Can you believe that we are just about a month away from the start of the December signing period in college football? That probably snuck up on people for a number of reasons. The biggest one is possibly that the Huskers have only played two football games to this point.
Nebraska has an important game this weekend against winless Penn State. The team needs to find confidence and what better time than in the home opener against James Franklin’s team.
Let’s get to the Recon.
Husker Commits
Koby Bretz, Defensive Back, Omaha, Nebraska
Marques Buford, Defensive Back, Cedar Hill, Texas
James Carnie, Tight End, Firth, Nebraska
Gabe Ervin, Running Back, Buford, Georgia
Thomas Fidone, Tight End, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Mikai Gbayor, Linebacker, Irvington, New Jersey
Kamonté Grimes, Wide Receiver, Naples, Florida
Heinrich Haarberg, Quarterback, Kearney, Nebraska
Shawn Hardy, Wide Receiver, Kingsland, Georgia
Randolph Kpai, Inside Linebacker, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Henry Lutovsky, Offensive Lineman, Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Seth Malcom, Inside Linebacker, Tabor, Iowa
Latrell Neville, Wide Receiver, Houston, Texas
Patrick Payton, Outside Linebacker, Miami, Florida
Teddy Prochazka, Offensive Lineman, Elkhorn, Nebraska
AJ Rollins, Tight End, Omaha, Nebraska
Jailen Weaver, defensive lineman, Antioch, California
Lardarius Webb, Defensive Back, Jackson, Mississippi
Malik Williams, Defensive Back, Buford, Georgia
Branson Yager, Offensive Lineman, Grantsville, Utah
2021 Needs
| QB | 0 | DL | 2 |
| RB | 0 | MLB | 0 |
| WR | 0 | OLB | 1 |
| TE | 0 | DB | 0 |
| OL | 0 | K/P | 0 |
The Recon:
>> This week, 2022 Columbus linebacker Ernest Hausmann was offered by the Huskers. The offer is a big one for him.
“I was very excited,” Hausmann said. “A lot of emotions were running through me. It was a moment I will never forget. With our family being life-long Husker fans I’ve always thought really highly of the Huskers.”
Hausmann has built a great relationship with the Nebraska coaching staff. He speaks with Frost, defensive coordinator Erik Chinander and inside linebackers coach Barrett Ruud. He also has a good idea of what he’s looking for in a school.
“I’m looking for a school with a great education system that will fit my needs academically and athletically,” Hausmann said. A school where the coaches try and build a relationship with the players and that will push me to be the best player that I can be.”
I like the Huskers chances here.
>> I don’t think Nebraska is done with offers in-state for the 2022 cycle. I would keep an eye on Lincoln Southeast linebacker Jake Appleget as the potential next one. The 2022 cycle in Nebraska is loaded once again. It could even better overall than the 2021 group which is saying something.
>> The biggest question surrounding Nebraska football right now is who will start at quarterback on Saturday against Penn State. I’d put my money on Luke McCaffrey getting the nod this week. McCaffrey has earned the opportunity to show what he can do.
>> It feels like a weekly thing to update the situation with wide receiver Omar Manning. I would not expect to see him on the field this week. I’m told he hasn’t really practiced this week. For a player that needs the reps to get ready to roll in the offense that’s not good. The good news is that Marcus Fleming continues to blossom and Zavier Betts should see increased snaps too.
>> Last weekend redshirt freshman Ethan Piper got his first start of his Husker career. It meant a lot to him as a native Nebraskan. He felt prepared for the game though because his roommate Ty Robinson is among the defenders he gets to face in practice daily.
“He’s really bulked up, especially this last year,” Piper said. “You just look at pictures of him last year to this year and it’s been crazy. He’s very big, very strong, very athletic and I think he has a very bright future in front of him.”
Both players have bright futures in the program. Each lineman has even exceeded expectations so far within North Stadium.
>> I mentioned in Thursday’s recruiting notebook that I thought the reported dead period extension could help Nebraska with a couple prospects. First, I believe almost everyone on Nebraska’s commit list will sign in December now. I also can see no official visits meaning that players like linebacker Wynden Ho’ohuli and defensive lineman Tia Savea are more likely to end up in the Huskers class. There are other players like defensive lineman Mandela Tobin and wide receiver Titus Mokiao-Atimalala also on the radar. Both wanted to wait as long as possible in hopes off visits being allowed. We could see one final rush of commitments over the next couple weeks.
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.
