It’s hard to believe but we are almost at the end of spring ball. The time has flown by as the team prepares for the Red-White Spring Game on May 1. We got to learn more about the team over the last week. The Huskers held the first open practice of the Scott Frost era giving fans and media the chance to see several players for the first time. There’s a lot happening in the program right now so let’s dive in.
Let’s get to the Recon.
2022 Commits
Ernest Hausmann, Outside Linebacker, Columbus, Nebraska
Victor Jones Jr., Wide Receiver, Orlando, Florida
2022 Needs
| QB | 1 | DL | 2 |
| RB | 1 | MLB | 2 |
| WR | 1 | OLB | 2 |
| TE | 1 | DB | 3 |
| OL | 3 | K/P | 0 |
The Recon:
>> Things are really heating up for the Husker visit list for the Red-White Spring Game on May 1. A number of prospects are lining up trips to take in the game at Memorial Stadium. We know that 2023 quarterback Reese Mooney will be in attendance for the game. The quarterback recently decommitted from Houston to play baseball. Nebraska seems to be in the driver’s seat there.
What’s even more interesting is that Mooney is recruiting players to visit with him in May. The big fish he already has is 247Sports Composite 2023 5-star wide receiver Shelton Sampson Jr. He stands at 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds and is being chased by all the SEC schools and more. It’s always a good sign if a player that isn’t committed is recruiting for you. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s bringing at least one highly-touted player along too.
>> One of the things to watch closely next weekend for the spring game is the play at running back. At the start of spring adding another transfer running back might have been pushed down the list of priorities. Now after the rash of injuries and inconsistency the position is among the biggest question marks this season. Things could change quickly if guys stay healthy and perform but the Huskers can’t afford to have a lack of running back threat this season.
>> A lot of people myself included were very high on Iowa offensive lineman Henry Lutovsky coming out of high school. He’s got good athleticism and a mean streak that he plays with. This week offensive line coach Greg Austin had good praise for his young early enrollee.
“A guy that is a self-starter who wants to be really good,” Austin said. “A guy that’s a mid-year, should be really in high school, making the same mistakes a normal mid-year or high school kid would make. But nevertheless, he’s a kid that’s going to compete his ass off.
“I mean, when I say compete his ass off, I’m talking about got into a couple fights, just because he’s going at the echo of the whistle, so I love the kid. Excited about what he’s going to be in the near future. The best thing for him is coming in mid-year, getting all that out of his system, now learning what he has to do, what the responsibilities are.”
That little tidbit should fire you up as a Husker fan. Lutovsky won’t play much this year but he’s going to be a factor in the future. I can easily see him being a guy that we talk about as a “tone-setter” for the rest of the line.
>> This week I interviewed Chicago offensive lineman Valen Erickson. He’s (6-6, 315) still picking up offers but the Huskers have made a strong impression with him. I could see him shutting things down this summer if all goes well with his visits to Lincoln. His knowledge of Nebraska’s staff and the Huskers line tradition have the Huskers out in front right now.
>> Want a sleeper in the defensive line rotation this season? How about Deontre Thomas. It feels like he’s been in Lincoln forever with the coaching changes and playing as a young player. Last year was frustrating for him after he hurt his ankle. He wanted to be out there with the team and knew that taking advantage of that year would help his development. Now that he’s healthy he is having a good spring and will be in the mix this season.