Ricky Henry, an offensive guard from Omaha, has commited to the Husker for the 2008 recruiting class. However, there are questions as to whether he will qualify academically.
BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 7:00 pm
Nebraska wants Ricky Henry, and Ricky Henry wants Nebraska.
The holdup?
Potentially, the same problem that kept Henry, a signee in Nebraska’s 2006 football recruiting class, from coming to Lincoln.
Grades.
Until Henry, an offensive line standout from Omaha, graduates from junior college, his recent oral commitment to the Nebraska football team could be considered in flux.
Henry told Nebraska offensive line coach Dennis Wagner on Tuesday night that he wants to be a Husker. That’s according to Mike Shafer, offensive coordinator at North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, N.D., where Henry is playing.
The question, though, is whether Henry has a definite scholarship offer from Nebraska, and whether NU coaches would accept his commitment. Shafer said he asked Wagner for clarification.
Wagner’s answer to Shafer?
“He said, ‘Yes, as long as he’s in good academic standing,’” Shafer said.
If that’s the case, then Henry, a 6-foot-3, 300-pound guard at NDSCS, becomes the 14th member of Nebraska’s 2008 recruiting class. He’s another offensive lineman among a touted group that includes Baker Steinkuhler, Trevor Robinson, Dan Hoch and Bryce Givens.
Neither Wagner nor any Nebraska coach can comment directly on Henry’s recruiting status. Shafer, though, made Henry’s move to Lincoln sound final.
“He’s coming. He’s there. I spoke to Dennis and everything,” Shafer said. “Dennis said, ‘We always thought that Ricky was a Cornhusker.’ They’re pretty excited.”
Shafer said Henry is on track to graduate in May of 2008 and will have three years to complete two years of eligibility. Shafer said Henry took “20 or 21 credits” last semester and had a GPA of 2.6.
“He did real well,” Shafer said, noting Henry is taking summer classes and will take about 16 hours this fall, then 16 more hours in the spring.
What about Henry on the football field?
“He’s one of the nastiest guys I’ve ever seen,” Shafer said. “He’s got a mean streak in him that never quits.
“Pretty much Ricky wants to kill you every time he’s out there. If he gets beat, he’s going to get a little more upset and it’s not going to happen again.”
Shafer said Henry, who’s run a 5.2-second 40-yard dash, has improved his footwork and agility. He’ll play right guard this fall at NDSCS; he’ll line up alongside right tackle Aaron Shulte, a member of Nebraska’s 2007 recruiting class who also was declared academically ineligible.
Henry, who will take an official visit to Lincoln in January, also had offers from Houston and Colorado, with strong interest from Georgia, Oklahoma State and Kansas, according to Shafer.
“Ricky and I have been talking a lot the last week, and I said, ‘I think you belong back home,’ and he said, ‘Yeah, I do,’ ” Shafer said.
“Ricky is a Cornhusker. There is no doubt about it.”
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.