Omaha stars stay at home
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BY BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star
OMAHA — All Robert Rands needed was a pen and a pair of dad's moccasins. Now … where do I sign? On Wednesday, Rands was one of three Nebraskans to scribble his name on a letter of intent to play football for the Huskers. All were jubilant to be part of a 31-player recruiting class that is regarded as one of the best in the nation.
Rands wore his dad's red NU moccasins while putting his future in the hands of the Huskers. His Bellevue East football teammates filled Room C-19 and cheered when he ended the signing session by nervously putting his pen down and allowing a relieved smile.
"I'm really glad it's over," he said as he looked toward a TV photographer. "Now I can relax and stop being nervous with all these cameras."
That same camera had been focused on Creighton Prep's Zach Potter and Bellevue West's Jeff Souder earlier in the day.
Potter — a 6-foot-7, 265-pound defensive end — signed his letter before the Omaha fog rolled out at 8 a.m. On the eve of his signing, he had exchanged some heartfelt e-mails with out-of-state Husker recruits and newfound friends Harrison Beck and Craig Roark.
"I wished them luck and told them we're signing our lives away," Potter said. "Never again will I be just Zach Potter or will you be just Craig Roark or Harrison Beck. For the next five years, we'll represent the Nebraska football program wherever we go."
His high school coach, Tom Jaworski, looked on as Potter signed up for the right to not be just Zach Potter anymore.
Jaworski recalled a story about the day he knew Potter was surely going to wind up wearing the scarlet and cream.
"Last year, the first day (NU head coach Bill) Callahan came to visit (Cortney) Grixby, he stopped by and saw Zach running up and down a basketball court during practice. He said, ‘Wow, that guy can move. This guy can play for me.'"
Besides playing defensive end, Potter was a star tight end for the Junior Jays, and some suspect he could make a good offensive lineman in college. But his heart is set on playing for the Blackshirts.
"My size is built for defense. A 6-7 guy coming around the corner is a scary thing," Potter said. "I sure wouldn't want to be a quarterback seeing that."
Sandwiched between Potter and Rand's signing ceremonies was that of free safety Souder.
Souder arrived at the Bellevue West gym looking the part of a rock star with his jet-black hair, earrings in each lobe and a chain necklace. He wore a tight, red T-shirt with black lettering across the front that read, "A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss."
His shirt was nothing compared to his belt buckle, the size of which would make a champion bull rider envious. On it were scripted the words: "Rock 'n Roll."
And that's exactly what Souder plans to do. Given just two stars by Rivals.com, the 6-0, 200-pounder joins the Huskers' recruiting class as a grayshirt, which means he'll walk on in the fall and go on scholarship in 2006.
Iowa State assistant coach and former NU quarterback Mike Grant had been heavily recruiting Souder, even as late as Sunday.
"Whenever there was anything bad about Nebraska in the paper, Coach Grant would call and say, ‘Did you read the paper today? Do you see the troubles they're having at Nebraska?'" said Dena Souder, Jeff's mother.
Added Jeff Souder: "He'd tell me I'm too good for a grayshirt. I should come somewhere where I can play right away. But I'm just going to take full advantage of that grayshirt to lift and run, and when we put on the pads, they'll see what I can do."
Souder communicates often with Potter via instant messages on the computer and often plays basketball and lifts weights with Rands.
He even showed up to rival school Bellevue East for Rands' signing ceremony.
When asked what he thinks about being categorized as a two-star player, Souder replied: "It's just all motivation to make me prove them all wrong. …
"You know, I'm proud to be part of that (the recruiting class's high ranking), but right now it's just a bunch of numbers. When we get the pads and get to the games, then we'll see what those numbers mean."
While Souder is looking at sitting out next fall, Rands — who's listed as a 5-8, 160-pound defensive back and once ran 40 yards in 4.41 seconds — believes he'll be on the field for NU's September season opener against Maine as a punt and kick returner.
"Coaches said hopefully he will take that first kickoff against Maine," said Tim Rands, Robert's father.
As with the other two in-state recruits, Rands was lured by NU assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Scott Downing.
NU track and field coach Gary Pepin also played a key role. Rands, who is a Class A state champion long jumper, wanted to go to a school that would let him compete in both football and track.
His dad was even optimistic Tuesday that his son could break Gale Sayers' 44-year-old state high school record of 24 feet, 10½ inches in the long jump. No doubt people will be following that chase even more closely after Wednesday's signing.
Asked what it was like to have a son that is now in a fish bowl, the proud papa answered:
"To be honest, I'm a little nervous."
Reach Brian Christopherson at 473-7438 or bchristopherson@journalstar.com.
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