Gabbert, Robinson headline players lost after Callahan’s firing

In the fall of 2007, as Bill Callahan’s program at Nebraska was crumbling, he lamented the loss of a highly rated recruiting class.

Callahan’s focus might have been a little off that morning, but he was right about one thing. Recruiting gurus had rated his 2008 class one of the nation’s best.

By December, Callahan was fired. And by February, 14 players who had once verbally committed to Nebraska signed elsewhere.

Trevor Robinson was one of the most prominent names, but NU lost other touted prospects, especially on the offensive line. Entering the 2010 season, Dan Hoch, Riley Reiff and Bryce Givens are entrenched as starters at their respective schools.

Here’s a look at the oral commitments who left, and those who stood by NU and signed with Bo Pelini.

Those who committed and left:

• Eddie Brown: Texas A&M. Starting defensive tackle, 40 tackles, four sacks as a sophomore in 2009.

• Blaine Gabbert: Missouri. Starting quarterback, 11th in the country in total offense as a sophomore in ’09.

• Bryce Givens: Colorado. Starting tackle, started most games as a redshirt freshman in ’09.

• Jonas Gray: Notre Dame. Vying for starting tailback spot, rushed for 209 yards as a sophomore in ’09.

• Eric Harper: Louisiana Tech. Vying for starting tight end, caught two passes as a sophomore in ’09.

• Adrian Hilburn: Kansas State. Reserve receiver, played in just three games as a junior in ’09.

• Dan Hoch: Missouri. Starting right tackle, honorable mention all-Big 12 as a sophomore in ’09.

• Keelan Johnson: Arizona State. Vying for starting spot at safety, 11 tackles as a redshirt freshman in ’09.

• Simi Kuli: Signed with Oregon State. Never enrolled, not playing.

• Shaun Mohler: Colorado. Exhausted eligibility, had 126 tackles in two years as starting linebacker.

• Darius Parish: Kansas. Vying for starting defensive tackle, redshirted in ’09.

• Riley Reiff: Iowa. Starting tackle, named freshman all-Big 10 after starting 11 games in ’09.

• Doug Rippy: Colorado. Vying for starting inside linebacker, had six tackles as a freshman in ’09.

• D.J. Woods: Cincinnati. Starting receiver, caught 51 balls for 640 yards as a sophomore ’09.

Those who committed to Callahan and signed with NU:

• Will Compton: Probable starter at middle linebacker, had 40 tackles and made all-Big 12 freshman team.

• Sean Fisher: Probable starter at linebacker, had 35 tackles and made all-Big 12 freshman team.

• Ricky Henry: Probable starter at right guard, started all 14 games as a junior.

• Tyson Hetzer: Injured juco tight end never caught a pass, no longer with the team.

• John Levorson: World-Herald prep athlete of the year in 2008 quit the team in February 2009 after a redshirt season.

• Cameron Meredith: Probable starter at defensive end, had 21 tackles as a freshman reserve.

• Collins Okafor: Reserve I-back, had one carry for nine yards as a freshman.

• Kyler Reed: Versatile tight end who should earn more touches in 2010, had six catches for 54 yards as a freshman.

• Baker Steinkuhler: Probable starter at defensive tackle, had 17 tackles as a freshman.

• Brandon Thompson: Offensive lineman vying for playing time in 2010, didn’t contribute as a freshman.

• David Whitmore: Texas defensive back never played a down for Nebraska, not with the team.

• Josh Williams: Defensive end in the mix for playing time, had just three tackles in three games as a freshman.

– Dirk Chatelain

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