LINCOLN — It was only a matter of time before the recruitment of safety Aaryn Bouzos became more high profile.

His high school coach, Mike Moschetti, was sure of it.

“He was going to be a 15-offer kid before you knew it,” Moschetti said. “We had just started sending out his film this month.”

Nebraska’s coaches would probably prefer things remain quiet from this point on.

Bouzos, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound safety from La Mirada, Calif., made a nonbinding oral commitment to the Huskers on Thursday, becoming the seventh-known addition to the 2011 NU football recruiting class.

The prospect also held scholarship offers from New Mexico State and Wyoming. But Moschetti said big-time programs such as Notre Dame, Michigan and Texas A&M were beginning to show interest in Bouzos. Members of the Arizona coaching staff stopped by the school this week and left buzzing about Bouzos’ film clips.

Bouzos recognized the growing attention but said he couldn’t pass up the chance to play for Nebraska.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while,” he said. “I just decided that there’s nothing really else to wait for. I love Nebraska.”

Bouzos, who said he runs 40 yards in 4.5 seconds, played safety and returned kicks for La Mirada High School, which won the CIF Southern Section championship last fall. Bouzos earned a spot on the division’s all-defensive team.

But he hadn’t caught the attention of major college coaches until now. Moschetti might deserve some of the credit for making sure that Nebraska was one of the suitors.

The La Mirada coach was a letter-winning quarterback at Colorado in 1998 and 1999, spending his final season under the guidance of offensive coordinator Shawn Watson, now with Nebraska. Moschetti and Watson have remained in contact since.

“He’s like a second dad to me,” Moschetti said, referring to Watson.

Moschetti insists that he played little part in Bouzos’ decision-making process, though.

Bouzos, contacted primarily by secondary coach Marvin Sanders, said he chose Nebraska for several reasons.

He can tell that the program is on the rise. There are defensive philosophies in place that could suit his skill set. Plus, football in Nebraska is a big deal.

“I was doing some research about them and saw that their stadium’s been sold out since the 1960s. That’s crazy,” Bouzos said. “It seems like everyone in Nebraska is about football. I love how there’s great tradition in the program.”

Like the rest of the 2011 NU class, Bouzos can’t make his college choice official until signing day next February.

He’s just the second prospective Husker of the group expected to play defense. Defensive tackle Kevin Williams announced his plans to attend Nebraska last month.

Bouzos is tentatively planning to take an unofficial visit to the Lincoln campus this summer. He’ll save his official trip for the fall.

Contact the writer:

402-473-9585, jon.nyatawa@owh.com

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