Cole Fisher (Omaha World-Herald)

Nebraska, Nebraska and now Iowa. 

That’s how it goes in the Fisher household. 

Todd Fisher lettered as a walk-on at Nebraska in 1983. Sean Fisher is a linebacker for the Huskers. He was expected to start this season, but suffered a broken leg early in camp. 

Now, there’s Cole Fisher. He’s the Iowa. 

In late July, the 6-foot-3, 190-pounder from Millard North (Omaha, Neb.) committed to the Hawkeyes, picking the Hawkeyes over Kansas. Iowa coaches told Fisher and his dad that he was the No. 1 linebacker on Iowa’s board for 2011 recruiting. Iowa offered a scholarship after Millard North’s seventh game last season. 

“The first thing I saw off the bat was the coaches. They’re a bunch of really great guys,” said Fisher, who carries a 3.8 GPA and scored a 28 on his ACT. “Also, it’s been the same guys forever now. There isn’t going to be any changing or anything like that. It’s comforting to know worry about anything like that. The guy who’s recruiting you is going to be your coach.” 

Not long after Iowa offered, Fisher suffered a torn ACL in a basketball game last December. He’s back 100 percent now, he said, and played in a 7-6 loss to Omaha Creighton Prep on Friday. 

The knee, however, stunted his recruiting. His only other offer was Kansas. And, no, no offer from Nebraska. 

But that’s OK. Fisher is done with recruiting, Nebraska offer or not. 

“When I give someone my word, for something that big, I’m going to stay with it,” Fisher said. “I’m not going to be changing my mind or anything like that.” 

Fisher plays free safety at Millard North, but he’ll be a linebacker at Iowa. It’s a little different story than Jeff Tarpinian, a fellow Millard North player. Tarpinian was quarterback at Millard North and is now Iowa’s starting middle linebacker. 

The Fishers and Tarpinians are friends. Sean and Jeff played together at North. 

“When I went down there (Iowa City) last time, I pretty much got to spend the whole day with him (Tarpinian) and (Iowa quarterback) Ricky Stanzi,” Fisher said. “They’re both really great guys. My brother, Sean, played with him for a year or two. They were pretty good friends. He’s one of those guys, he’ll shoot me a text just to talk a little bit or congratulate me. It’s cool.” 

Fisher also follows former Millard North preps Adam Shada and Seth Olsen to Iowa City. 

“Our kids come back home, and they are the best recruiters for Iowa,” Millard North coach Fred Petito told the Omaha World-Herald. 

With Nebraska joining the Big Ten in 2011, expect some focus on the Iowa-Nebraska recruiting battles. 

The Hawkeyes were first to offer Hastings (Neb.) O-lineman Zach Sterup, but he picked the Huskers earlier this summer. Iowa has an offer out to Cambridge (Neb.) D-lineman Mike Shoff. 

___________ 

Melvin Gordon, 6-0, 185, RB, Bradford High School (Kenosha, Wis.)  

Jordan Walsh, 6-3, 275, OL, Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn, Ill.)  

Torrey Campbell, 5-11, 180, CB, Barron Collier High School (Naples, Fla)  

Cole Fisher, 6-3, 200, LB, Millard North (Omaha, Neb.) High School  

Mike Orloff, 6-2, 215, LB, Lawrence Academy (Groton, Mass.)  

Riley McMinn, 6-7, 220, DE, Rochester (Ill.) High School  

Jake Duzey, 6-4, 225, TE, Athens High School (Troy, Michigan)  

Jake Rudock, 6-3, 185, QB, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)  

John Raymon, 6-5, 240, DE, Council Rock North High School (New Town, Penn.)  

Ray Hamilton, 6-5, 225, TE, Strongsville (Ohio) High School  

Austin Vincent, 6-2, 170, WR, DeSoto (Texas) High School  

Henry Krieger-Coble, 6-4, 220, TE, Mount Pleasant High School  

Austin Blythe, 6-3, 280, OL, Williamsburg High School  

Marcus Grant, 6-2, 190, WR Lawrence Academy (Groton, Mass.)