"We have to be able to recruit Texas to be able to have success in recruiting," Husker coach Bo Pelini once said, noting that outside of Nebraska, the Lone Star State would be a primary recruiting station for the progr
BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Thursday, May 15, 2008 7:00 pm
It’s a playground for college football coaches down there. Come with open eyes and a map of the greater Dallas area, and you’re bound to do OK.
“We have to be able to recruit Texas to be able to have success in recruiting,” Husker coach Bo Pelini has said, noting that outside of Nebraska, the Lone Star State would be a primary recruiting station for the program.
The man wasn’t lying.
The Huskers picked up another commitment from Texas this week in running back Dontrayevous Robinson.
It’s already the second commit from Texas in the 2009 recruiting class. Pelini’s first class had nine recruits from the state.
Robinson may be from Texas, but he’s long had a fascination with Nebraska football.
“I just liked the school since I was little,” he said.
So there was jubilance — not to mention a sort of surprise — when the Euless Trinity High School standout received a letter a few weeks ago from Husker coaches asking him if he’d like to accept a scholarship.
Despite not having visited the place, Robinson told Husker coaches yes on Thursday.
The fifth known commitment in NU’s 2009 class, Robinson is the first running back on the list. The 6-foot-1, 215-pounder has been clocked in the 40 at 4.5 seconds.
“Just a north-and-south runner,” he said of his style. “I can do anything.”
He has played against as strong a competition as one can in the prep ranks. Located in the Dallas area, Euless Trinity is a state power.
The team went 15-1 last year and won its second state title in three years at Texas’ highest level of high school football, Class 5A. Think “Friday Night Lights” and you’ve got the right scene playing in your head.
Robinson totaled more than 1,100 yards (about 900 of them rushing) and 18 scores.
Tulsa, Utah and New Mexico were schools that had offered him scholarships.
Briefly
* Suspended for most of the spring practices, redshirt freshman linebacker Austin Stafford has been reinstated, according to Jeff Jamrog, NU assistant athletic director for football operations.
* Former Husker Seth Jensen has found a new football home at Division II Colorado State University-Pueblo.
A sophomore defensive lineman from Fort Morgan, Colo., Jensen left the Husker program during spring practices. He was part of Bill Callahan’s 2006 recruiting class.
About his departure from Lincoln, Jensen told The Pueblo Chieftain newspaper: “I really didn’t share the same views on some things with the new coaching staff. Nebraska’s a great place and they love football more than any place I’ve ever seen. I just felt it was best for me to pursue other opportunities.”
Reach Brian Christopherson at 473-7439 or bchristopherson@journalstar.com.