The weekend that the Huskers have been building to for months is finally here. This weekend will be the biggest recruiting weekend of coach Scott Frost’s tenure. The team is scheduled to host 13 official visitors and hold the Friday Night Lights camp. We’ve got a full preview of that official visit weekend and a video with all the details on the visits.
This month has the potential to shape how the 2023 class comes together. Many of the Huskers’ top targets will be on campus and most have other visits lined up to make summer decisions.
Let’s get to the Recon.
2023 Commits
Dwight Bootle, Defensive Back, Miami, Florida
Benjamin Brahmer, Tight End, Pierce, Nebraska
Gunnar Gottula, Offensive Lineman, Lincoln, Nebraska
Sam Sledge, Offensive Lineman, Omaha, Nebraska
William Watson, Quarterback, Springfield, Massachusetts
2023 Needs
| QB | 0 | DL | 3 |
| RB | 0 | MLB | 1 |
| WR | 2 | OLB | 2 |
| TE | 0 | DB | 2 |
| OL | 2 | K/P | 0 |
The Recon:
>> Class of 2024 defensive back Mario Buford is one of the most intriguing players that announced an unofficial visit to Nebraska this weekend . The Desoto, Texas, native is a rising prospect in his class. He’s also the brother of current Huskers Marques Buford. Mario told Hail Varsity that he plans on competing in the camp and hanging out with his brother. Mario has double-digit offers with Oregon and Arkansas among the group.
>> One of things that that fit into the recent article on how Bellevue West is getting creative to boost player exposure caught my attention. Thunderbirds coach Mike Huffman filled me in on something he found out about how the SEC offers prospects.
“I learned this actually from Bill Busch when he was at LSU,” Huffman said. “The SEC offer simply means we want you to come to camp. You can’t commit on them. You can’t commit until you go down there and compete because they bring all their other kids in.”
Keep that in mind when Nebraska kids are getting offers from the SEC. It also goes to show how recruiting can operate from conference to conference. Class of 2024 prospects Daniel Kaelin and Dae’vonn Hall do plan on camping at SEC schools this summer.
>> When I spoke with Bergan athlete Kade McIntyre last week about his recruitment it was before Oklahoma came to the table with an offer. When we spoke McIntyre had four of his five official visits set up. He had a mid-week unofficial visit set up with Nebraska for June 1 and McIntyre did come to Lincoln for that visit.
“It was good to see where they believed I would best fit,” McIntyre said. “I got an idea of what they expect from their linebackers from day one.”
The rising 2023 athlete got a chance to spend time with inside linebackers coach Barrett Ruud on his visit. It doesn’t sound like that was enough for the Huskers to his final open official visit. He told Hail Varsity that he will be going to Oklahoma this month with that final official. The door isn’t completely closed for the Huskers but at this point it’s hard to see him in the 2023 class.
>> You’ll notice this weekend the Huskers have three players on campus for official visits from Cedar Grove (Ga.) High School. The Huskers are hoping to start a pipeline into the program that has won four state titles in five years. That pipeline actually started with 2022 wide receiver Janiran Bonner. Cedar Grove coach John Adams thinks the Huskers got a gem.
“Janiran is a physical receiver,” Adams said. “When he comes up there, he’s probably gonna be one of the biggest receivers with the program. He’s rocked up and I think he does real good as far as his route running, has really solid hands. He’s one of those guys that can take a 10-yard curl and break a tackle and score with it. So they’re getting a real good football player in Janiran Bonner. I think he’s gonna be a special one for them.”
The Huskers won his signature over Georgia Tech and Arkansas. He’s got the look of a player that could play early for Nebraska. We’ll have more from Adams this weekend on the Husker visitors.
>> The Huskers have put together a monster recruiting weekend, but at some point the question will come up if the team can close. One thing that has my attention is the number of players making at least their second trip to campus. That gives strong clues on who could be close to committing. There are several players visiting this weekend that I can see being in the class. Omarion Miller, Amir Herring and Brock Knutson are players I’d put on short-term commit watch. Maverick Noonan and Joshua Manning are a pair I think could be in the class this summer.
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.
