It has been more than five years since Frank Solich was coach at Nebraska, but apparently his name still resonates well in the Cornhusker state.
A year after the Bobcats received zero commitments from the state, Solich proved that the Nebraska pipeline is still flowing.
Three kids from Nebraska committed to Ohio yesterday - National Signing Day - second only to the state of Ohio, which had five players commit.
Tom Jaworski coached 2009 commit Jonathan Lechner at Omaha (Neb.) Creighton Prep. He said it's easy to see why so many people make the more than 800-mile journey from Nebraska to Ohio.
I think they still know (Solich)
Jaworski said. (The coaches) are guys we like we respect and are straight shooters.
I'm extremely comfortable with kids going to Ohio.
Nationally televised games on ESPN have also helped Ohio win recruiting battles far away from Ohio. The Bobcats got commitments from players living in 12 different states.
Jaworski said it helps familiarize recruits with the program.
They're on TV all the time, he said.
Nebraska is still top dog in the state but what they miss
Solich finds.
One of those guys was hard to miss at 6 feet 6 inches
and 300 pounds
but be-
cause of grades and other factors
Lechner ended up in Solich's lap.
Lechner - rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com recruiting service - is rated as the second best prospect in the state and the 31st
best offensive tackle in the nation by the service. He is considered the jewel of Ohio's class.
Those numbers were good enough to get hard looks by Nebraska and Wisconsin
but Lechner never found the right fit at those schools.
I think Ohio got a helluva football player, Jaworski said. Big red (Nebraska) isn't going to get them all and they aren't always going to get the right ones.
He's got good feet and he's strong. If he latches on to you he's going to pancake you.
Most offensive lineman need a redshirt year to develop into collegiate lineman, but Solich said Lechner, as well the other four lineman in this class, will have a chance compete right away.
Lechner will be joined by fellow Nebraskan James Davis (6 feet 3 inches, 305 pounds) as well as Skyler Allen (6 feet 3 inches, 290 pounds), Sam Johnson (6 feet 3 inches, 305 pounds) and junior college player Kadre Pinder (6 feet 2 inches, 325 pounds).
But Solich said he thinks Lechner and Davis could be special.
We've brought a lot of kids from Nebraska into the system
Solich said. They've all played and have started or will start.
(Lechner and Davis) have got great promise as offensive lineman.
,",2,Sports,Matt O'Donnell,26945a.jpg,Head football coach Frank Solich has been with Ohio for four seasons. He will soon be working with three athletes from his former coaching home of Nebraska.,",",",","
26946,2009-02-05 03:31:00,Photo exhibit uses asphalt to tell 'history of the world',Asphalt: Poetics of the Surface
Hippolyte's exhibit which opens today
features photographs of asphalt taken in Spain.,
