Juco linebacker plans to step right in at NU
Steve Octavien says his heart was telling him to select Nebraska.
So was the junior college linebacker's competitive instinct, fueled by the chance for immediate playing time in 2005.
"The Nebraska coaches told me I'm their starter," Octavien said Monday in announcing his verbal pledge to accept the Huskers' scholarship offer. "They said they've penciled me in as a starter. They said it's my job to keep.
"I'd like to come in there, learn the system and excel."
Projected as a weakside linebacker, Octavien plans to sign a letter of intent Wednesday — the first day of the junior college signing period. He becomes the fifth Nebraska junior college recruit who plans to sign Wednesday and begin school in January. The others are defensive tackle Barry Cryer, offensive lineman Marcus Gordon, linebacker Dontrell Moore and quarterback Zac Taylor.
It should make for an interesting spring practice season.
"My head is focused," said the 6-foot-1, 230-pound Octavien, a native of Naples, Fla. "All I'm focused on is doing great in the classroom and on the field."
Octavien, who played the last two seasons at William Rainey Harper (Ill.) College, could fill Nebraska's huge void at weakside linebacker. Two seniors — Chad Sievers and Ira Cooper — shared time at the position this season as the Huskers finished 5-6.
"I thought Steve was great on his high school film, and he came up here and was everything I thought he'd be," said John Eliasik, William Rainey Harper's head coach for the past 34 seasons. "I'd classify Steve as a difference-maker. He has great desire, great ability, great speed to the ball. Once he knows where the ball is, he gets from point A to point B in a hurry."
Octavien appeared in only four games this season because of a deep bone bruise in his knee. Trainers originally thought he had suffered torn cartilage and opted for surgery, only to discover no tear after all, Octavien said.
In 2003, Octavien finished with 124 tackles, including 15 behind the line, as William Rainey Harper finished 10-1. The Palantine, Ill., school has captured the non-scholarship junior college national championship each of the past two seasons.
A four-star prospect in Rivals.com's five-star system, Octavien made an official recruiting visit to Nebraska on Nov. 26 — the weekend of the Huskers' season-ending loss to Colorado — before taking visits to North Carolina and Iowa. He also received scholarship offers from Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, Central Florida and Toledo.
Octavien pledged to Illinois coming out of high school but was an academic casualty. The Illini sent him to William Rainey Harper.
Illinois, however, at some point changed its mind about Octavien, he said, recalling a November conversation with an Illini assistant.
Illinois head coach Ron Turner and his staff were dismissed earlier this month after the Illini's 3-8 finish (1-7 Big Ten).
"They told me they thought I was an average player," Octavien said. "They told me I'm not good enough for their program. After that, I cut them loose. Now, it's obvious the Lord has blessed me. Things worked out for the best."
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
So was the junior college linebacker's competitive instinct, fueled by the chance for immediate playing time in 2005.
"The Nebraska coaches told me I'm their starter," Octavien said Monday in announcing his verbal pledge to accept the Huskers' scholarship offer. "They said they've penciled me in as a starter. They said it's my job to keep.
"I'd like to come in there, learn the system and excel."
Projected as a weakside linebacker, Octavien plans to sign a letter of intent Wednesday — the first day of the junior college signing period. He becomes the fifth Nebraska junior college recruit who plans to sign Wednesday and begin school in January. The others are defensive tackle Barry Cryer, offensive lineman Marcus Gordon, linebacker Dontrell Moore and quarterback Zac Taylor.
It should make for an interesting spring practice season.
"My head is focused," said the 6-foot-1, 230-pound Octavien, a native of Naples, Fla. "All I'm focused on is doing great in the classroom and on the field."
Octavien, who played the last two seasons at William Rainey Harper (Ill.) College, could fill Nebraska's huge void at weakside linebacker. Two seniors — Chad Sievers and Ira Cooper — shared time at the position this season as the Huskers finished 5-6.
"I thought Steve was great on his high school film, and he came up here and was everything I thought he'd be," said John Eliasik, William Rainey Harper's head coach for the past 34 seasons. "I'd classify Steve as a difference-maker. He has great desire, great ability, great speed to the ball. Once he knows where the ball is, he gets from point A to point B in a hurry."
Octavien appeared in only four games this season because of a deep bone bruise in his knee. Trainers originally thought he had suffered torn cartilage and opted for surgery, only to discover no tear after all, Octavien said.
In 2003, Octavien finished with 124 tackles, including 15 behind the line, as William Rainey Harper finished 10-1. The Palantine, Ill., school has captured the non-scholarship junior college national championship each of the past two seasons.
A four-star prospect in Rivals.com's five-star system, Octavien made an official recruiting visit to Nebraska on Nov. 26 — the weekend of the Huskers' season-ending loss to Colorado — before taking visits to North Carolina and Iowa. He also received scholarship offers from Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, Central Florida and Toledo.
Octavien pledged to Illinois coming out of high school but was an academic casualty. The Illini sent him to William Rainey Harper.
Illinois, however, at some point changed its mind about Octavien, he said, recalling a November conversation with an Illini assistant.
Illinois head coach Ron Turner and his staff were dismissed earlier this month after the Illini's 3-8 finish (1-7 Big Ten).
"They told me they thought I was an average player," Octavien said. "They told me I'm not good enough for their program. After that, I cut them loose. Now, it's obvious the Lord has blessed me. Things worked out for the best."
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
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