2:39 p.m.: Donovan Vestal wasn't able to be like Chase Rome and Jay Guy and arrive early in Lincoln, but the Nebraska football recruit talks like somebody who can't wait to be a Husker.

The defensive end from Bowie High in Arlington, Texas, is itching to get started and says: "In my head, Nebraska is where I was destined to be.'' Vestal will come this summer and unite with Rome and Guy, fellow defensive linemen who graduated from high school last month and have started classes at NU.

We're catching up with NU recruits over the next two weeks in advance of signing day and will tease some of our coverage with blog updates.

"I want to be a Blackshirt,'' Vestal said. "I always wanted to be one.''

Vestal is an intriguing character. He said he hates sitting around and likes to get out and see things. Thanks to his mother, Sonja, working for American Airlines, the 18-year-old already has traveled extensively.

The 6-foot-5, 240-pounder is a third-year starter this season on the Bowie basketball team. He also throws the shot put and discus in track, and said he likes to swim.

"My motor,'' Vestal says when asked about his best attributes.

"I'm always out to hit somebody,'' he said. "I have the heart that nothing's going to stop me, nothing's going to keep me from getting what I want to accomplish.''

Vestal will put that mentality toward playing right away, if it would happen to work out that way. Cameron Meredith in 2008 and Jason Ankrah last year both showed enough as true freshmen for NU to consider playing them right away.

But Bowie defensive coordinator Travis Dougherty seems to think a redshirt is best, giving Vestal a chance to add weight and work on his upper body.

"I see him being a 285-pound or 290-pound kid, and I see him eventually playing inside,'' Dougherty said. "But you can't teach 6-foot-5, you can't teach long arms and you can't teach instinctive.''

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