Gdowski signs on with Solich at Ohio

Former Nebraska quarterback Gerry Gdowski, a native of Fremont, has been hired as quarterbacks coach on Frank Solich's staff at Ohio University.

Solich was running backs coach at Nebraska in 1989 when Gdowski rushed for 925 yards and 13 touchdowns in helping lead the Huskers to a 10-2 record.

Gdowski's rushing total still ranks sixth on Nebraska's all-time single-season chart for quarterbacks.

For the past eight seasons, Gdowski was an assistant at New Mexico State before his boss, Tony Samuel, was fired at the end of this past season.

Gdowski is joined at Ohio University by three other former New Mexico State assistants - Ross Els (linebackers), Keven Lightner (offensive line) and Derek Mason (receivers).

Els is a former Lincoln resident, and Lightner, of Hastings, played offensive line for Nebraska from 1985-87.

Solich's coordinator positions are filled by two former Nebraska assistants - Tim Albin on offense and Jimmy Burrow on defense. Albin and Burrow served in the same capacities last season at North Dakota State.

Carl Pelini, another former Nebraska assistant, was hired last week as Ohio University's defensive line coach.

Pete Germano, the Bobcats' recruiting coordinator last season, has been retained in the same capacity by Solich.

Smith mulls jump

Another Nebraska player may follow Fabian Washington into the National Football League.

Husker defensive lineman Le Kevin Smith on Wednesday confirmed he's considering forgoing his senior season to enter the NFL Draft in April.

Washington, also a junior, announced his intentions on Sunday.

Washington workouts

Washington already has started working out at a pre-NFL combine training center in Fairlawn, N.J. - one of the nation's premier such workout centers.

Washington is represented by New York City-based agent Brian Mackler, who also represents former Nebraska linebacker Demorrio Williams, now of the Atlanta Falcons.

Mackler was amazed by the amount of calls from media he received in the wake of Washington's announcement that he was skipping his last season at NU.

"It was like I'd discovered Elvis or something," Mackler said.