As a 1998 high school graduate from small town Nebraska, it was easy to take for granted the talent being pumped out of Omaha, Lincoln, and the rest of Nebraska. 1998 to me represents the time when that talent really started its descent to what it is today. This was also toward the end of when Nebraska kept anyone they wanted, as the early 2000's gave way to the border jumpers such as JaMaine Billups and Stevie Hicks.
Here is the list of scholarship players, and talented walk-ons, all from within our borders, from 1998. If we could sign a crop like this every year, and supplement from there, I would be ecstatic. This class was had future NFL talent, and talent that was evident, but not realized.
Because Rivals was not around in 98, they how I would rank them using hindsight for college / NFL:
1) Chris Kelsay - scholarship athlete from Auburn, played a ton of years in Buffalo. Personally made me never want to play organized football again after 8th grade, when he blindsided me on a kick return. 1st Team All Big 12 in 2001 (2nd Team All-American per Football News), 2nd team All Big 12 in 2002.
2) Scott Shanle - a walk-on from St. Ed who didn't really kill it in college, but had the measurable and did enough to make a ton of money in New Orleans. You know, just your average 2002 Butkus Award watchlist member, out of St. Edward, Nebraska.
3) Jeremy Schlecta - an absolute mountain of a man out of Papillion. I personally expected him to play DE (Rush-end using the parlance of our times) in school. But him and Jason Lohr were thrust into action as true freshman on the DL because of lack of depth. Was a productive player who had a season or two in the NFL. 2nd team All Big 12 in 02.
4) Aaron Golliday - Another big hoss from 98, out of York. He started and played a lot of games during his career in Lincoln, was a darn good blocker, and caught a fair share of passes. Was HM all Big 12 in 02.
5) Wilson Thomas - Was a late offer out of Omaha North , and signature in the 1998 class, was tall but skinny as hell. Ended up being a darn good receiver. Had 68 career receptions, and a hair under 1000 career receiving yards. Also was a spot player on the basketball team, and was best remembered for running with Crouch on his 99 yard run at Mizzou. Also honorable mention all Big 12 in 01 and 02.
6) Randy Stella - Out of Benson, Stella was a beast. He was a 6-2, 200 lb. linebacker / kick returner that could run a sub-11 100 meters, and liked to hit. Whether taking a 99 yard kickoff return to the house or blowing up a play, this guy had it all in front of him. I can't remember 100% why he left the team, so I will leave it at that. He was definitely 1st Team All Big 12 caliber though.
7) DeAntae Grixby - DeAntae was more exciting than Cortney in my opinion. Out of Omaha Central, this was when the pipeline from IB HS was not fully tapped, but still flowing. DeAntae crushed in the Shrine Game right before the season, bringing home MVP honors, but also an injury that delayed his enrollment for a year. When he got to Nebraska though, he tore his ACL and never lived up to his potential. I remember thinking he was going to be the continuation of Deangelo Evans.
8) Wes Cody - Out of Fremont Bergan, Wes Cody wasn't great but he played in every game as a junior for the #1 rated team in college football, and started every game in 2002.
9) Jon Bowling - Jon was another big athletic kid in the 98 class. Came from Lincoln Southeast, and was really good on the hardwood as well (him and TJ Edwards from the 97 class I think won the 97 title in Class A basketball). He was kind of injury plagued, and was kind of the poor man's Aaron Golliday.
10) Troy Hassebroek - Troy was a walk-on from Lincoln High. Troy was known more as a blocker. He started 7 games in 2002, and had 7 catches that year.
11) Nate Kolterman - Kolterman was an OL out of Seward. He had some injuries throughout his career, and never started a game, but did earn playing time as a backup.
____
Kenton Keith - Keith was a stud running back out of Omaha Benson. I think Solich figured we didn't need another running back with Grixby coming in, so he escaped to New Mexico State. He excelled at NMSU, and was Joseph Addai's backup in Indianapolis.
