Took all guys from Colorado high schools in 2014 - 2016 who had Rivals Ratings of 5.6-or-better.
Pelini blew chunks recruiting the state of Colorado; things got a little better under Mike Riley.
Sam Jones and Dalton Risner would have been great "gets" in the 2014 class, but Pelini never bothered offering either one of them.
*****2014*****
Eighth-overall player taken in the 2017 NFL Draft and a first-team All-American in 2015
1.) Christian McCaffrey, Stanford; 4-stars, 5.9 RR, #77 on the Rivals 100, 3rd-best all-purpose back; In three seasons at Stanford, McCaffrey finished with 3,922 career yards, including a 2,019 yard season in 2015; Also had 99 career receptions; First-team All-American and AP's College Football Player of the Year in 2015; 2x first-team All-Pac 12; Taken in the first round (#8 overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers.
Rushed for 1,984 yards and 27 TDs, and had 82 receptions in his career at Arizona State
2.) Kalen Ballage, Arizona State; 4-stars, 5.9 RR, #133 on the Rivals 250, 6th-best 'Athlete'; A running back, Ballage finished his career with 450 carries for 1,984 yards and 27 TDs, and 82 receptions for 684 yards and 2 receiving TDs; Toolsy kid whose tools never translated into production - an NFL scout said of him, "he has the body of an NFL every-down back, but plays like a 3rd-down back."
Rushed for 786 yards over four seasons at UCLA
3.) Nathan Starks, UCLA; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #161 on the Rivals 250, 15th-best RB; Started six games over four years at UCLA; His 2017 season ended prematurely after he tore his MCL and required surgery; Has 786 yards and 8 TDs on 177 carries in his career.
Projected to go in Rounds 5 thru 7 in this month's NFL Draft
4.) Sam Jones, Arizona State; 3-stars, 5.7 RR, 45th-best offensive tackle; Two-year starter at left guard for the Sun Devils; Honorable-mention All-Pac 12 in 2016; Started five games in 2015; Declared early for the 2018 NFL Draft; Mel Kiper has him rated as the 6th-best draft-eligible offensive guard; Nebraska had mild interest in him, but never offered.
2x first-team All-Big 12 - Pelini never bothered offering him
5.) Dalton Risner, Kansas State; 3-stars, 5.7 RR, 6th-best center; Three-year starter on K-State's offensive line - center in 2015, and right tackle in 2016 and 2017; A 2x First-Team All-Big 12 selection (2016 and 2017); Redshirted in 2014 and has one more year of eligibility left.
*****2015*****
Started 6 games in 2017 when Chris Jones was out
1.) Eric Lee, Nebraska; 4-stars, 5.9 RR, #119 on the Rivals 250, 12th-best cornerback; Started six games at cornerback in 2017, then relinquished his role when Chris Jones returned from his knee injury; Had 30 tackles on the season; Played in 8 games in 2016, mostly on special teams; Redshirted in 2015.
Has four (4) tackles over two seasons at Nebraska
2.) Avery Anderson, Nebraska; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #234 on the Rivals 250, 24th-best cornerback; Finished 2017 as Nebraska's 3rd-string cornerback, and had 3 tackles on the season; Was a backup safety in 2016 and appeared in 3 games, registering one assisted tackle; Redshirted in 2015.
Two-year starter and the Buffaloes' best O-lineman in 2017
3.) Tim Lynott, Colorado; 3-stars, 5.7 RR, 47th-best offensive tackle; Two-year starter for Colorado (right guard in 2016 and RG and center in 2017); Regarded as Colorado's best offensive lineman in 2017; Tore his Achilles tendon late in 2017; Freshman All-American in 2016; Redshirted in 2015.
*****2016*****
1.) Carlo Kemp, Michigan; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #215 on the Rivals 250, 11th-best weakside defensive end; Reserve DE for Michigan in both 2016 and 2017; Has 3 (three) tackles over two seasons.
Missed all of 2017 with a knee injury
2.) JoJo Domann, Nebraska; 3-stars, 5.6 RR, 61st-best outside linebacker; A safety, Domann missed all of 2017 with a knee injury; Appeared in all 13 games in 2016, primarily on special teams, and had 8 tackles on the season.
Had 8 receptions and 2 TDs as a RS freshman in 2017
3.) Jack Stoll, Nebraska; 3-stars, 5.6 RR, 38th-best tight end; Finished 2017 as Nebraska's 3rd-string tight end; Had 8 receptions for 89 yards and 2 TDs; Redshirted in 2016.
4.) Matt Lynch, UCLA; 3-stars, 5.6 RR, 19th-best pro-style QB; UCLA's 3rd-string QB in 2017 and completed 2-of-3 passes for 11 yards and a TD on the season; Redshirted in 2016.
