LINCOLN — Analyst Tom Lemming of CBS College Sports has evaluated quarterbacks Jamal Turner of Arlington, Texas, and Brion Carnes of Bradenton, Fla.

According to Lemming, their similarities suggest something about the direction of Nebraska's offensive style.

Turner, a junior, accepted an NU scholarship offer Thursday. Carnes is a senior who visited Nebraska a week ago and ranks the Huskers among his favorites as signing day nears this week.

“Both of them are probably suited much more for the spread than any other system,” Lemming said.

Lemming watched Carnes last year in a Florida workout. He saw Turner during a recent trip to Texas.

“They're very similar in talent,” Lemming said. “I like Carnes. He's the most underrated quarterback in Florida this year.”

Turner ranks with 6-foot-4 junior David Ash of Belton, Texas, among the top two junior quarterbacks in Texas, Lemming said. Turner, 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, owns 38 school records at Sam Houston High in Arlington. He rushed and passed for more than 2,000 yards in 10 games as a junior last fall.

The 6-1, 185-pound Carnes finished 186-of-305 passing for 2,697 yards and 25 touchdowns last year at Bradenton Manatee. He threw for more than 6,000 yards in starting 51 games in four seasons.

Staying in touch with Callahan

Nebraska fans may remember Lemming as the longtime friend of Bill Callahan. Lemming touted Callahan's 2005 NU recruiting class as the best nationally. And though it included stars — notably Ndamukong Suh — the group mostly underperformed.

While Callahan severed communication with most people connected to his stint at Nebraska after his November 2007 firing, he's kept up with Lemming.

“I just talked to him a couple days ago,” Lemming said.

Callahan has spent the past two seasons directing the offensive line as assistant head coach of the New York Jets. The Jets, behind a strong running game, advanced to the AFC championship game last weekend.

“If you had to point to one thing that's made the Jets better, it's the O-line,” Lemming said. “He's just very intense. I'm sure he'll be a head coach in the pros again within a few years.”

Others dealing with weather, too

Carnes is visiting Western Kentucky this weekend, where it's cold and snowy. Forecasts call for up to 10 inches of snow in Bowling Green, Ky., with high temperatures stuck in the 20s.

Interestingly, Carnes expressed concern about the Lincoln weather before his NU visit. For January, it was mild during his two-day stay. The Nebraska weather “didn't bother him at all,” said Chris Conboy, the quarterbacks coach at Manatee High School.

Carnes' connection to WKU involves new coach Willie Taggart, a former Manatee quarterback who coached the running backs at Stanford for the past three years.

Another oddity about the situation: New defensive ends coach Raymond Woodie is recruiting Carnes for Western Kentucky. Woodie spent 10 years as head coach at Bradenton Bayshore and sent Fabian Washington and Latravis Washington to Nebraska.

Carnes committed to South Florida before his senior season but changed his mind after coach Jim Leavitt was fired this month. The quarterback visited USF to meet new coach Skip Holtz and his staff before the trip to Nebraska, though the Bulls pulled Carnes' scholarship offer last week.

“I've lost a lot of respect for the South Florida program,” Manatee coach Joe Kinnan told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

NU pledge helps USA against World team

Nebraska pledge Mike Moudy and prospect Corey Cooper were teammates Saturday in the Team USA Versus the World football game in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Team USA won 17-0. The game matched 45 high school seniors on the U.S. team against a group selected by the 57-nation, Paris-based International Federation of American Football.

Events leading up to the game were held in conjunction with preparation for the NFL's Pro Bowl, to be played today at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Cooper, a safety from Maywood, Ill., did not play because of a minor injury. He is expected to announce his decision on signing day, picking among Illinois, Nebraska, Arizona and Notre Dame.

Moudy, who started in the game at left tackle, is pictured in a camouflage sweatshirt on the roster page for the game. Apparently, it's a fitting look. Despite his proximity to Denver, Moudy won't feel out of place in Lincoln, according to his coach, Jeff Ketron, at Douglas County High School in Castle Rock, Colo.

“He's a big, old country kid,” the coach said. “He wears his boots, his Wranglers every day.”

— Mitch Sherman

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