On Saturday, 4-star DB Noa Pola-Gates became the 26th known commitment of Nebraska's 2019 recruiting class. Pola-Gates is the fourth defensive back to join to class alongside Quinton Newsome, Javin Wright and Myles Farmer.
Here are five thoughts on the commitment.
Versatile defender
Pola-Gates is a versatile defender that can play multiple positions in the secondary. We saw him play safety during the U.S. All-American Bowl and the Polynesian Bowl, but he also has the ability to play both in the nickel and outside cornerback. He also played wide receiver and returned kicks in high school.
Arizona connection
After the commitment of Pola-Gates, Nebraska has signed two of the top five players in the state of Arizona (Pola-Gates and Ty Robinson) and are still in the mix with another top player in the state, defensive tackle Matthew Pola Mao. Defensive back Javin Wright is also regarded as a top 15 player in a state that produced a number of Power 5 players this season. This work in the Grand Canyon State bodes well for the class of 2020 where Nebraska has a number of scholarship offers out already.
Polynesian Pipeline
Don’t look now but coach Scott Frost and his staff are quietly building a nice Polynesian pipeline to Nebraska. It started last summer with the addition of Vaha Vainuku, who hosted junior college defensive tackle Soni Fonua on his official visit the weekend of Jan. 11. Now with Pola-Gates in the fold and potentially his cousin Pola-Mao down the road? Big moves could be on the horizon.
Elite athlete
Adding the Arizona defender to the recruiting class gives the Huskers another elite athlete in the mix. Looking at the Huskers’ defense the last few seasons compared to other major college football teams, they just didn’t have enough big-time athletes. Pola-Gates has the type of potential where he could be an NFL draft pick one day.
Big recruiting win
Any time you are recruiting a player with the talent that Pola-Gates has, you expect to face stiff competition and this one was no different. He took official visits to Penn State (for the white out game), Alabama (Iron Bowl), Arizona State, USC and Nebraska. With the exception of the home state Sun Devils, all of those programs are very difficult to beat on the recruiting trail. Hats off to defensive backs coach Travis Fisher and the entire staff for winning this one.
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.
