Westerkamp on pace to rewrite the record books

[rl]It doesn't seem possible considering the array of spectacular plays he's made in his career, but Jordan Westerkamp is well on his way to becoming the best receiver in Nebraska's storied history, yet no one is talking about it.

It's hard to forget the flashy plays, notably his behind-the-back reception in the 2014 season opener or the famed Hail Mary catch to beat Northwestern in 2013. While he dabbles in the spectacular, however, it's Westerkamp's down-in, down-out brilliance that defines him.

In ten games this season, Westerkamp has 58 catches for 801 yards. Barring injury, he's a virtual lock to break Nate Swift's wide receiver record for catches in a season (63) and will threaten Marlon Lucky's school record (75), especially if Nebraska makes a bowl game. Assuming the Huskers do win one of their last two contests and advance to bowl season, Westerkamp is on pace not only to break Johnny Rodgers' record for receiving yards in a season (942), but he would also own the school's first 1,000-yard campaign.

Westerkamp also has four 100-yard games this season, tying him with Rodgers for the school mark. If he eclipses the century mark just once more, he'll have the top spot all to himself.

And while Alonzo Moore, Brandon Reilly and Stanley Morgan Jr. have emerged this year, the Huskers are depending on Westerkamp more heavily than ever. The junior has 93 targets in 10 games, more than any player in NU's 13 games last year (Kenny Bell led the team with 90). In 26 career games, Jordan Westerkamp has caught 122 of his 190 targets (64.2%) with just seven drops (3.7%).

Westerkamp is currently sixth in career receptions (122, 59 behind Bell's record 181) and fourth in yards (1,831, 852 behind Rodgers' 2,689). Assuming the Huskers have three more games this season and 13 next year, Westerkamp is on pace to finish with 197 catches and 2,957 yards, easily breaking both records.

But Westerkamp's impact can't simply be measured by statistics, impressive as they are. Is there any way the Huskers come back to beat Michigan State if he doesn't start NU's final drive with receptions of 28 and 33 yards?

Mike Riley and offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf have certainly recognized Westerkamp's value recently. After the junior had just three targets against Wisconsin, he's had a combined 43 over the past four games, including 27 in the last two. It's too simplistic to suggest that Westerkamp's contributions alone bumped NU's scoring average up from 17 points per game against Illinois and Wisconsin (three catches on 10 targets) to 40 in the last four games (29 on 43 targets), but the increased attention on him doesn't hurt.

And Westerkamp's toughness provides an inspiration for the rest of the team. The wideout took two brutal shots in the first half of the MSU game, the latter of which saw his head slam violently to the turf and appeared to be the end of his day. But he returned to catch five passes for 93 yards in the second half, displaying the durability that's kept him from missing a game in his career.

"I see the shots he's taking, but every shot he takes he's gotten back up," defensive tackle Kevin Maurice said. "That's just the type of guy he is. He's a tough guy and no matter what he's going to give everything he has.

"You see your star guy getting smacked like that and he just gets back up like it's nothing, that definitely a key to everybody."

Westerkamp is a quiet, unassuming guy who seems content to fly under the radar. It doesn't appear to bother him that all the attention is on his receiving counterpart, Rutgers' star Leonte Carroo this weekend. But as the records start to fall over the next year and a half, here's to hoping Westerkamp gets the recognition he deserves.

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