April 22, 2008

Lincoln, NE (UWIRE) -- On Saturday, gathered in the lower east stadium absorbing the atmosphere of the Nebraska spring game, were potential Cornhuskers.

More than 100 high school football recruits, who still have their senior seasons to look forward to, were invited to watch the exhibition game.

Marcus Hall-Oliver, a junior from Omaha Central, said he was shocked to see 80,000 fans at a spring game.

"That's just incredible that they came out," Hall-Oliver said. "The support that they have for the team in a spring game, that's something you can't get anywhere else in the country."

Hall-Oliver plays defensive end in high school, but said if he ended up at Nebraska, he would try his hand at linebacker.

He said he is looking at every school in the Big 12 North except Colorado and said right now Nebraska is highest on his list.

As Hall-Oliver was admiring the Huskers, he began to think about the possibility of someday donning a Nebraska jersey.

"That's just goose bumps," the prep standout said. "Goose bumps going all around. Just to think that I could play here one day, that's a great feeling."

Another defensive recruit the Huskers are interested in is Gabe Lynn. The Jenks, Okla., native is the younger brother of current Nebraska linebacker Phillip Dillard.

Lynn said NU sent him his first scholarship offer in September. He has been to Husker games before to watch his brother play, but he said he still was surprised so many people came to support their team for a spring game.

"I went to some scrimmages (at OU), but I know the Oklahoma spring (game), or anybody else's game, wasn't nothing like this," Lynn said.

Lynn said he's seen the Sooner's football facilities but thought Nebraska's are at the top - above and beyond, as he put it.

He said he is looking at multiple schools right now, including Miami, Tennessee and Texas Tech.

"Right now, Nebraska is with everybody else," Lynn said. "Everybody's even right now because I'm trying to learn about all the schools. ... I'm wide open."

For now, Lynn is focusing on his senior campaign this fall. His high school team won their 12th 6A state title last year. He said one of his goals, besides getting faster and stronger before college, is to repeat as champs for his senior year.

Eric Koehlmoos is a recruit who also knows a thing or two about being a state champion. His Pierce Bluejays won a Class C-1 title during his junior season. The Nebraska native said he is a defensive specialist who likes to play strong safety, but he saw action at running back and even quarterback during his team's overtime win in the state championship last fall.

Koehlmoos said his coach called on him, during that game, to take over the quarterback position. He led his team to a dramatic victory and said he wants to repeat as state champ again before he leaves for college.

Koehlmoos was not able to participate in camps last summer because of a pulled hamstring. He said he has a lot of work left before he is ready to play in college. Koehlmoos stressed the importance of picking the right college as well as the right football program.

He said NU Coach Bo Pelini and the Husker staff want to see him in camps this summer for a more in-depth evaluation.

Koehlmoos said his field awareness and quickness make him an ideal candidate to play for Nebraska.

"They always say defense wins championships," Koehlmoos said. "It all starts with the defense being able to stop the other team's offense. It's great to have a defensive coach like Bo Pelini here."

(C) 2008 Daily Nebraskan via UWIRE