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LINCOLN — Recruiting gurus might say that Givens Price's best football is still ahead of him.
In fact, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that almost everything is ahead for young Mr. Price.
The offensive line prospect is a senior at Alief Taylor High in Houston. But he's only 16 years old, and he'll still be 16 when he starts classes next year at NU. He doesn't turn 17 until Oct. 3.
“It's kind of why he flew under the radar for so long,” said J.D. Jordan, his head coach at Alief Taylor.
Price doesn't look like the average 16-year-old. He stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 278 pounds — size that caught the attention of more than just NU. He was previously committed to Rice and also had offers from Baylor and Missouri.
Price changed his pledge to Nebraska on Monday after an in-home visit on Sunday from NU assistant coach Mike Ekeler.
Even as a pre-teen, Price was turning heads around high school. Jordan remembers Price walking into his freshman physical education class as a 12-year-old, about two years younger than most kids in his grade. Those around the school quickly steered him toward the football program.
Price continued to develop. As a senior, while still only the age of most sophomores, he earned a starting job at Alief Taylor, a Texas Class 5-A district champion this season that finished 10-2.
Price is still growing, Jordan said, calling him a “lean 280.”
“There's potential to add a lot of weight, muscle weight, and he moves real good,” Jordan said. “Good hips, long legs … and he could still get taller.”
So why will Givens Marvelous Mordi Price — his full name — graduate from high school and be off to college at 16?
Price skipped the fourth grade and then sandwiched two school years into one after moving to Nigeria, where he lived for two years, he said. His parents were from Nigeria before moving to the United States.
Because he always has been tall for his age and has been told he has a certain maturity about him, coming across as young for his class rarely was an issue, he said.
Price didn't play varsity football as a junior. It was during practices last spring that visitors started to take notice.
“People would come and see this giant and ask, ‘Who's that?' ” Jordan said.
Price played tackle on both sides last season for Alief Taylor. He considers himself a fast learner and also believes he could play guard.
“Anything to help the team,” he said. “Right now they think I can take a redshirt, and preferably that's what I want to do.”
Contact the writer:
402-444-1042, rich.kaipust@owh.com
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