The official end of the 2020 recruiting cycle is in sight. The whole thing feels anticlimactic since I don’t expect Nebraska to add another player for this cycle. There just hasn’t been much talk or movement with 2020 prospects over the past month which was expected. The full focus has been on 2021 and beyond with Nebraska making a lot of new contacts and offers. Still, there is plenty to dive into.
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:
>> Looking back at Nebraska’s pair of Junior Day events, the team came out well positioned with several targets. The hope coming out of any event for fans is to have new public commitments. That did not happen but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a success. I believe several visitors from the weekend could have the Huskers as their current leader. Tight end Thomas Fidone, cornerback Avante Dickerson, wide receiver Keagan Johnson and defensive lineman Ru’Quan Buckley are the ones I feel strongest about right now.
>> After hosting a pair of events, two themes emerged from the weekends. Prospects and their families love what is happening with strength and conditioning in Lincoln. Also, the personal attention given to players was top notch. Bolingbrook (Illinois) High School linebacker Tyler McLaurin gushed about the strength and conditioning presentation.
“I thought it was really interesting,” McLaurin said. “It really shows you the evolution of the game. It really showed what the new standard is for health within college athletics.”
All prospects I spoke with also mentioned the individual meetings they had with potential position coaches and Scott Frost. The Huskers do a good job with these events, always making them impactful for prospects.
>> Several prospects that have been on campus in January have received a lot of attention and new offers from other schools. Tyler McLaurin, Ru’Quan Buckley, Thomas Fidone, Keagan Johnson, Jaylin Noel and Seth Malcom are just some of the targets that picked up new offers this week. Ultimately that’s a good sign for Nebraska recruiting. This staff has shown its ability to identify talent early. Now we see other schools catching up. There will be tough battles that come up because of this but fans should want the class to be made up of prospects you had to fend off top programs for.
>> The first 2021 prospect official visit has been set. Georgia inside linebacker Chris Paul Jr. announced he will take his official visit to Nebraska June 12-14. He last visited Lincoln in June where he told me that he found a family vibe at Nebraska. Paul recorded 157 tackles and 4.5 sacks on his way to first team All-State honors this season. I love the Huskers’ position with him currently.
>> One of the visitors that didn’t make it to Lincoln last weekend was Michigan offensive lineman Marcus Mbow. That’s pretty unfortunate because he has decided to announce his college decision today (Friday). I expect that pick to be Iowa. That recent offer from the Hawkeyes was a game-changer for him which isn’t good because he has enormous potential.
>> One quick note on the last weekend before the traditional signing day. Don’t expect many—if any—visitors in Lincoln this weekend. There could always be a surprise or two but I’m expecting a pretty quiet weekend in Lincoln.
