HOL In-State Tour hits year No. 12

Today the HuskerOnline.com staff will hit the road for our 12th annual in-state tour where we scour the state of Nebraska the next three weeks in search of the state's top up and coming talent.

Over the last 12 years HOL has gone out on the road and helped uncover the names of several unknown in-state targets that later went on to become major Division I prospects. Here's a look back at five memorable in-state tour stops.

Omaha Burke 2005

Who knew when we hit Omaha Burke in February of 2005 we were talking to two future NFL players in offensive lineman Ricky Henry and kicker Alex Henery.

Both players would go on to have standout careers at Nebraska and make NFL rosters. Henry ended up at a junior college though before eventually resigning with NU in 2008.

Omaha North 2005

A relatively new coach in the Omaha Metro area name Larry Martin called HuskerOnline.com about a pair of sophomores he had in wide receiver Niles Paul and quarterback Phillip Bates.

Paul was the nephew of former Husker Ahman Green and Bates the son of former Husker fullback Phil Bates Sr. Both players are still in the NFL to this day and they both just had their jerseys retired by Omaha North this winter.

Cozad 2006

Cozad had arguably one of the better looking linemen duo's we've seen in the last 10-plus years during our February 2006 In-State Tour stop.

The Haymakers were led by defensive line prospect Jared Crick and offensive lineman prospect Luke Pinkelman.

They both would end up at Nebraska, but only Crick would play football where he'd go on to be an all-conference lineman and now stars for the Houston Texans.

Pinkelman decided to throw the shot put at NU and he eventually went on to become a Big 12, Big Ten and All-American standout in the shot put.

Millard North 2005

Everybody talks about how good this past year's Omaha North squad was, but the 2005 Millard North team was equally as dominant and they had the Division I firepower to back it up.

Former Lincoln Southeast legendary head coach Chuck Mizerski called the Mustangs one of the best teams he ever faced after they blew out his Knights 56-0 in the playoffs.

Millard North was led that year by future Iowa recruit Jeff Tarpinian at quarterback, Washington recruit Paul Homer at fullback and Nebraska recruit Corey Young at running back. They were literally unstoppable that year and they passed the eye test the minute we saw them during our in-state tour. Tarpinian went on to have a solid NFL career, Homer was a multi-year starter at Washington and Young saw time as a true freshman at Nebraska before hanging it up after suffering his second major knee injury within a year.

North Dakota State's 2010 signing class

In 2010 North Dakota State signed a trio of three players in Nebraska led by Omaha Skutt defensive back Christian Dudzik and Schuyler defensive end Kyle Emanuel.

Both of these players at the time probably had higher aspirations than playing at the FCS level, but little did they know they'd be a part of history.

Dudzik is the best player ever to come out Omaha Skutt high school and he started an NCAA record 61 games for the Bison helping them win four straight national championships.

Emanuel was arguably more impressive leading FCS football with 19 ½ sacks and being named the FCS defensive player of the year. He too played in 61 games at NDSU like Dudzik. Neither player was recruited by Nebraska. Emanuel will take part in the NFL Combine later this month. Our trips to Schuyler and Skutt will definitely go down as memorable all-time In-State Tour visits.

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