On Thursday, Nebraska quietly received a letter of intent from 3-star junior college linebacker Will Honas from Butler Community College. It wasn’t a surprise that the commitment was made with very little fanfare as that fits Honas’ personality, but that doesn’t make it any less of a huge win for Nebraska. Here are five thoughts on him joining the Huskers.
Win over rivals
Getting a player of Honas’ caliber is huge by itself but considering who Nebraska beat out for him, it makes it even sweeter. His final group was Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas State with Wisconsin coming in with a last-minute offer that gave him pause. Beating out two division rivals and an old rival make this win so sweet for Scott Frost, Erik Chinander and Barrett Ruud.
Instant contributor
In 2017, Honas totaled 96 tackles in 11 games, including three sacks and a pair of interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He averaged 8.7 tackles per game and his 96 total tackles ranked 21st nationally. Honas gives Nebraska another JUCO All-American and a player that will play significant snaps right away. Pencil him in for Chris Weber’s old spot.
Player opponents must account for
Something lacking in this season’s defense was a player that opposing coaches needed to gameplan around or account for on an every down basis. If Honas lives up to his potential, the Blackshirts have a new centerpiece of the defense.
Tone setter and culture changer
In a brief conversation with Honas’ coach, he raved about his work ethic and leadership abilities. Frost and company are looking to flip Nebraska’s culture on the fly then eventually turn things over to trusted players to carry the culture forward. They may have that player in Honas.
Barrett Rudd may be a force
We know that Ruud was the most prolific tackler in the history of Nebraska football. He is also very well thought of in coaching circles and viewed as a young star in the making. He has quickly hit the recruiting trail and secured his first win with his role in landing Honas. The connection between the two was a strong factor in Honas becoming a Husker.
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.
