We have entered the final days of building the 2022 recruiting class. This recruiting cycle has been a wild ride for the Huskers. The traditional class is much smaller than normal. It doesn’t feel that way because the Huskers have added several transfers. The program hopes those players can boost the team to a bowl game in 2022. Most of the recruiting work being done right now is for future classes. The Huskers are resetting the big board after a major coaching staff shakeup.
Let’s get to the Recon.
2022 Commits
Chase Androff, Tight End, Lakeville, Minnesota
Jake Appleget, Outside Linebacker, Lincoln, Nebraska
Decoldest Crawford, wide receiver, Shreveport, Louisiana
Justin Evans-Jenkins, Offensive Lineman, Irvington, New Jersey
Jaeden Gould, Defensive Back, Oradell, New Jersey
Anthony Grant, Running Back, Buford, Georgia
Malcolm Hartzog, Defensive Back, Bassfield, Mississippi
Ernest Hausmann, Outside Linebacker, Columbus, Nebraska
Emmett Johnson, Running Back, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Victor Jones Jr., Wide Receiver, Orlando, Florida
Jalil Martin, Defensive Back, Chicago, Illinois
Javier Morton, Defensive Back, Stone Mountain, Georgia
DeShon Singleton, Defensive Back, Greensburg, Louisiana
Gage Stenger, Athlete, Omaha, Nebraska
Brodie Tagaloa, Defensive End, Concord, California
Richard Torres, Quarterback, San Antonio, Texas
2022 Needs
| QB | 1 | DL | 1 |
| RB | 0 | MLB | 0 |
| WR | 1 | OLB | 1 |
| TE | 0 | DB | 0 |
| OL | 2 | K/P | 0 |
The Recon:
>> By now you’ve probably seen the photos floating around of quarterback Casey Thompson taking all the offensive linemen out for steak and bowling. A couple of lineman who were there told me that they are very impressed with Thompson and his leadership so far. He even brought his iPad to bowling to go over plays and formations with the guys. The early reviews are that Thompson has been a leader in the weight room too. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him end up as a captain this season. It’s not unheard of for a transfer to pull it off since Darrion Daniels just did it a couple years ago.
>> My sources are telling me that the Huskers have started establishing a pecking order for the 2023 quarterbacks. Kansas quarterback Avery Johnson (6-2, 170) and Iowa native JJ Kohl are rising to the top two spots. The Huskers are set to return to Kansas on Friday to see Johnson. This time coach Scott Frost will go to Kansas to check in. Kohl (6-6, 220) will be in Lincoln this weekend for the Huskers’ second Junior Day.
I find it interesting that the Huskers only recently started seriously recruiting both quarterbacks. Offensive coordinator Mark Whipple has already had an influence on shaping the quarterback board.
>> When you take a look at the full list for Nebraska’s Junior Day this weekend you’ll notice a trend. The states that Nebraska has been spending a lot of time in with the new coaching staff are all represented. It’s a good sign that Nebraska has players from Kansas, Missouri and Texas in town this weekend. New coaches have been hitting the pavement hard in those areas so it’s nice to see visits come out of that.
>> There was a priority target in Lincoln last weekend that wasn’t on the initial list. Kansas running back Dylan Edwards (5-9, 170) is one of the top backs in the region. He holds offers from Iowa State, Arizona, and Kansas among others. The Huskers came through with an offer for him recently too. In a brief message he told Hail Varsity that he was happy Nebraska offered him because the team has been a top choice of his for a while. Expect Edwards to make a return trip to Lincoln when spring practices start.
>> The Huskers remain in the mix with TCU running back commit Ajay Allen. The Huskers sent a group to visit him in-home that included Frost, wide receivers coach Mickey Joseph and running backs coach Bryan Applewhite. Allen is playing this close to the vest. My sense is that he would like to follow Applewhite to Lincoln. We’ll see how it shakes out for the Huskers and their only target left for the 2022 class.
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.
