Signing Day: A Pleasant Reversal

Carnes Resists Local Pressure to Sign with NU

Nebraska’s newest quarterback recruit, Brion Carnes, nearly chose a winless Western Kentucky over NU, a decision that confounded Cornhusker fans - and coaches - who targeted Carnes in December to helped spearhead a new, dual-threat style of offense.

Wednesday, as Carnes, a 6-foot-1, 180-pounder from Bradenton (Fla.) Manatee High School, announced his intention to play for Nebraska, he shed light on why he almost headed to WKU. And why he changed his mind.

"I felt like I made that decision because a couple of people were telling me that would be a good place for me instead of thinking for myself," he said to reporters at Manatee. "This process is about me. This is where I'm going to be the next four years. And I really thought about it, and I'm happy with my decision.”

Carnes, the second cousin of former NU quarterbacking great Tommie Frazier, gave a vague commitment over the weekend to the Hilltoppers, whose head coach is Manatee alumni Willie Taggart.

I love Coach Taggart to death - he's from my hometown and he's an alumni of Manatee, and he knows my family,” Carnes said. “But this is for me.”

The prospect prayed about the decision, he said, with his mother, and gave NU its quarterback for 2010. It ended a long, dramatic season of quarterback recruiting for the Huskers, who courted Tyler Gabbert, watched him decommit in early December, then changed course toward Carnes, who looked as though he was headed for WKU.

See also: Husker Walk-On List and Samuel McKewon Commentary and Six for Immediate Impact and Six Who Got Away

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Kenny Bell

Brion Carnes

Braylon Heard

LaVonte David

Corey Cooper

Jermarcus Hardrick

Harvey Jackson

Jay Guy

Joshua Mitchell

Tyler Evans

Quincy Enunwa

Email Samuel McKewon at sam@ne.statepaper.com

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