We have officially entered the stretch run of spring ball. There have been quite a few visitors that have already come through Lincoln. There will be even more coming through in a week for the sold-out Red-White Spring Game. This weekend, Nebraska hosts its first spring official visitor: 4-star defensive lineman Nash Hutmacher.
There is a lot of recon today so let’s get to it.
Class Breakdown
Husker Commits
Zavier Betts, wide receiver, Omaha, Nebraska
Logan Smothers, quarterback, Athens, Alabama
2020 Needs
| QB | 0 | DL | 3 |
| RB | 1 | MLB | 2 |
| WR | 2 | OLB | 2 |
| TE | 1 | DB | 3 |
| OL | 4 | K/P | 0 |
The Recon:
>> This week, Nebraska offered a scholarship to Dublin, Georgia, native Romello Height. The outside linebacker stands at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds and is exactly the type hybrid outside linebacker this defense needs. Height has already put out a top 10 that did not include the Huskers. However, he told me that the Huskers do have the opportunity to get into the mix depending on how hard they recruit him. Take it for what it’s worth but he also said Nebraska is “a big-time offer.”
>> One of the most intriguing visitors during last weekend’s Junior Day was defensive tackle Jahkeem Green from Highland Community College. Green is a big nose tackle who stands at 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds. Green was committed to play for South Carolina in the 2019 recruiting class but didn’t make it academically. There has been some confusion on whether or not he was going to reclassify to the 2020 class or try to find a Division I home this summer.
The latest recon that I can pass along is that he is out of junior college eligibility and can’t reclassify. I’m still working to get more details from Green or his head coach but it seems like he will be a summer addition at the school of his choosing. I have been told that Nebraska feels like its in a good position.
>> Let’s stick with JUCO defensive ends. Ali Gaye who is out at Garden City Community College told me that while he had planned to attend the spring game next week, his plans have changed. Gaye will focus on his team’s spring ball instead but that he still plans on coming out to Nebraska this summer.
>> There were a lot of interesting things said by Bellevue West head coach Mike Huffman on Hail Varsity Radio after 4-star wide receiver Zavier Betts committed to Nebraska. Something that jumped out to me was Huffman relayed that Betts would get followed on Twitter by head coaches from all over the country and not follow them back. That was factor in some schools not choosing to follow up with him and present an offer. Betts just wasn’t much into the whole recruiting process. That does answer part of why we didn’t see Betts pick up more offers despite his high ranking.
>> Nebraska does face a lot of competition to get prospects to campus for the Red-White Spring Game. There are numerous colleges also holding their spring games that day and Nike is holding The Opening in St. Louis that day as well. One player that will be at The Opening that day and not in Lincoln is 3-star running back Reggie Love. The Trinity Catholic standout will be at Illinois this weekend.
>> On Thursday I dropped some big news on Twitter that 4-star offensive lineman Turner Corcoran would be returning to Lincoln for the spring game. This weekend, Corcoran will make a return trip to Oklahoma to check out the Sooners again. He will be joined by his sister on that trip. When he comes to Nebraska, he is hoping to bring the whole family along.
My take on things right now is that these will be his final two visits before he makes a decision. I still like the Huskers to win out but I don’t ever like to discount the Sooners. They have a great program and do a terrific job recruiting. Still, Nebraska getting the final visit of the most recent bunch of visits bodes well for the Big Red.
>> Another spring game visitor to watch is defensive lineman Jamar Sekona. Things could move quickly between Sekona and the Huskers. His relationship with defensive line coach Tony Tuioti is very strong. My understanding is that he is someone that the staff has very high on their board so they will make a big push for him.
>> There is one prospect I forgot to include right away on our rolling list of spring game visitors. Back in February, 3-star wide receiver Tommy Christakos from Scottsdale, Arizona, told me that he would be coming to the game. The 6-foot-4 and 200 pound wideout told me then that he is very aware of Nebraska and this staff.
“We have a few family friends who are alumn,i so yes I’m aware of them,” Christakos said. “A friend of ours also is friends with Coach [Scott] Frost and has been mentioning my name to him since I was a freshman and he was a UCF. So I think I have been on the radar for a while.”
Christakos would be intriguing player to add to the program as the Huskers are on the hunt for big-time receivers.
>> Did a little more digging around how the Junior Day trip went for 4-star outside linebacker Quandarrius Robinson. The sense is that the Huskers made a huge move with Robinson. I’m told that an official visit is in the works for early in the season. Pulling him out of the South and away from Alabama, Tennessee and Auburn will be tough but Nebraska really opened his eyes on the trip.
>> This weekend, Nebraska will host its first spring official visitor. Hutmacher, a 4-star defensive tackle, will make his way to Lincoln with his family. Hutmacher will be the only visitor on the docket this weekend. The Huskers have a huge opportunity to separate itself from the pack and perhaps even snag a commitment. His next official visit isn’t until June with Wisconsin and there is talk of an Oregon visit that isn’t locked in.
The key here will be if Tuioti can connect quickly with Hutmacher since he had a great relationship with Mike Dawson.
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.
