Millard South senior Bronson Marsh is visiting NU Friday and Saturday with hopes of receiving a scholarship offer.

“So far it sounds pretty good,” said Marsh, the All-Nebraska quarterback and career 11-man record-holder for passing yardage in Nebraska. “I'm trying to stay positive about it.”

The 6-foot, 205-pound Marsh, who led Millard South to the Class A crown in November, is sitting on offers from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Northwest Missouri State.

“I just want to play at the highest level I can,” he said Thursday at the All-Nebraska Team Awards Lunch.

He has talked to NU assistants Marvin Sanders and Barney Cotton about playing safety. That's fine, Marsh said, though he would prefer to first get a shot at QB.

“But if not,” he said, “I'll do whatever I can to play. If I have to play (another position), that's OK.”

With no quarterbacks among 18 commitments, the Huskers have remaining room for two to three players in this class. They're actively seeking other quarterbacks, including Brion Carnes of Bradenton, Fla., and Kain Colter of Englewood, Colo.

Rodriguez's challenge

It probably shouldn't have surprised Andrew Rodriguez. Still, he was caught off guard last week by the level of play in practices for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

“Harder than I expected,” Rodriguez said.

The 6-foot-6, 310-pound offensive lineman from Aurora, Neb., started at right guard in the high school all-star game Saturday in San Antonio. He said he adjusted well after an initial jolt.

“That first day, it seemed everything was so fast,” he said. “Getting everything down with your footwork, it wasn't easy. But after that, you get used to it.”

Rodriguez and Omaha North running back Ron Coleman were the only two-time honorees in attendance Thursday at the Doubletree Hotel. Rodriguez, who helped Aurora win two Class B titles, plans to sign with the Huskers on Feb. 3 as a premier member of their 2010 recruiting class.

He's set to visit NU officially later this month. Offensive line coach Barney Cotton recently visited Rodriguez in Aurora. Coach Bo Pelini will likely visit before signing day.

Coleman's decision

Ron Coleman beamed when the question was asked. When does the Omaha North senior and All-Nebraska running back anticipate making a decision on his college plans?

“Soon,” he said with a smile. “Real soon.”

The 5-foot-11, 250-pound Coleman said he plans on taking a trip to Southeast Missouri State (a Football Championship Subdivision, or formerly I-AA school) and then possibly Division II national champion Northwest Missouri State. Although he hasn't ruled out going the Football Bowl Subdivision route, formerly I-A, with Kansas showing interest of late, Coleman said he's just fine with taking the Division II route.

“Almost half of NFL stars out there come from Division II schools,” Coleman said. “It's not about where you go. It's about what you do when you get there. I'm going to be just fine no matter where I go. That's just me.”

Kansas and new coach Turner Gill could play a part in things with Coleman, who has offers from UNO and North Dakota State. Most schools are looking at him as a defensive prospect, on the line or at linebacker.

Coleman said he expects to decide before signing day.

Surgery for Fisher

Junior Cole Fisher of Millard North is set for surgery next week to repair a torn anterior cruciate knee ligament. He suffered the injury Dec. 17 in the Mustangs' basketball victory over Bellevue West.

Fisher earned first-team All-Nebraska recognition as a defensive back. He holds a scholarship offer from Iowa and plans to attend a junior day in Iowa City this weekend.

“If it was going to happen,” he said of the knee injury, “this is the right time.”

Fisher's brother, Sean, is a second-year linebacker at Nebraska. Their father, Todd, also played at NU.

Junior combine

Ryne Reeves, like Rodriguez, returned last weekend from the festivities in San Antonio with an appreciation for his need to improve. Reeves, an All-Nebraska offensive lineman from Class B Crete, participated in the junior combine before the U.S. Army game.

“The testing was good,” Reeves said. “I thought I did good in one-on-ones. It motivates me to get better, and I understand what things I need to work on.”

Reeves and lineman Tyler Moore of Clearwater, Fla., have already pledged to NU for its class 2011.

Cotton likes D

It was defense or Dad.

Somehow, Jake Cotton said, he chose defense.

The Lincoln Southeast senior and Nebraska recruit said he will go to Nebraska as a defensive lineman, the other side of the ball from his father, Husker offensive line coach Barney Cotton, and brother, NU tight end Ben Cotton.

“Growing up, my brother was always one to be on offense, one to catch the ball,” Jake Cotton said.

“Being the younger brother, I always wanted to stop him.”

The 6-foot-7, 265-pound Cotton said it has been a thrill watching what Pelini and defensive coordinator Carl Pelini have done with the Blackshirts.

“My mom made fun of me when I said it gave me goose bumps to watch them play defense down in the Big 12 championship game,” he said. “The chance to play in that defense is unbelievable.”

So no push from pops to get him to switch?

“Playing defense for Coach Carl and Coach Bo?” Cotton said. “I don't think it matters.”

Moore likes KU

Speaking of the Jayhawks, they might be in line for the services of an Omaha receiver as well, but not in the immediate future.

Omaha Burke senior Lavant Moore said he is hoping to take an unofficial visit to Lawrence in the near future with his dad, and he said he would walk on at KU should no other top level opportunities present themselves.

Moore said he wouldn't be making a decision “anytime soon,” and could even wait as long as the summer to make his plans. That hasn't stopped him from selecting a front-runner, though.

“I want to go to Kansas,” Moore said. “I've been looking at them a lot. With Turner Gill coming in, and just seeing what he did at Buffalo with that spread offense, they've definitely got my attention.”

Moore said he has offers from UNO and other Division II schools, but admits that college's top level is where he sees himself.

“That's just what's been in my ear and in my head,” Moore said.

— Mitch Sherman and Nick Rubek

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