Huskers gain Texas O-line recruit
Nebraska’s recruiting roller coaster dipped and peaked once again Tuesday.
The Huskers lost one of their longest-standing oral commitments, offensive lineman Dan Hoch, then picked up a commitment from Texas high school standout David Grant.
Grant, a 6-foot-6, 278-pound offensive lineman from Killeen, Texas, was previously committed to Oklahoma State and Iowa State. Oklahoma State, for reasons unknown, rescinded its offer in September. Grant committed to Iowa State in December.
Grant gives Nebraska 17 commitments for its 2008 recruiting class. National signing day is Feb. 6.
“It’s just a good football program, even though they didn’t have a good year last year, it’s still one of the top programs in the Big 12,” Grant said.
Grant hasn’t talked much with Pelini, but said, “the problem was with the defense last year, so, hopefully, he can come in and fix it.
The decisions of Grant and Hoch come a day after first-year Nebraska coach Bo Pelini won a national championship in his final game as LSU’s defensive coordinator.
That apparently wasn’t enough to win over Hoch, who’s the third highly touted offensive lineman to leave the class. The Harlan, Iowa, native is now committed to Missouri.
Hoch was the third member to orally commit to Nebraska’s 2008 class. He did so in December of 2006.
Grant is the second high school player from Texas to commit to Nebraska this week. He joins quarterback Kody Spano from Stephenville.
Grant is planning to make his first visit to Lincoln this weekend.
Briefly
* Quarterback recruit Sean Renfree no longer plans to make an official visit to Nebraska.
* It appears Iowa strength coach James Dobson has emerged as the leading candidate to fill the same position at Nebraska, though nobody had been hired as of Tuesday to replace Dave Kennedy, who resigned last month. Kennedy is now the strength coach at Texas A&M.
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.
Brian Christopherson also contributed to this report.
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