Justin Tomerlin roomed with Nebraska quarterback recruit Zac Taylor for a year.

The two played together last season at Butler County (Kan.) Community College.

So Tomerlin has a pretty high opinion of Taylor, who's in Lincoln now and will fight for the starting position during spring drills.

"I don't see anybody playing in front of him," Tomerlin said. "I just can't see that happening."

Tomerlin has a vested interest in Taylor's future, too — and not just because the two are buddies.

They'll be teammates in Lincoln, too. And if things go Tomerlin's way, they'll play together on offense.

Tomerlin, a 6-foot-6, 265-pound defensive end from Butler, said Thursday he has orally committed to Nebraska. He'll come to Lincoln this summer and focus on playing tight end.

"I definitely need to give tight end a shot, because I know the potential I have at that position," said Tomerlin, who has four years to use three years of eligibility.

"If I'm at the level where I can be one of the top five guys in the nation, then I'll stick there. If I'm not at the level where I want to be, I will move over to defensive end."

If the latter happens, Tomerlin said he'll then revisit the possibility of playing tight end in the spring of 2006.

He said he doesn't prefer one position over the other, although Tomerlin hasn't played tight end since high school.

Tomerlin is the 11th junior college player in Nebraska's 2005 recruiting class and the 30th player overall. He's the second player from Butler to orally commit to the Huskers this week, joining receiver Frantz Hardy, who committed Wednesday night.

"He's a great player, a great receiver," Tomerlin said of Hardy.

Tomerlin, a California native who committed to Florida State out of high school, was considered by some already orally committed to Michigan State. He visited the school the weekend of Jan. 7-9.

That Sunday morning, Tomerlin said he told the Michigan State coaches he felt like he could fit in there, and if he didn't find a better fit, he'd be coming to East

 

n Recruit

Continued from Page 1C

 

Lansing.

"They kind of took that and ran with it a little bit," Tomerlin said.

Enter Nebraska.

Tomerlin said he'd heard from Taylor, who signed with Nebraska in December, while Tomerlin was visiting his girlfriend at Florida State.

"He just convinced me to come down and look," Tomerlin said. "He knew what I was looking for.

"If it weren't for him … he's not the reason I'm coming there, but if it weren't for him, I would have never tripped down there and fell in love with the place."

Tomerlin, who visited Lincoln last weekend, said he was impressed with the renovations, the fan support and the coaching staff, particularly offensive coordinator Jay Norvell.

"He's just a personable person," Tomerlin said. "It's hard to explain without (someone) actually meeting him. He's just a great, nice guy. He's just real friendly."

Tomerlin also had offers from Kansas State, UCLA, Georgia and California, and was originally scheduled to visit California this weekend.

"But after seeing Nebraska," Tomerlin said, "I was like, ‘Un-huh, there's no place I want to go besides there.' "

Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.