Just ask Nebraska: Signing day not always sign of what's to come

The architect of arguably the best recruiting class in Nebraska history cannot forget his handiwork.

Most of the time.

"It was a great class," John Blake said before pausing ...

"Who was in that class?"

It's been a while for Blake, Nebraska and college recruiting. Five years to be exact as the latest edition of the over-the-top orgy of talent evaluation known as national signing day hits next week. Sometimes it pays, though, to look back before looking ahead, if only to remind ourselves. Somewhere between the wire that shields us from drooling recruiting analysts and those who believe in them is the reality of it all.

Foes tried everything to stop Ndamukong Suh, with little success. (US Presswire)

The reality that has stamped Nebraska's class of 2005 half a decade after the fact.

Despite being led to believe the opposite, signing day isn't the end-all. It is a process. Back in 2005, Nebraska wasn't used to top 10 classes. Players used to come to Lincoln to be made, not celebrated. Certainly not before they became Blackshirts or Outland winners or Heisman candidates.

Nebraska circa 2005, then, is as much a cautionary tale as it was a recruiting rodeo. The 31-player class was part of three bowl wins and two division titles, but no championships. One quarterback recruit, Zac Taylor, became a Big 12 offensive player of the year and Nebraska's career passing leader. Another quarterback, Harrison Beck, eventually played at three schools, finishing at Division II North Alabama.

The class produced arguably the best defensive player in Nebraska (and college football) history, Ndamukong Suh. It also was part of the 2007 team that gave up the most points in school history, 76 to Kansas.

Running back Marlon Lucky committed within "minutes" -- according to Blake -- of a 70-10 loss to Texas Tech in 2004.

Twelve jucos were in the class. Three never made it past a year.

At least three are currently on NFL rosters.

One stuck around for five years, making one career tackle.

The head coach who recruited them (Bill Callahan) is now coaching the offensive line for the New York Jets.

The AD who oversaw it (Steve Pederson) was run out of town halfway through their third season.

When we gathered in a lounge behind Nebraska's press box that first week of February in 2005, though, we all had bought in -- the media; Blake, the disgraced former Oklahoma head coach who had remade himself as an ace recruiter; and Callahan, three seasons removed from a Super Bowl with the Raiders, coming off Nebraska's first losing season in more than four decades.

Of course there was Tom Lemming, the recruiting guru who wasn't the only one of his kind to name Nebraska No. 1, but certainly was the loudest.

"A year from now, everyone will be talking about this Nebraska class as their greatest in the last 25 years," he said in 2005

Now?

"I could go home and look it up," Lemming said this week when asked to name 2005's top class. "I can't remember last year's [No. 1 class]."

This was a snapshot of Nebraska changing its culture. Tom Osborne had built the Huskers' backbone with a rich vein of walk-ons. Callahan abolished the tradition. One of the most lethal option offenses in history was clumsily transferred to the West Coast. It was a mostly painful experience except for that signing day, which continues to be Christmas Day for a program looking for a ray of light.

Six players from 2005 made it through as fifth-year seniors in 2009. They were parts of teams that went 41-24, basically an average of 8-5. But they were also within a second of a BCS bowl after a sound defensive thrashing of Texas in December's Big 12 title game.

Yes, the class was dichotomous, up and down, contrarian. A disappointment? That might be going too far. For one, a large portion of the players outlasted the coach and staff who recruited them. For the six who stayed for five years, it certainly was worth it:

Barry Turner stayed for five seasons, making 17 career sacks. (US Presswire)

•  Defensive end Barry Turner wound up in the school's top 10 in sacks;

•  Jacob Hickman grayshirted, enrolling in January 2006, and became a three-year starter on the offensive line;

•  Chris Brooks stayed loyal, worked hard and caught 17 career passes;

•  David Harvey came from La Plata, Md., switched from tight end to defensive line and made that one career tackle;

•  Phillip Dillard was a hard case. The change in coaches did not go well, especially when the linebacker ballooned up to 272. After the 2009 Gator Bowl, new head coach Bo Pelini and linebackers coach Mike Ekeler had a heart-to-heart with Dillard.

"To Phil's credit, he came in and said, 'Coach all I want is a chance to prove myself,'" Ekeler said. "He stuck with it."

Dillard was raised by adoptive parents; his biological parents died within 1½ years of each other. He didn't play a snap the first two games of 2009, then was inserted against Virginia Tech, eventually becoming a second-team All-Big 12 linebacker.

Five years of disappointment, grief and redemption were packed for Mobile, Ala., this week when Dillard went to the Senior Bowl.

"Phil's going to get drafted," Ekeler said. "He's the best linebacker there, I guarantee you."

•  The gem of the class was recruited twice. Once, when Blake persuaded Suh to come all the way from Portland, Ore. Once again, when Pelini arrived in 2008.

"I wanted to prove I wasn't a one-year wonder," Suh said.

In 2009, he became unstoppable, the first All-American D-lineman at Nebraska since 1997 and winner of every major defensive award in existence. Next stop, perhaps becoming the No. 1 pick in the draft.

"I knew he'd be good," Blake said. "I didn't know he'd be dominant."

