Coming into the start of the regular season, the 2018 Nebraska recruiting class was full of promise. Back in the summer, head coach Mike Riley thought the class could be wrapped up before the season started but that never quite came to fruition.
When the season started and the losses mounted, there was a cloud of doubt that started lingering over the class. Things didn’t get difficult until former Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst was fired, putting Riley’s job in question. Once that happened, speculation only grew that Riley’s job could be in doubt. I’ve said many times that the number one thing that will cause a team’s commits to waver is the head coach (and assistant’s) jobs to be in question. We knew that the constant speculation around the fate of the coaching staff would result in players leaving the class.
On Wednesday, Nebraska officially lost 4-star defensive back Chase Williams. The California defensive back was considered by many to be a real sleeper in the class and a player that has a bright future.
https://twitter.com/_ujdkchase/status/933549610517151745
The loss of Williams drops Nebraska down to nine total commits for the 2018 class. It also means they only have one defensive back commit, 4-star defensive back Mario Goodrich currently in the class. Defensive back was the biggest need in the 2018 class along with wide receiver, so Nebraska is now dangerously low in numbers at the position.
Losing Williams stings as the two-way standout enjoyed a fantastic season. He recently took an official visit to USC with his family. The Huskers desperately need clarity around the future head coach and the assistants on the staff as soon as possible to keep a once stellar class from falling apart completely.
Greg is the Recruiting Analyst for Hail Varsity and has covered Husker athletics since 2013. He has always had a passion for sports while growing up in the Chicago area. As he got older and had to hang up his cleats and sneakers, he realized his passion for sports went beyond just watching and attending games. He has covered many events from the Rose Bowl to championship boxing matches. If he’s not talking sports, he’s hovering over his grill. He is married to an amazing woman, Kim, and they have a dog that barks when Greg yells at the TV during games.
