On Wednesday, Nebraska picked up its eighth commit of the 2019 recruiting class when 3-star linebacker Jackson Hannah from Nashville, Tennessee, joined the class. Hannah is the third player to join the 2019 class in less than a week as the Huskers continue their hot start to the month of June. Here are five thoughts about the commitment.
Important to dip into SEC country
When Hannah signs on the dotted line with Nebraska he will be the first player from the state of Tennessee to sign with the Huskers since defensive end Barry Turner back in the famous 2005 recruiting class. As the Huskers look to get things going in this new era, they really want to get more players from the SEC footprint. Snagging Hannah is an important get for that reason.
Another athletic linebacker
When you watch Hannah on film, you see a player that runs well and has outstanding athleticism. During his junior season he played outside linebacker so he has the ability to play out in space. The move to inside linebacker at Nebraska shouldn’t be a problem since he is making the switch for his senior season.
Major fit
Nebraska is looking for specific types of football players, especially if you are going to play in the middle of Erik Chinander’s 3-4 defense. The staff wants smart, tough, physical guys that are leaders. Hannah checks all of the boxes in those categories. He will instantly fit into the culture being built in Lincoln.
Physical football player
The defender from The Volunteer State is what I like to call a “runner hitter.” He plays downhill and welcomes being physical at the point of attack. He does a nice job of using his hands to shed defenders plus has nice vision to diagnose plays. Those attributes will serve him well at the next level.
Quickly reshaping the inside linebacker group
When the staff first arrived, inside linebacker seemed like it should be down the list of priorities for them to turn over quickly. Since arriving in Lincoln, junior college transfer Will Honas has been added to the mix and should see significant playing time in the fall. There has been attrition in the room this spring so it’s thinning out a bit. Of course, even with the addition of Hannah, the Nebraska staff is still looking to add a huge piece to the inside linebacker group in 4-star Omaha Burke prospect Nick Henrich.
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.
