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Sports

Quince Orchard Alum Set for Big Role on One of College Football's Top Defenses

Jason Ankrah, a defensive end, is entering his sophomore season for Nebraska University's football team.

Unlike most high profile college football recruits, Jason Ankrah didn’t sign with Nebraska University's football team in 2009 with the expectation of becoming an immediate impact player at the college level. In fact, the former Quince Orchard football star knew it could be up to three years before he would even have a chance to earn substantial playing time with the Cornhuskers, perennially viewed as one of the country’s top defenses.

 “I had a good idea I wasn’t going to play early,” Ankrah said, “but it didn’t matter because I was just excited to have the chance to come in and play defense under [Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini]. And I knew anyway that I had to take time to get myself bigger, faster, stronger and smarter.”

And that’s exactly what he did.

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Ankrah hit the weight room hard, practiced even harder and tried to learn as much as he possibly could from both coaches as well as other players on the Cornhuskers’ defensive line.

Now, just more than two years after graduating from Quince Orchard, Ankrah appears poised to finally step into a substantial role for Nebraska’s defense. The 6-foot-4, 265 pound Ankrah is vying for the Cornhuskers' starting strong-side defensive end job.

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Ankrah posted just two tackles in limited action last season after redshirting in 2009, but has put on nearly 20 pounds of muscle since first arriving at Nebraska. He also says he now feels much more comfortable and confident within the Cornhuskers’ defense.

“It was definitely frustrating to not get much playing time,” Ankrah said of his first two years at Nebraska, “but, when I look back on it now, I actually needed that experience and to be able to watch and learn from some of the older guys. And now that I’m more comfortable, I just want to step up and just go out and make plays.”

At Quince Orchard, Ankrah tallied 105 tackles and 12 sacks during his final two high school seasons, helping lead the Cougars to a 24-2 record during that span as well as to a Class 4A state championship in 2007. He was named first-team All-State after his senior season in 2008. He was also rated as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, which  ranked him as the ninth-best defensive end recruit in the entire country.

“Even in high school, I could see some of his raw skills, his length, speed and quickness off the ball,” said Nebraska's defensive line coach, John Papuchis. “You could also tell he was a strong guy. He just looked the part of what you were looking for from a high school defensive end trying to make that transition to college.”

Coincidentally, Papuchis also attended Quince Orchard and graduated in 1996. He played a primary role in Ankrah’s recruitment to the Cornhuskers.

Now, having watched Ankrah develop the last three years, Papuchis thinks the young defensive end is ready to play a significant role for Nebraska this season.

Papuchis credited Ankrah as being “a very hard worker” that has been able to “develop his strength and explosiveness.”

“He’s got a lot of potential and is going to play a big role for us,” Papuchis said. “I’m hoping this is a big year for him.”

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