LINCOLN — When Bo Pelini settled in Wednesday for his third signing day press conference, the Nebraska football coach stayed consistent with the way he handled the previous two.

Pelini did not willingly throw out names or superlatives.

He did not predict instant or inevitable success for anybody.

And he most certainly did not have anything good to say about what the “analysts” or “experts” thought about the NU class or particular players.

“I like to base my decisions on my analysis, not somebody that isn’t watching the same films I am,” Pelini said. “Everyone’s going to have their opinion. We’ll talk about it in a couple years here, and we’ll figure out who’s right. How about that?”

Fair enough.

Nebraska signed 21 players Wednesday, including 12 expected to go straight to the defensive side when they put on pads.

The last hours featured both good and bad news as safety Corey Cooper and quarterback Brion Carnes said yes to the Huskers, but defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa opted for UCLA.

Pelini shrugged and said he knew the intentions of all three by Tuesday night. His own assessment as names officially landed on paper was that he was “real excited” about the class and that “we got most of the guys we went after.”

And if Rivals.com said the NU class ranked No. 23 or Scout.com pegged it at No. 30, well, it actually seemed to tickle Pelini when asked what he thought about the whole business of how recruiting is covered.

“We could spend a few hours on that,” Pelini said.

“I mean, really, honestly it makes me really laugh. It’s amusing to me. It provides me with a lot of enjoyment reading the analysis and the rankings and the stars and all the other stuff that goes into recruiting. Honestly, I don’t pay much attention to it, other than when I’m down and I really want to get a good laugh.”

Asked where he would rate his own class, Pelini said talk to him in a few years. “After we’ve had a chance to work with them and get ’em developed,” he said.

Development has been the key word under Pelini. The third-year head coach again spoke of looking for tough, hard-working, high-character players instead of zeroing in on players deemed four-star or five-star recruits.

The Huskers look to have found help on both lines, signing six players for the defensive front and three for the offensive line. The NU secondary will add at least five newcomers.

An offense that struggled last season will look for skill-position help from Braylon Heard at I-back and Carnes at quarterback. Pelini spent a few minutes after his press conference speaking highly of Heard, who comes from his former high school in Youngstown, Ohio (Cardinal Mooney).

“You just have to get the guys that are right for your program,” Pelini said. “I believe that that’s the key. You don’t just win championships because you recruit four- and five-star athletes. It’s much deeper than that.”

A defense that thrived in 2009 was probably a little easier sale to recruits. Pelini acknowledged that some recruits likely took “serious notice” of what the Ndamukong Suh-led Huskers did last season.

Plus, Pelini said, the reception and the perception of the NU program continues to change for the better, helped by 9-4 and 10-4 records that included bowl wins after each season and a Big 12 North championship in 2009.

“It’s not just what the defense did but where the program is and where it’s headed,” Pelini said. “It’s obvious we already have a nice group of kids committed for next year (three for 2011). People are starting to take notice of what we’re doing.

“I always say the best way to recruit, the best recruiting tool, is to win. We’re starting to do that.”

Contact the writer:

444-1042, rich.kaipust@owh.com

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