Nebraska the right fit for Montini’s Westerkamp

Of Montini receiver Jordan Westerkamp’s 17 college scholarship offers, one came from his father’s alma mater, the University of Illinois.

There was no pressure from dad, however, when after 15 campus visits Jordan made up his mind.

“He wanted me to go to where it was the best fit for me, and he knew that was Nebraska,” said Westerkamp, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior who has broken many of his father’s receiving records at Montini.

In 2010 the all-state wideout’s 89 receptions for 1,631 yards and 21 touchdowns helped the Broncos win a second straight Class 5A state championship.

Numbers like this were why his primary Nebraska recruiter, John Garrison, and then receivers coach Rich Fisher and Cornhuskers head coach Bo Pelini were fired up when Westerkamp offered his verbal commitment on Thursday.

“They said I was a true receiver, and they hadn’t seen that in awhile,” said Westerkamp, whose last measured vertical leap was 40 inches to go with a 295-pound maximum bench press.

“I was good at all areas a receiver should be good at, it wasn’t just that I was fast. They said I could do it all.”

Montini coach Chris Andriano knows this well. Last season quarterback Matt Westerkamp — who will play for Robert Morris College’s inaugural team this fall — often looked his cousin’s way.

“I’m happy for him,” Andriano said of Jordan. “It’s a tremendous opportunity. He worked really hard and it all paid off for him. He gets to play college football at a university with a rich tradition and history in football. So we’re thrilled.”

Jordan Westerkamp received offers from Nebraska, Arizona, Boston College, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Vanderbilt, West Virginia, Wyoming, Ball State, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern and Northern Illinois.

(Jaleel Johnson, a 6-foot-4, 290-pound junior two-way lineman who transferred in from St. Joseph, has the same kind of interest.)

Westerkamp attended Nebraska’s spring scrimmage on April 16, and though pretty well set in his mind took second trips to Michigan State and Minnesota before making a final decision with his parents, Bob and Kim, and brothers Aaron and Christian.

“I absolutely loved every little thing about (Nebraska),” Jordan said. “The coaches, the people, the campus, the academics, the traditions.”

Other factors included Nebraska joining the Big Ten and Huskers offensive coordinator Tim Beck implementing a new spread offense.

The combination hastened Westerkamp’s original plan to commit by the end of the summer.

“Obviously that’s done, so I’ve got a year left with the Broncos,” he said. “I can focus on my summer, get bigger, faster, stronger, and with my team we’ll try to get that third ring.”