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I know it is early to judge a recruiting class but I would have to say on paper UNO wins.
UNO class could rank among best for Behrns
When an NCAA Division II school starts having its recruits show up on national lists, there is potential to get excited.
The University of Nebraska at Omaha hauled in three players considered to be two-star recruits by rivals100.com on Wednesday's national letter of intent signing day, but Coach Pat Behrns is preaching patience - for now.
"It's a good class, but I don't know if we're ready to place 'great' on it," Behrns said. "I'm not sure you can until you get it on the field. But it matches up with some of our better recruiting classes."
In addition to running back Robert Wesley of Omaha Central, defensive tackle Travis Thomas of Bellevue West and quarterback Greg Wunderlich of Naperville, Ill., other UNO recruits in a class of 18 who have drawn some measure of attention are fullback Andy Keith of Omaha Creighton Prep and wide receiver Antony Ritton of Auburn, Neb.
Behrns said that, with more services analyzing more prospects than ever before, it's probably not unusual that the Mavs landed some top names. But he's also pleased by the recruiting work done by his full-time staff - Lance Leipold, Brad McCaslin, Terry Samuel and Scott Fuchs - which was stretched thinner once Defensive Coordinator Fred Reed left for Ohio University.
"We always try to bring in a high level of recruits, and we always try to step it up a level," Behrns said. "We're going to reach for the stars. If we get one, great. If not, we move on to the next one. We'll evaluate and go after the best guy we can, and we keep going until they tell us no."
UNO set its sights on safeties, cornerbacks and wide receivers and targeted metropolitan areas such as Minneapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee and Des Moines with an emphasis that hasn't been seen under Behrns. The Mavs appear to have been successful on all fronts.
"The majority of the guys we signed were in the top one or two we had at every position," Behrns said. "That hasn't happened for us much. We'll rate five guys at each position, and we'll want to get Nos. 1 and 2, even though we think all five can play."
A Chicago recruiting trip landed Wunderlich as well as cornerbacks LaVell Jackson and Pagel Williams, who may have a chance to play as true freshmen.
"You watch film of those two cornerbacks, and they're just good high school football players," Behrns said. "You can see they know how to play the game."
In the Minneapolis area, the Mavs landed St. Louis Park teammates Andy Parke and Arsenio Richardson. Parke, a center, is the only offensive line recruit for a UNO program loaded with young linemen.
Richardson could compete with Wesley to eventually succeed All-America candidate Jamar Day at tailback. The program is already thin at that position because of attrition.
"It'll be interesting to see, because I can't remember when we've signed two high school tailbacks with this level of talent," Behrns said. "A lot will depend on how physical those guys get from now until then."
Safety Dan Sellers comes from the Milwaukee area, and wide receiver Tanner Samame from Des Moines. Wisconsin and Iowa are states that have few scholarship opportunities for football players since many of the schools are non-scholarship Division III programs.
Another area thin on Division II programs, Arizona, produced wide receiver recruit Michael Tamez.
UNO expanded its recruiting base in response to schools such as North Dakota State and South Dakota State, which have moved up to Division I-AA and are able to come into Nebraska and offer full scholarships.
Sellers is one of three to five recruits who could contend at safety. Samame and Tamez are among four or five who could be wide receivers.
"We needed to get more guys in our program at those positions," Behrns said. "And some of them may have a chance to help us as true freshmen."
UNO class could rank among best for Behrns
When an NCAA Division II school starts having its recruits show up on national lists, there is potential to get excited.
The University of Nebraska at Omaha hauled in three players considered to be two-star recruits by rivals100.com on Wednesday's national letter of intent signing day, but Coach Pat Behrns is preaching patience - for now.
"It's a good class, but I don't know if we're ready to place 'great' on it," Behrns said. "I'm not sure you can until you get it on the field. But it matches up with some of our better recruiting classes."
In addition to running back Robert Wesley of Omaha Central, defensive tackle Travis Thomas of Bellevue West and quarterback Greg Wunderlich of Naperville, Ill., other UNO recruits in a class of 18 who have drawn some measure of attention are fullback Andy Keith of Omaha Creighton Prep and wide receiver Antony Ritton of Auburn, Neb.
Behrns said that, with more services analyzing more prospects than ever before, it's probably not unusual that the Mavs landed some top names. But he's also pleased by the recruiting work done by his full-time staff - Lance Leipold, Brad McCaslin, Terry Samuel and Scott Fuchs - which was stretched thinner once Defensive Coordinator Fred Reed left for Ohio University.
"We always try to bring in a high level of recruits, and we always try to step it up a level," Behrns said. "We're going to reach for the stars. If we get one, great. If not, we move on to the next one. We'll evaluate and go after the best guy we can, and we keep going until they tell us no."
UNO set its sights on safeties, cornerbacks and wide receivers and targeted metropolitan areas such as Minneapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee and Des Moines with an emphasis that hasn't been seen under Behrns. The Mavs appear to have been successful on all fronts.
"The majority of the guys we signed were in the top one or two we had at every position," Behrns said. "That hasn't happened for us much. We'll rate five guys at each position, and we'll want to get Nos. 1 and 2, even though we think all five can play."
A Chicago recruiting trip landed Wunderlich as well as cornerbacks LaVell Jackson and Pagel Williams, who may have a chance to play as true freshmen.
"You watch film of those two cornerbacks, and they're just good high school football players," Behrns said. "You can see they know how to play the game."
In the Minneapolis area, the Mavs landed St. Louis Park teammates Andy Parke and Arsenio Richardson. Parke, a center, is the only offensive line recruit for a UNO program loaded with young linemen.
Richardson could compete with Wesley to eventually succeed All-America candidate Jamar Day at tailback. The program is already thin at that position because of attrition.
"It'll be interesting to see, because I can't remember when we've signed two high school tailbacks with this level of talent," Behrns said. "A lot will depend on how physical those guys get from now until then."
Safety Dan Sellers comes from the Milwaukee area, and wide receiver Tanner Samame from Des Moines. Wisconsin and Iowa are states that have few scholarship opportunities for football players since many of the schools are non-scholarship Division III programs.
Another area thin on Division II programs, Arizona, produced wide receiver recruit Michael Tamez.
UNO expanded its recruiting base in response to schools such as North Dakota State and South Dakota State, which have moved up to Division I-AA and are able to come into Nebraska and offer full scholarships.
Sellers is one of three to five recruits who could contend at safety. Samame and Tamez are among four or five who could be wide receivers.
"We needed to get more guys in our program at those positions," Behrns said. "And some of them may have a chance to help us as true freshmen."
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