Nebraska got some good news from inside the state on Monday when defensive lineman Ethan Piper joined the 2019 recruiting class. The Norfolk Catholic star became the third member of a class that features all Nebraskans currently. Piper just picked up his offer from Scott Frost himself last week and couldn’t be more excited about helping the “Big Red Revival.” Here are my five thoughts on the commitment.
Homegrown Huskers
Right now the 2019 recruiting class is comprised of three in-state players. For the moment, Nebraskans are leading the way for what will be Frost’s first full recruiting cycle. Starting off your class with defensive end Garrett Nelson (Scottsbluff), athlete Garrett Snodgrass (York) and Piper is making for a great start to a hopefully big haul form the state. With 2019 and 2020 being exceptional years for local talent, it’s perfect timing for a renewed emphasis on building from within.
Versatile player
Piper is a standout at Norfolk Catholic on both the defensive and offensive lines. He’s a very athletic player for 280 pounds. He’s also a multi-sport athlete that plays basketball and throws in track. He will start off on the defensive line at Nebraska where he has the tools to be disruptive to Big Ten offenses.
Beat Out Iowa
Nebraska fans are ready for consistent victories over Iowa. The wins ultimately need to come on the football field, but until this staff coaches any games they will settle for recruiting wins. Piper held an Iowa offer and was in Iowa City this past weekend for the Hawkeyes' Junior Day. He was likely heading to Iowa City for college until Frost offered him. If Nebraska can keep winning those head-to-head recruiting battles with conference foes, the chances of winning on the field increase.
Build Early Momentum
Nebraska rode the momentum created by their new staff during the Peach Bowl to net a better-than-expected “transition recruiting class.” The next step will be to get some more early commits or get high-value targets on campus for Junior Day later this month. Nebraska sits at three commits right now but with a few high-profile targets wanting to make decisions this summer, the Huskers would love to have a few more players #AllN before they kick off against Akron.
Early Commitment to In-State Players
In the past, Piper may have been a player that the Huskers “slow-played” while chasing other targets. The day Frost was hired, he made a point to say he wanted to keep good football players at home. That made for a great soundbite but now he has shown action behind those words. That’s a big deal in the state.