There are probably some other big names I am forgetting, but that is a pretty solid class, and was similar to many Nebraska HS classes before it. Hopefully we are cycling back in that direction.
Here is the list of scholarship players, and talented walk-ons, all from within our borders, from 1998. If we could sign a crop like this every year, and supplement from there, I would be ecstatic. This class was had future NFL talent, and talent that was evident, but not realized.
Because Rivals was not around in 98, they how I would rank them using hindsight for college / NFL:
1) Chris Kelsay - scholarship athlete from Auburn, played a ton of years in Buffalo. Personally made me never want to play organized football again after 8th grade, when he blindsided me on a kick return. 1st Team All Big 12 in 2001 (2nd Team All-American per Football News), 2nd team All Big 12 in 2002.
2) Scott Shanle - a walk-on from St. Ed who didn't really kill it in college, but had the measurable and did enough to make a ton of money in New Orleans. You know, just your average 2002 Butkus Award watchlist member, out of St. Edward, Nebraska.
3) Jeremy Schlecta - an absolute mountain of a man out of Papillion. I personally expected him to play DE (Rush-end using the parlance of our times) in school. But him and Jason Lohr were thrust into action as true freshman on the DL because of lack of depth. Was a productive player who had a season or two in the NFL. 2nd team All Big 12 in 02.
4) Aaron Golliday - Another big hoss from 98, out of York. He started and played a lot of games during his career in Lincoln, was a darn good blocker, and caught a fair share of passes. Was HM all Big 12 in 02.
5) Wilson Thomas - Was a late offer out of Omaha North , and signature in the 1998 class, was tall but skinny as hell. Ended up being a darn good receiver. Had 68 career receptions, and a hair under 1000 career receiving yards. Also was a spot player on the basketball team, and was best remembered for running with Crouch on his 99 yard run at Mizzou. Also honorable mention all Big 12 in 01 and 02.
6) Randy Stella - Out of Benson, Stella was a beast. He was a 6-2, 200 lb. linebacker / kick returner that could run a sub-11 100 meters, and liked to hit. Whether taking a 99 yard kickoff return to the house or blowing up a play, this guy had it all in front of him. I can't remember 100% why he left the team, so I will leave it at that. He was definitely 1st Team All Big 12 caliber though.
7) DeAntae Grixby - DeAntae was more exciting than Cortney in my opinion. Out of Omaha Central, this was when the pipeline from IB HS was not fully tapped, but still flowing. DeAntae crushed in the Shrine Game right before the season, bringing home MVP honors, but also an injury that delayed his enrollment for a year. When he got to Nebraska though, he tore his ACL and never lived up to his potential. I remember thinking he was going to be the continuation of Deangelo Evans.
8) Wes Cody - Out of Fremont Bergan, Wes Cody wasn't great but he played in every game as a junior for the #1 rated team in college football, and started every game in 2002.
9) Jon Bowling - Jon was another big athletic kid in the 98 class. Came from Lincoln Southeast, and was really good on the hardwood as well (him and TJ Edwards from the 97 class I think won the 97 title in Class A basketball). He was kind of injury plagued, and was kind of the poor man's Aaron Golliday.
10) Troy Hassebroek - Troy was a walk-on from Lincoln High. Troy was known more as a blocker. He started 7 games in 2002, and had 7 catches that year.
11) Nate Kolterman - Kolterman was an OL out of Seward. He had some injuries throughout his career, and never started a game, but did earn playing time as a backup.
____
Kenton Keith - Keith was a stud running back out of Omaha Benson. I think Solich figured we didn't need another running back with Grixby coming in, so he escaped to New Mexico State. He excelled at NMSU, and was Joseph Addai's backup in Indianapolis.
There are probably some other big names I am forgetting, but that is a pretty solid class, and was similar to many Nebraska HS classes before it. Hopefully we are cycling back in that direction.
