LINCOLN — The opportunity for Scott Criss to walk on to the Nebraska football team never disappeared.

It just seemed a lot more appealing this year than last.

Criss, a Class A all-state lineman at Omaha Creighton Prep as a senior in 2008, is transferring to NU from Wyoming. A scholarship player in Laramie, he'll join the Huskers as a walk-on this fall and sit out a second straight year after redshirting last season.

The 6-foot-5, 270-pound Criss, in fact, already has joined the Huskers. He's five weeks into their summer-conditioning program, working as a center with the offensive linemen.

“I've always wanted to be a Husker,” he said. “I had a good experience at Wyoming. I learned a lot about college football. They taught me how to play center.”

But it wasn't Nebraska, he said. Criss' three older sisters swam competitively at NU. His mother, Sue, played volleyball at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and his dad, Steve, played basketball at UNO.

As for Scott Criss' experience so far in Lincoln, he's enjoyed it. Nebraska grouped him with its incoming freshmen to start the summer, including good friend and ex-Junior Jay teammate Jeff Uher, a walk-on newcomer.

Criss picked Wyoming over a Nebraska walk-on invitation 18 months ago, though he was impressed with NU offensive line coach Barney Cotton. Criss said he remembered Cotton's attitude about the initial decision, making the decision to transfer after the school year ended.

He enrolled in summer school at Nebraska before he could officially discuss the situation with the NU coaches.

“It was hard leaving in the first place and thinking about what it would be like to play at Nebraska,” Criss said. “I think this next year is going to be helpful for me, getting into the Nebraska system.

“I need another development year.”

Contact the writer:

402-473-9587, mitch.sherman@owh.com

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