Pelini blew chunks recruiting the state of Colorado; things got a little better under Mike Riley.
Sam Jones and Dalton Risner would have been great "gets" in the 2014 class, but Pelini never bothered offering either one of them.
*****2014*****
Eighth-overall player taken in the 2017 NFL Draft and a first-team All-American in 2015
1.) Christian McCaffrey, Stanford; 4-stars, 5.9 RR, #77 on the Rivals 100, 3rd-best all-purpose back; In three seasons at Stanford, McCaffrey finished with 3,922 career yards, including a 2,019 yard season in 2015; Also had 99 career receptions; First-team All-American and AP's College Football Player of the Year in 2015; 2x first-team All-Pac 12; Taken in the first round (#8 overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers.
Rushed for 1,984 yards and 27 TDs, and had 82 receptions in his career at Arizona State
2.) Kalen Ballage, Arizona State; 4-stars, 5.9 RR, #133 on the Rivals 250, 6th-best 'Athlete'; A running back, Ballage finished his career with 450 carries for 1,984 yards and 27 TDs, and 82 receptions for 684 yards and 2 receiving TDs; Toolsy kid whose tools never translated into production - an NFL scout said of him, "he has the body of an NFL every-down back, but plays like a 3rd-down back."
Rushed for 786 yards over four seasons at UCLA
3.) Nathan Starks, UCLA; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #161 on the Rivals 250, 15th-best RB; Started six games over four years at UCLA; His 2017 season ended prematurely after he tore his MCL and required surgery; Has 786 yards and 8 TDs on 177 carries in his career.
Projected to go in Rounds 5 thru 7 in this month's NFL Draft
4.) Sam Jones, Arizona State; 3-stars, 5.7 RR, 45th-best offensive tackle; Two-year starter at left guard for the Sun Devils; Honorable-mention All-Pac 12 in 2016; Started five games in 2015; Declared early for the 2018 NFL Draft; Mel Kiper has him rated as the 6th-best draft-eligible offensive guard; Nebraska had mild interest in him, but never offered.
2x first-team All-Big 12 - Pelini never bothered offering him
5.) Dalton Risner, Kansas State; 3-stars, 5.7 RR, 6th-best center; Three-year starter on K-State's offensive line - center in 2015, and right tackle in 2016 and 2017; A 2x First-Team All-Big 12 selection (2016 and 2017); Redshirted in 2014 and has one more year of eligibility left.
*****2015*****
Started 6 games in 2017 when Chris Jones was out
1.) Eric Lee, Nebraska; 4-stars, 5.9 RR, #119 on the Rivals 250, 12th-best cornerback; Started six games at cornerback in 2017, then relinquished his role when Chris Jones returned from his knee injury; Had 30 tackles on the season; Played in 8 games in 2016, mostly on special teams; Redshirted in 2015.
Has four (4) tackles over two seasons at Nebraska
2.) Avery Anderson, Nebraska; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #234 on the Rivals 250, 24th-best cornerback; Finished 2017 as Nebraska's 3rd-string cornerback, and had 3 tackles on the season; Was a backup safety in 2016 and appeared in 3 games, registering one assisted tackle; Redshirted in 2015.
Two-year starter and the Buffaloes' best O-lineman in 2017
3.) Tim Lynott, Colorado; 3-stars, 5.7 RR, 47th-best offensive tackle; Two-year starter for Colorado (right guard in 2016 and RG and center in 2017); Regarded as Colorado's best offensive lineman in 2017; Tore his Achilles tendon late in 2017; Freshman All-American in 2016; Redshirted in 2015.
*****2016*****
1.) Carlo Kemp, Michigan; 4-stars, 5.8 RR, #215 on the Rivals 250, 11th-best weakside defensive end; Reserve DE for Michigan in both 2016 and 2017; Has 3 (three) tackles over two seasons.
Missed all of 2017 with a knee injury
2.) JoJo Domann, Nebraska; 3-stars, 5.6 RR, 61st-best outside linebacker; A safety, Domann missed all of 2017 with a knee injury; Appeared in all 13 games in 2016, primarily on special teams, and had 8 tackles on the season.
Had 8 receptions and 2 TDs as a RS freshman in 2017
3.) Jack Stoll, Nebraska; 3-stars, 5.6 RR, 38th-best tight end; Finished 2017 as Nebraska's 3rd-string tight end; Had 8 receptions for 89 yards and 2 TDs; Redshirted in 2016.
4.) Matt Lynch, UCLA; 3-stars, 5.6 RR, 19th-best pro-style QB; UCLA's 3rd-string QB in 2017 and completed 2-of-3 passes for 11 yards and a TD on the season; Redshirted in 2016.
