Nebraska just pulled off it’s biggest commitment of the recruiting season. Star running Ameer Abdullah will return to Lincoln for his Senior season:
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Abdullah rushed for 1,690 yards in 2013, including a school-record 11 games with 100 or more rushing yards. He had a really nice statement on his return:
I would like to start off by thanking everyone for their patience as I reached this decision. I cannot begin to tell you how truly thankful I am for the Husker coaching staff, my teammates, and the Nebraska fans. My time here at Nebraska has been memorable and more than I could have ever hoped. It is truly an honor to play for this program.
As you know, since the midway point the season I have been asked, repeatedly, whether I would return for my senior season. In reaching my decision I have had to consider a number of factors such as my family’s economic condition, my projected draft position, and my long term success, not just in football, but in life in general. In order to fully understand my decision one must know who I am and where I come from.
I come from a very modest upbringing. As the youngest of my parents’ nine children, I have had to fight for just about everything I have gotten. Despite these apparent obstacles, my parents were able to instill in their children the importance of family, education, and taking advantage of life’s many opportunities.
In holding true to these values, all of my siblings have completed their college education with many of them even going on to obtain advanced degrees. Despite my family’s tradition of completing its college education, I find myself in a very unique situation of having to decide between pursuing my dream of playing in the National Football League and breaking from my family’s tradition of completing our education.
While it may be true that none of my siblings were presented with the possibility of playing professional sports, it is equally true that the average NFL career, because of the violent nature of the sport, is less than five years. In analyzing these truths, I have come to realize that life is bigger than football, and that my chances of long-term success in life will be greatly enhanced by completing my college education.
Although I have always wanted to play in the NFL, at this time I would like to formally announce my intentions of returning to Nebraska for my senior season.
If playing in the NFL is truly in God’s plans for me, then God will again present this opportunity to me after I complete my college education.
This is huge for the Huskers next season. Abdullah will enter the year as a dark horse candidate for the Heisman Trophy and give the offense much needed stability.