2016 OL Brokop details his commitment to Nebraska

When the recruiting process started for 2016 New Lenox (Ill.) Lincoln-Way West offensive lineman Bryan Brokop he wasn't sure what to expect, or when he'd even end up making a decision for that matter.

However, the 6-foot-5, 278-pound Brokop says the picture became extremely clear for him over the course of the last six months or so. As he prepared to head to Nebraska for their game against Illinois last weekend he knew he was going to pledge his commitment to the Huskers.

"Yeah, you know my mind had been made up for a while," Brokop said. "Nebraska's the perfect fit for me with the coaches and the people. There's really no other place I would rather be. Just being a part of the Husker family, I knew I was going to commit. I even committed before the game, I knew it was going to happen (going into the trip)."

Brokop said the Huskers set the tone for his recruitment while visiting Lincoln for the first time last April for the Red-White Spring Game.

"Going back the spring game and how they treated me," Brokop said. "The coaches and the players and the atmosphere, no other place reached out to me and did it the way that they did. They took it to a whole other level.

"It wasn't really about football, more of my future and me as a person and my family. That really stuck out to me because I'm going to be living there for the next few years of my life. They took it to a whole other level and of course Nebraska football and their o-line tradition is just, yeah."

Brokop points to his lead recruiter, Nebraska offensive line coach John Garrison, as being the determining factor in his decision. The talented lineman says he relates to Garrison extremely well and appreciated his recruiting style.

"Coach Garrison was my lead recruiter," Brokop said. "He played a huge role. If it wasn't for him, to tell you the truth, I honestly don't know if I would be going there. He played a huge part of it. He's an awesome guy and I can't wait to get up there and play for him.

"He's young and he went there and played at Nebraska, he played in the NFL for a little bit, and he's really young and he's easy to relate to. He's down to earth and like one of the guys if you know what I mean. He's almost like a player, a player's type of coach. That really helps that he's younger and a guy you can relate to easily.

"(Garrison) was in my situation too when he was my age. He didn't rush me into this, it was my decision. He told me that I didn't have to commit right away, but no one really matched up like Nebraska. He didn't push me into my decision, but he was happy that I did (commit)."

Brokop became the first 2016 offensive lineman to commit to Nebraska as he informed the staff prior to the game. Shortly after the Huskers defeated Illinois 45-14 they added their second lineman of the night in John Raridon.

The events that followed will be an experience Brokop says he'll never forget.

"It was kind like before the game, we went into a separate room and I told them that I wanted to be a Husker," Brokop said about how he committed. "It was all smiles and hugs from there. Then after the game there was another interior lineman that committed, John Raridon.

"So after the game Coach Pelini was talking to the whole team and he like brought us up and introduced us. The whole team went crazy and Kenny Bell was like, 'Get the knife, we're about to make you blood brothers tonight. Welcome home and welcome to the family.' It was a crazy experience, something I'll never forget. It was awesome."

Nebraska's recruiting efforts along the offensive line have been impressive over the past two or three classes and Brokop says he feels that they are all cut out of the same cloth.

"They're my type of guys," Brokop said of the linemen Nebraska has landed over the past couple of classes. "They're born and raised in the Midwest, you know Tanner Farmer is from Illinois. They're just my type of people. They like to have a good time, but when game time comes you know it's getting serious."

Now that Brokop is on board he says he'll be recruiting for the Huskers and will be focusing on getting other like-minded linemen to join him and Raridon in the 2016 class.

"There are a couple (other linemen) out there," Brokop said. "Some are committed other places, I'm not going to say any names. I'm just trying to get people on board with what we've got going on over here.

"Nebraska's type of linemen is a hand in the ground, we're going to run it up your throat type of football. You know, zone, outside zone run type football. It's not like Oregon type football, it's my type of football (that Nebraska plays). I like that put your hand in the dirt, it's going to be a dog fight type of football. Those are definitely the type of guys I'm looking for and the type I want to play with."

Last season was Brokop's first full season of playing football as he started out playing on the golf team when he got to high school. At this point in his development as a player he feels that the way he plays the game is his current strength on the field and that the technical parts will continue to improve.

"I'm still young, I've only been playing football for the last two years - not even," Brokop said. "Last year was my first full season. I can always get better at everything. There's not just one thing that I really stand out at.

"I'm quick when I pull, but the one thing I'd say is if I'm not the most athletic, I'm definitely the meanest and definitely the toughest. When I'm out on that field I'm not holding anything back. I'm mean and tough and I don't like making friends - I like making enemies, not friends."

Brokop is currently ranked as the No. 6 overall player in Illinois and the No. 9 overall offensive guard in the nation for 2016. He committed to Nebraska over early offers from Duke, Illinois, Indiana, N.C. State, and Syracuse.