Linebacker Jeff Souder, a true freshman from Bellevue, has left the Nebraska football team for personal reasons, Husker head coach Bill Callahan announced Monday.

Callahan, in a university-released statement, had no further comment.

The 6-foot, 200-pound Souder, a Super-State selection in 2004 following his senior season at Bellevue West, was one of three in-state scholarship players in the Huskers’ 2005 recruiting class. He began his career at NU as a safety but finished the 2005 season as a weakside linebacker.

One of 13 Nebraska true freshmen to see action last season, Souder contributed mostly on special teams, appearing in 10 games and recording six tackles.

Souder couldn’t be reached for comment Monday. He met with Callahan Monday morning and revealed his intentions to Bellevue West head coach John Faiman during the afternoon.

“I think he wants to continue his education and play football, but he didn’t want to do it there,” Faiman said. “They liked him up there (at Nebraska), but obviously something wasn’t right.

“I told Jeff, ‘You’re only as good as you are happy.’ ”

Souder appears set to continue his playing career at NCAA Division II Nebraska-Omaha. He becomes the second in-state player in Nebraska’s class of 2005 to leave the team. In December, cornerback Robert Rands, a standout long jumper from Bellevue East, decided he wanted to focus on track and field.

Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.