NU snags QB recruit
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BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
Some Nebraska football fans grew restless as Husker coaches pursued quarterback after quarterback for the 2007 recruiting class.
Suddenly, following a whirlwind courtship, Nebraska has its man — Patrick Witt of Wylie, Texas.
The Huskers learned of Witt only last week. The quarterback visited Lincoln last weekend for the first time before orally committing Wednesday to accept NU’s scholarship offer.
“I was expecting to be blown away by an NFL staff’s knowledge (during my visit),” Witt said. “But the thing I was most impressed with was how down to earth they were. That was the best thing about the trip. I was just blown away.”
In choosing Nebraska, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Witt turned down scholarship offers from Texas Tech, Wisconsin, Baylor, Indiana, Purdue, Tulane, Texas-El Paso and Tulsa. He started for Parkview High School in suburban Atlanta last season before moving with his family in January to Wylie, about 35 miles northeast of Dallas.
Witt, the son of pilots from competing airlines and brother of a Harvard University quarterback, performed impressively operating Wylie High’s spread offense during spring practice, head coach Bill Howard said. At Parkview last season, Witt threw for about 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns (with six interceptions) and rushed for 250 yards and 15 TDs playing in a wing-T, run-oriented scheme.
“Hopefully my numbers will look more impressive this year,” Witt said. “(Nebraska coach) Bill Callahan told me he doesn’t care about my stats. A lot of coaches are fascinated by stats. They’re only looking for kids who throw for 3,000 yards. Coach Callahan said he trusts his own judgment. He said he watched a lot of film of me, and said I possess the skills to run his offense. I liked to hear that.”
Witt’s commitment comes at a position that Nebraska prioritized in recruiting this year as starter Zac Taylor prepares for his senior season. Top backup Harrison Beck played sparingly in two games as a true freshman last season and was slowed by shoulder problems this spring. Behind Beck are sophomore reserves Joe Ganz and Beau Davis.
The Huskers’ class of 2006 stands without a quarterback, in large part because of Josh Freeman’s de-commitment last December.
In recent months, Nebraska had struck out on no fewer than four earnest attempts to land high-profile quarterbacks for the class of 2007.
“I told them I’d love to be the only high school quarterback in Nebraska’s class of 2007, but if they want to bring in another one, or a junior college player, I’m OK with that,” Witt said. “I’m pretty sure they’re going to bring in a juco quarterback. I just want to make sure we communicate. The main thing I wanted them to know is I’m a Husker.”
Witt, who has a 4.73 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale, is taking high school classes online this summer and plans to graduate from high school in December, meaning he’ll be on campus in time for 2007 spring practice. He said he hasn’t discussed with Nebraska coaches the possibility of competing right away for the starting job.
“Sure I’d love to win that spot,” Witt said. “But I’m aware that they have great quarterbacks there. I just want to learn the offense as quickly as I can, compete my butt off and see what happens.”
Howard said several college teams watched Witt during the course of spring practice (Texas high schools are allowed 18 full-padded practices during the spring). Every team that watched Wylie practice eventually offered Witt a scholarship, except for Oklahoma — “and they were about to,” Howard said.
Witt said recruiting interest in him increased dramatically after his move to Texas. He credited Howard for getting the word out.
“Patrick’s very mature,” Howard said. “All you have to do is meet him one time and you will understand. He’ll never do anything to embarrass Nebraska. Right now, he’s learning our offense. He’s in the development stage, but he has a lot of talent.”
At Parkview — a traditional Georgia prep powerhouse — Witt often handed off to five-star running back recruit Caleb King, who last season rushed 346 times for 2,768 yards and 19 touchdowns. In moving to the Dallas area, Howard said, the Witt family improved its financial situation and also gave Patrick a chance to play in a pass-oriented offense that often uses four wideouts.
“He wants to throw the ball,” Howard said.
Witt became the eighth high school senior known to have orally committed to Nebraska’s class of 2007 — and the fourth from Texas. Tuesday night, Nebraska received a commitment from 5-foot-10, 175-pound cornerback Anthony Blue of Cedar Hill, Texas.
Blue turned down offers from Houston, Baylor, San Diego State, Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana, Tulane and UNLV. He said he also hopes to run track for the Huskers, as he has been timed in a fleet 21.4 seconds in the 200 meters.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
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