Huskers lose three recruits

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By the Lincoln Journal Star

Nebraska took some more hits on the football recruiting front on Tuesday, reportedly losing the commitments of three players, including a defensive end some have heralded as the top JUCO talent in the country.

Simi Kuli, Will Compton and Doug Rippy are all apparently no longer in the Husker fold, dropping Nebraska’s current recruiting class to 16 oral commitments.

Nebraska once had 24 commits in late October, but a coaching staff changeover has made this a complicated recruiting season for NU and its new head coach Bo Pelini.

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* The Huskers’ biggest loss, literally, on Tuesday was Kuli — a 6-foot-4, 270-pound defensive end from El Camino (Calif.) Community College. Kuli visited Oregon State over the weekend. A couple days later, Kuli’s position coach, Tim Hyde, let Scout.com know that Kuli’s name should be taken off the list of Husker commits.

* Compton, a linebacker from Bonne Terre, Mo., has de-committed and narrowed his choices to Missouri and Illinois, according to Rivals.com.

* Rippy, a linebacker from Columbus, Ohio, is also off Nebraska’s list, switching his commitment from NU to Colorado.

Bryce Givens, an offensive lineman from Denver who had previously de-committed, announced on Tuesday that he’s going to CU.

That makes Rippy, Givens and linebacker Shaun Mohler as one-time Husker commits who  have now committed to Colorado.

The Buffs could ultimately end up with four former Husker commits in their recruiting class. Josh Williams, a defensive end from Texas, recently de-committed from Nebraska and seems to have strong interest in Colorado.

Pelini said on Monday night it’s to be expected that coaches of other schools will be trying to sway Husker commits during a time of transition in the program.

“That’s just the reality of the situation,” Pelini said. “That’s going to happen anytime you have a coaching change and go through a period of uncertainty.”

Pelini is currently in Baton Rouge, finishing up his time as LSU’s defensive coordinator while the Tigers prepare for a Jan. 7 national title game against Ohio State.

Hired as head coach on Dec. 2, Pelini spent the next two weeks assembling a staff and on the recruiting path. Dec. 17 was the start of a recruiting dead period that runs through the bowl season.

National signing day is Feb. 6.

—Brian Christopherson