On Thursday, the Birmingham, Ala., safety made it official that he's going to be a Husker, signing his letter of intent a day after committing, likely the last addition to a recruiting class of 28 players.
BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Thursday, February 7, 2008 6:00 pm
They just found out about Mason Wald, but already the kid has a sizeable fan club.
His highlight videos have traveled through Husker cyberspace, and plenty of Nebraska fans have become convinced: Mason Wald can bring it.
On Thursday, the Birmingham, Ala., safety made it official that he’s going to be a Husker, signing his letter of intent a day after committing, likely the last addition to a recruiting class of 28 players.
“It just felt like the thing to do,” Wald said. “They really wanted me.”
The scholarship offer from Nebraska came as somewhat of a surprise considering Wald was not being recruited by a lot of college football powers.
At one point, his decision was between NU and Samford.
Nebraska coaches started their pursuit of Wald rather late in the recruiting process.
One Thursday in January, he got a call from Husker coaches. Could he get on a plane and visit, um, tomorrow? Sure. That Sunday, coaches saw game film of Wald. That same Sunday coaches offered him a scholarship.
He’ll be joined in Nebraska by a teammate from Vestavia Hills High School. Defensive back Justin Rogers signed Wednesday.
The two players led the school to state semifinal appearances the past two years in Alabama’s largest class.
Last season, the 5-foot-11, 195-pound Wald piled up more than 100 tackles and had seven interceptions to earn all-state honors.
Wald said while being recruited, Husker coaches even talked about using him as a linebacker in certain defensive packages.
Wherever they want to put him, he’s ready to go.
“I do really like to hit,” he said.
Coaches back to work
Trips to sunny resorts to enjoy drinks with umbrellas in them will have to wait.
A day after signing day, work went on at the Husker football offices.
“Now, it’s onto that next (recruiting) class,” said Jeff Jamrog, assistant athletic director for football.
Jamrog estimated the staff has already extended 25 scholarship offers to prospects around the country who are juniors in high school.
While spring ball is a few weeks away, Husker coaches are still planning to spend about half of each day on recruiting.
Saturday, the Huskers are planning to host about 30 to 40 high school juniors on campus.
Most of the recruits will be from Nebraska, a few from nearby states. They’ll get a chance to see coaches, the facilities and meet academic advisers.
The Huskers have two Junior Days. The other one will be April 19, the day of the Red-White Spring Game.
“Hopefully it will be huge attendance,” Jamrog said. “Hopefully it will be sold-out.”
Jamrog’s hope could become a reality. On Wednesday, the first day tickets were on sale, roughly 23,000 tickets were sold, within 5,000 of all the advanced sales for last year’s game.
Another walk-on
Apparently you can add another name to the Husker walk-on list.
Seung Hoon Choi — a 6-2, 315-pound lineman from Lincoln Christian — has been offered and accepted an invitational to walk on, according to his high school coach, Matt Farup.
Choi came to America from Seoul, South Korea, his freshman year of high school. He didn’t actually start playing football until his sophomore year.
NU followed plan
NU linebackers coach Mike Ekeler said there was no panic on the staff, even in December when the recruiting class was down to 15 players.
“We knew the guys who we had in our pool who were interested,” Ekeler said. “And the fact of the matter is we’re going to go out and recruit every Saturday. We’re going to recruit every time we take the field by how we play.”
Winding recruiting road
It was a bizarre recruiting season, especially for two Husker coaches, Shawn Watson and Ted Gilmore, who started it recruiting under head coach Bill Callahan and ended it under Bo Pelini.
Pelini praised Gilmore on Wednesday: “He’s our recruiting coordinator and I leaned on him.”
Gilmore has been through plenty of recruiting seasons, but probably never one with as many turns as this one.
“It was difficult,” Gilmore said. “Heck, I was part of two recruiting classes, and when you see all that hard work you put in, and see kids making decisions to go elsewhere, it’s disheartening, because you’ve gotten to know them. You’ve gotten to know their families.
“But by the same token, you have to wish them well and move on. But (this recruiting season) was a unique one, and a life lesson, a learning experience.”
Reach Brian Christopherson at bchristopherson@journalstar.com or 473-7439.