As we turn the page to the new year and decade, things will be heating up for Nebraska recruiting soon. We are starting to see more confirmations for the team’s Junior Day events. We even have the first confirmed official visitor set for the 2020 cycle as we move toward the February date. Alabama wide receiver Kris Abrams-Draine will take an official visit later this month.
Let’s get to the Recon.
Husker Commits
Zavier Betts, wide receiver, Omaha, Nebraska
Marquis Black, defensive lineman, McDonough, Georgia
Alante Brown, wide receiver, Chicago, Illinois
Jimari Butler, outside linebacker, Mobile, Alabama
Alex Conn, offensive lineman, Derby, Kansas
Niko Cooper, outside linebacker, Memphis, Tennessee
Turner Corcoran, offensive lineman, Lawrence, Kansas
Ronald Delancy III, defensive back, Miami, Florida
Henry Gray, defensive back, Hollywood, Florida
Keyshawn Greene, linebacker, Crawfordville, Florida
Blaise Gunnerson, outside linebacker, Carroll, Iowa
Nash Hutmacher, defensive tackle, Chamberlain, South Dakota
Marcus Fleming, wide receiver, Miami, Florida
Jaiden Francois, defensive back, Homestead, Florida
Tamon Lynum, cornerback, Orlando, Florida
Omar Manning, wide receiver, Lancaster, Texas
Eteva Mauga-Clements, inside linebacker, Pleasant Hill, California
Sevion Morrison, running back, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Will Nixon, wide receiver, Waco, Texas
Pheldarius Payne, defensive end, Suffolk, Virginia
Jordon Riley, defensive lineman, Durham, North Carolina
Marvin Scott III, running back, Port Orange, Florida
Logan Smothers, quarterback, Athens, Alabama
2020 Needs
| QB | 0 | DL | 0 |
| RB | 0 | ILB | 0 |
| WR | 0 | OLB | 0 |
| TE | 0 | DB | 0 |
| OL | 0 | K/P | 0 |
The Recon:
>> Thursday evening’s big news of Randolph Kpai’s commitment is huge. He’s a highly-rated player with a great frame and skill set to build on. It’s another 2021 500-mile radius win that likely kept him from a division rival with Wisconsin and Minnesota after him.
There is a positive trickle-down effect here. Nebraska is in a great spot for inside linebacker Chris Paul Jr. in Georgia. He’s going to take an early official visit as he wants to shut down his recruitment prior to his senior season before early enrolling this time next year. This all also helps Nebraska lock in on blue-chip inside linebacker Terrence Lewis. The Florida linebacker tells me that he is working on a visit to Lincoln. Iowa prospect Seth Malcom is another inside linebacker Nebraska likes. The Huskers have hosted him multiple times. There is a lot of work to be done but inside linebacker recruiting is in an early good spot.
>> The class of 2021 is off to a terrific start overall and the foundation is being set for another good haul in Lincoln. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Huskers pick up another few commits before spring. That would put them way ahead of the pace they were on last cycle. If that was followed up with a good season, the 2021 group would get a big boost.
>> It sounds like the Huskers will actually host two Junior Days later this month. The first being on Jan. 18 and the second on Jan. 25. One intriguing prospect who told me that he wants to attend the 25th date is Wisconsin offensive lineman Marcus Mbow. Standing at 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds, he is seeing his recruitment pick up. The Huskers have offered and Purdue did earlier this week.
>> If you are looking for a sleeper in the 2020 recruiting class to keep tabs on this summer remember wide receiver/running back Will Nixon. Stanford made a late push for him but the relationship with the Huskers staff won out. Beyond being a great athlete, Nixon loves studying the playbook to learn the ins and outs of the offense. That will help him hit the ground running this summer.
>> The 2019 season isn’t officially over yet for college football but Nebraska’s 2020 season opener got some extra juice this week when it was announced that Bob Diaco would be the new defensive coordinator at Purdue. I don’t expect either staff to say much about it but we all know that it will be a fun storyline for Husker fans leading up to that game. It’ll be tough on Diaco from the start with the Boilermakers losing some key pieces on defense.
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.
