkamp's father, Robert, was ranked in the top 10 in a number of Illinois state records as a wide receiver at Montini.

Over the course of his high school career, Jordan Westerkamp broke every one of those records.

In the Class 5A Illinois State Championship Game, Westerkamp caught 12 passes for 353 yards and five touchdowns to lead Montini to a 70-45 win. Westerkamp said he hopes to lead Nebraska to the same kind of success on offense.

"Seeing the offense and how much they've progressed has got me really excited," Westerkamp said. "The offense is looking pretty good. I'm just really excited to get out there and be a part of it."

Early in his career at Montini, Westerkamp contributed immediately, posting 51 receptions for 1,156 yards and 16 touchdowns including a 99-yard touchdown catch.

Nebraska's young corps of wide receivers could provide Westerkamp with an opportunity for immediate playing time, but coach Pelini said it's too early to tell.

"We don't promise playing time," Pelini said.

Westerkamp played in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in January, and was named a first-team All-American by USA Today, in addition to being named Illinois Player of the Year by the Chicago Tribune and ESPN Chicago.

Despite the talent level of Nebraska's incoming class – which ranks 29th according to 247sports.com – Pelini said he is more concerned with players' development over the next two to three years.

"It's not what you have going in," Pelini said. "It's what you get going out."

chrispeters@

dailynebraskan.com