Covey becomes Callahan's first 2005 verbal commitment

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By Brian Christopherson

Nick Covey needed only a five-minute phone conversation with Nebraska head football coach Bill Callahan Tuesday to cement the Huskers' first verbally committed recruit for 2005.


Covey — a 6-foot-3, 220-pound outside linebacker from Glendale, Ariz. — attended the past two Husker summer football camps and is friends with NU offensive lineman Richie Incognito.


"It was Richie who first put interest in my head about Nebraska. So I went there for summer camps and just liked it," Covey said. "I like the school. I like the atmosphere. You go there to play football and that's pretty much it."

Incognito went to the same Mountain Ridge High School Covey attends and is also working this summer for Nick's dad, Glenn, who runs an excavating business.


Covey said he was interested in attending Nebraska since his first Husker summer camp. He said that interest didn't wane even when the program underwent coaching changes.


"I just wanted to meet the new coaches and see what they were all about," Covey said. "From all that Richie keeps telling me and my dad, he is very positive about the new coaching staff."


Covey described Callahan as "very excited" on the phone Tuesday.


The two have yet to meet in person, though Covey said he was receiving mail almost every day from the football program.


Covey said the Huskers first offered him a scholarship on May 24 when he received a phone call from NU outside linebackers coach Bill Busch.


Washington State also seemed in pursuit of Covey, though the Cougars viewed him more as a tight end, which he also plays in high school.


Clocked as running a 4.49-seconds 40-yard time at a camp in San Diego, Covey caught 20 passes for 450 yards and three touchdowns last season at tight end. He also averaged 47 yards per kick as a punter that warranted him all-state honors.


Covey, who will be in Lincoln on June 12 for another Husker summer camp, said he felt his size and speed fit more to playing linebacker in college. He said he'd like to add 10 more pounds to his frame this year, though he wondered if it's possible he'd weigh more in the chillier climate of Nebraska.


"The 110-degree daily weather here has a way of shrinking you," he said.
It's no bother to Callahan.


"He knows what he's doing if he's  got an ability to coach in the NFL," Covey said. He then added: "I wasn't a big Raider fan, though."


Reach Brian Christopherson at 473-7438 or bchristopherson@journalstar.com.