Creighton Prep star picks NU
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BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
This recruiting business is becoming somewhat dangerous for first-year Nebraska football coach Bill Callahan.
In June, upon receiving a verbal commitment from touted quarterback Harrison Beck, Callahan was so excited he had to pull his vehicle off the road.
Callahan "about jumped out of his chair" Thursday when Omaha Creighton Prep standout Zach Potter committed to accepting Nebraska's scholarship offer, Potter said Thursday night.
"He was really excited," said Potter, who came to Lincoln with his father to give Callahan the news before Nebraska's practice.
Callahan's excitement stems from the fact the 6-foot-7, 260-pound Potter, a defensive end and tight end, is widely regarded as the state's top Division I-A prospect.
What's more, Potter is the first in-state player to commit to joining the Huskers' class of 2005.
Potter is rated as a four-star defensive end in rivals.com's five-star system. He becomes the fifth four-star recruit among 14 prep players known to have committed to Nebraska for 2005. The Huskers have one five-star player — junior college defensive back Zackary Bowman.
Nebraska has moved to No. 4 in rivals.com's team rankings behind Virginia, Ohio State and Oklahoma. The Huskers' last three recruiting classes each failed to crack rivals.com's top 25.
National recruiting guru Tom Lemming said last week Nebraska may be heading toward the top class in the nation.
"Just to be a part of this recruiting class is great," Potter said.
Potter — the nation's No. 6 strongside defensive end, according to rivals.com — selected Nebraska after also receiving scholarship offers from Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State and Notre Dame.
Potter said he wasn't bothered by Nebraska's recent lopsided losses. In fact, he said, it shows young players might be able to contribute early in their careers.
Creighton Prep head coach Tom Jaworski said Potter "is a big kid who can run."
"He has good agility and football toughness," said Jaworski, whose 8-1 Junior Jays are preparing for the Class A state playoffs. "Plus, he's a really good kid. He's fun to be around, has a good sense of humor.
"At this point, he's a really good player who's just going to keep getting better."
Jaworski noted Potter's prowess on the basketball court.
"When he first came to Creighton Prep, he was a basketball player who played football," Jaworski said. "As his career developed, he became a football player who plays basketball."
Potter said he's unsure which position he'll play at Nebraska. He said Husker coaches have told him he could play either defense or offense.
"I'm sure we'll figure something out," he said.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
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