Nebraska Fans get Christmas Cheer with 3-Star LB Andrew Ward
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
Nebraska fans looking for a little bit of Christmas excitement on the gridiron recruiting trail got some good news when Michigan three-star linebacker Andrew Ward committed on Christmas day.
Ward grew into a prized Big Ten recruit playing for Muskegon High School. With their 6-1, 200 pound, athlete playing all over the field, the Big Reds posted a 12-2 season in 2016 making a run to Michigan’s Division 3 Championship Game before falling in a heartbreaking 29-28 thriller to St. Mary Prep.
The Cornhuskers have been high on Ward throughout 2016 offering him on March 3. Ward made the trip down to Nebraska for an unofficial visit in April and came back in September for an official. Ward had official visits scheduled to Indiana and Iowa State in January. Other teams to offer the outside linebacker included Arizona, Penn State, Western Michigan, Washington State, Central Michigan, and Virginia Tech.
Ward posted his commitment on Twitter stating, “Honored To Say I Will Be Committing To The University Of Nebraska #GBR #BlackShirts #MerryChristmas.” Ward posted a statement with his commitment:
Nebraska fans were looking for something to get excited about in regards to recruiting. Before Ward committed, the last commit was Deiontae Watts on Sept. 17. Over the past two weeks, the Cornhuskers had decommitments from defensive tackle Robert Porcher IV (Dec. 12) and tight end Reese Leitao (Dec. 18).
247Sports rates Nebraska’s 2017 class No. 33 in the nation, No. 7 in the Big Ten. Rivals has the Cornhuskers class at No. 39 in the country with five four-star recruits; Jaevon McQuitty, Keyshawn Johnson Jr., Tristan Gebbia, Avery Roberts, and Guy Thomas.
Nebraska Cornhuskers 2017 Verbal Commitment List (14)
LB Willie Hampton, 6-2, 220, Oxbridge Academy, West Palm Beach, FL
LB Avery Roberts, 6-1, 215, Concord HS, Wilmington, DE
LB Andrew Ward, 6-1, 200, Muskegon HS, Muskegon, MI
DE Guy Thomas, 6-3, 202, Booker T. Washington HS, Miami, FL
DT Deontre Thomas, 6-3, 280, Mustang HS, Mustang, OK
DT Deiontae Watts, 6-3, 302, Plano East HS, Plano, TX
OG Broc Brando, 6-5, 280, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL
OG Brenden Jaimes, 6-5, 250, Lake Travis HS, Austin, TX
OT Matt Sichterman, 6-5, 266, Kings HS, Kings Mills, OH
TE Austin Allen, 6-8, 210, Aurora HS, Aurora, NE
FB Ben Miles, 6-1, 210, Catholic HS, Baton Rouge, LA
QB Tristan Gebbia, 6-3, 180, Calabasas HS, Calabasas, CA
WR Keyshawn Johnson, 6-1, 195, Calabasas HS, Calabasas, CA
WR Jaevon McQuitty, 6-2, 193, Battle HS, Columbia, MO
Photo credit: Omaha.com; Andrew Ward visiting Nebraska.