Recruiting never stops and it’s easy to miss the top stories day-to-day. Recruiting analyst Greg Smith recaps all things Nebraska recruiting news, analysis and more so you never miss a thing.
The questions never stop in the recruiting world. No matter what time of year it is, there is always something to talk about so we have been taking reader and listener suggestions on questions. I then answer the questions in a quick video. This week’s question hit the topic of states to watch this year for the 2022 recruiting cycle.
“Each year there seems to be a state the Huskers are focusing on more than most. Are there any emerging states to watch this cycle?” – Daniel
The fun thing about this question is that it changes slightly from year to year. The one constant in Nebraska recruiting under coach Scott Frost is Florida. The ties there are deep and make a lot of sense. The staff came from Central Florida where they had a great deal of success. Tight ends coach Sean Beckton and defensive backs coach Travis Fisher are well-known in the Sunshine State. It’s not surprising that Florida is the state with the most scholarship offers for the Huskers. That is the case for the 2022 cycle.
Beyond Florida is where things get interesting. The traditional “big three” of Florida, California and Texas have been rotating as the top offer states under Frost. This cycle though, there is another state making a strong push in terms of offers made. Georgia is currently the state with the second most offers out for Nebraska in the 2022 cycle.
There may be something to this more than just the amount of offers. The Huskers’ pitch has been well-received in Georgia. Beckton leads the efforts there. He is well connected and respected in high schools across the state. There are a handful of Georgians on the roster already. There are some highly-touted prospects in the state that the Huskers are after in the 2022 class. Quarterback MJ Morris, defensive backs Ryland Gandy and Mumu Bin-Wahad and offensive lineman Dayne Shor are just a few the team is in the hunt with.
The other state that is emerging for the Huskers in the 2022 cycle is Missouri. It doesn’t have the number of offers that Georgia and others have but the offers that are out are important. Wide receivers Quinton Conley and Jason Essex are top targets. Offensive lineman Armand Membou is a rising prospect to watch. So is outside linebacker Ikenna Ezeogu. Defensive lineman Domonique Orange is a defensive lineman that Nebraska really likes. It’s important for the Huskers to get more traction in the border state. The 500-mile radius continues to be an emphasis.
Again, the fun thing about this question is that it changes slightly from year to year. Recruiting is always an evolving moving target. It is part of what makes it an inexact science.
Recruit Watch
>> Mario Buford, a 2024 defensive back target, performed well at the FBU Camp this weekend. Buford’s brother was in the class of 2021 for the Huskers.
Had a great time at the @FBUcamp this weekend. I’m very grateful to have received an invite to the FBU Top Gun Camp. I also earned a Golden Ticket for the Adidas National Combine (only 8 players were selected). @AWilliamsUSA @LauerFBU @FootballDesoto @CoachTraun pic.twitter.com/08mvbVO5Br
— Mario Buford (@riogocrazy) March 21, 2021
>> Samuel Okunlola, a 2022 Massachusetts defender, showed off the different edits the Huskers have done for him recently.
Appreciate the love from the University of Nebraska Lincoln pic.twitter.com/UkjL8ePmqK
— Samuel Okunlola (@Samokunlola87) March 21, 2021
>> Missouri native and 2023 prospect Jaidyn Doss is starting to rack up Power 5 offers.
Let's Go!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/gU1ztE7G4s
— Jaidyn Doss (@JaidynDoss) March 20, 2021
>> Massachusetts offensive lineman Sullivan Weidman will be doing a self-guided visit to Nebraska this week.
I will be visiting Pitt, West Virginia University, the University of Virginia, and the University of Nebraska over the next 5 days. 👀
— Sullivan Weidman (@sullyweidman) March 19, 2021
ICYMI
>> Derek Peterson took a look at a reset of sorts for Nebraska football as spring ball is on the horizon.
>> The Huskers battled back for a series win in baseball at Iowa over the weekend.
>> Miss any of the highlights from Nebraska’s Pro Day press conference? Get caught up.
>> Lexi Sun has been honored by the Big Ten again.