Just the opposite of Nebraska's forever class. Good, not dominant.

"Was it good enough?" Blake asked. "I don't know. ... Sometimes it doesn't work out. That's why those ratings aren't always accurate."

Most of the time.

Looking back at Nebraska's Class of 2005

(Star rankings per Rivals.com)

Harrison Beck, QB, 6-1, 205, Clearwater, Fla. (4 stars): Played one year before transferring to North Carolina State. Led North Alabama to the Division II championship game in 2009.

Zack Bowman, CB, 6-2, 200, Anchorage, Alaska (5 stars): Started parts of 2005 and 2007. Injured in 2006. Currently with the Chicago Bears.

Chris Brooks, WR, 6-3, 190, St. Louis, Mo. (4 stars): Fifth-year senior who caught 17 career passes.

Jacob Hickman became a three-year starter on the offensive line. (Getty Images)

Jordan Congdon, K, 5-10, 165, San Diego (3 stars): Starting kicker in 2005 and 2006, then transferred to USC. In 2009, he made 12 of 16 field goals for the Trojans. In his career he was 36 of 46.

Nick Covey, LB, 6-2, 210 Glendale, Ariz. (3 stars): Little-used reserve who was in the program for three years.

Barry Cryer, DT, 6-3, 285, Marrero, La. (3 stars): Juco who started in 2006.

Ola Dagunduro, DT, 6-2, 315, Inglewood, Calif. (4 stars): Juco who started in 2006.

Phillip Dillard, LB, 6-2, 247 Tulsa, Okla. (4 stars): Two-year starter who became second-team All-Big 12 in 2009. Invited to the Senior Bowl and NFL combine.

Wallace Franklin, WR, 6-3, 190, Beaumont, Texas (3 stars): Signed with Nebraska but never made it to campus. Ended up at Iowa State, where he was eventually kicked off the team after three off-field incidents in 15 months.

Cody Glenn, RB, 6-0, 211, Rusk, Texas (3 stars): Played in running back rotation for first three seasons. Switched to linebacker his senior season in 2008. Currently on his way to the Super Bowl as a reserve linebacker with Indianapolis.

Frantz Hardy, WR, 6-0, 170, Miami (4 stars): Valuable juco receiver who played as a reserve for three seasons.

David Harvey, TE, 6-4, 230, La Plata, Md. (2 stars): Career backup who made one career tackle after being switched to defensive line.

Jacob Hickman, OG, 6-4, 244, Bakersfield, Calif. (3 stars): January 2006 grayshirt who became a three-year starter. Honorable mention All-Big 12 twice.

Broderick Hunter, WR, 6-2, 210, Humble, Texas (3 stars): Never made it to campus.

Leon Jackson, RB/DB, 6-3, 200 Pasco, Wash. (4 stars): Came for one year then transferred to Hawaii, where he led the Warriors in rushing in 2009.

Marlon Lucky, RB, 5-11, 202, North Hollywood, Calif. (5 stars): Two-year starter who finished fourth all-time at Nebraska with more than 4,200 all-purpose yards.

Dontrell Moore, LB, 6-2, 225, Thibodaux, La. (3 stars): Juco who played one year as a backup linebacker and on special teams.

Steve Octavien, LB, 6-1, 230, Naples, Fla. (4 stars): Two-year starter now with the Dallas Cowboys.

Brock Pasteur, OT, 6-7, 320m Orlando, Fla. (2 stars): Juco who stayed one year as a reserve.

Jordan Picou, OT, 6-2, 330, Rialto, Calif. (2 stars): Career backup.

Rodney Picou, OG, 6-4, 300, Moreno Valley, Calif. (4 stars): Cousin of Jordan who never made a significant impact.

Zach Potter, DE/TE, 6-7, 258, Omaha, Neb. (4 stars): Two-year starter at defensive end. On Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad in 2009.

Robert Rands, RB/DB, 5-8, 160, Bellevue, Neb. (2 stars): Only in program one year.

Craig Roark, OL, 6-2, 285, Ada, Okla. (3 stars): Spent two years at Nebraska before transferring to East Central University in Oklahoma.

Jeff Souder, DB/LB, 6-0, 205, Bellevue, Neb. (not rated): Special teamer for one year before transferring to Division II Nebraska-Omaha.

Tyrell Spain, WR, 6-3, 195, San Diego (3 stars): Eventually switched to cornerback. Reserve who also played on special teams.

Ndamukong Suh, DT, 6-4, 278, Portland, Ore. (4 stars): One of the most decorated players in Nebraska history. Won every major national defensive award in 2009. Fourth in Heisman voting.

Zac Taylor, QB, 6-2, 210, Norman, Okla. (3 stars): Juco who became a two-year starter and was the Big 12 offensive player of the year in 2006.

Justin Tomerlin, DE, 6-6, 265, San Clemente, Calif. (4 stars): Spent one year in the program.

Barry Turner, RE, 6-3, 230, Antioch, Tenn. (3 stars): Two-year starter who finished in the top 10 in career sacks.

Bryan Wilson, DB, 6-2, 200, Granada Hills, Calif. (2 stars): Juco who was a reserve defensive back for two seasons.