San Antonio standouts visit game

A pair of Texas players headlined a star-studded group of prospects on the sidelines for Nebraska's spring game Saturday.

Running back Aaron Green and defensive tackle Quincy Russell of San Antonio stuck together for all the pregame festivities, mostly separated from the other big-name recruits.

Green, the younger brother of NU redshirt freshman cornerback Andrew Green, is widely considered one of the top running back prospects in the nation. His choice is believed to be coming down to NU and Texas.

Russell, a 6-foot-3, 280-pounder, was in Lincoln less than two weeks after he committed to Texas following the Longhorns' spring game. He changed his mind on Texas a day later, and the Huskers are apparently back in the mix.

They weren't the only high-profile targets on hand.

Defensive line prospects Kevin Williams of Ohio and Jalen Grimble of Las Vegas were there. So was Desmond Roland of Dallas, who is being recruited as an offensive playmaker by a host of schools.

Grimble and a couple of others made their way over to Ndamukong Suh and snapped pictures with the former Husker. Suh offered words of encouragement and perhaps a bit of a recruiting pitch.

A number of players who signed in February were also on hand. Safety Corey Cooper — dressed appropriately in all black — and future teammates Ciante Evans, Kenny Bell, Braylon Heard and Andrew Rodriguez were among the 2010 class members in attendance.

Visitors also included 2011 recruits Jamal Turner, Tyler Moore and Ryne Reeves, along with 2011 prospects Cole Fisher (Millard North), Derrius Vick (Lincoln Southeast) and Daniel Davie (Beatrice).

Super Bowl sass

They were close friends, college teammates and, for a short time, even roommates.

But Carl Nicks has to use those bragging rights while he's got them.

Nicks greeted former NU teammate Cody Glenn with, “Oh hey, what's up, second-best?” a reference to the Super Bowl win by Nicks and the New Orleans Saints over Glenn's Indianapolis Colts.

The two shared a couple of memories from the big game together. Nicks said he pulled Glenn off the pile on the Saints' successful onside kick. Glenn claims to have gotten the best of Nicks on a kick.

“I knocked him back to the kicker,” Glenn said. “He didn't tell you that.”

Nicks has a large tattoo that covers his entire left upper arm showing the Saints' symbol and the words “World Champ” along with the game's date.

Going gray

What, no red?

A huge assembly from the FreedMen Conquest, a Christian organization for Nebraska men, wore gray shirts and sat together in the northwest corner of Memorial Stadium.

The group had a service at the Pershing Center Saturday morning and had more events scheduled after the spring game. NU assistant coach Ron Brown, a team leader for the organization, estimated Saturday morning's crowd at 3,500.

Extra points

NU handed out letter jackets to those who lettered for the first time last fall. ... The Big 12 champion Husker women's basketball team drew a standing ovation when recognized during a first-half break. Connie Yori and the Huskers won the program's first conference title and reached the Sweet 16. ... Flags flew half-staff Saturday to honor the victims of the West Virginia mining accident.

— Nick Rubek

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