This week should have been much different that it turned out to be. I should be preparing Husker fans for all the fun stuff going on behind the scenes leading up to the annual Red-White Spring Game on Saturday. That is clearly not the case. That also doesn’t mean things aren’t still happening.
The Huskers have continued to pop up in prospects’ top groups around the country. They’ve stayed in constant communication with top targets and have been building relationships with future prospects as well.
Let’s get to the Recon.
Husker Commits
Randolph Kpai, Inside Linebacker, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Henry Lutovsky, Offensive Lineman, Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Christopher Paul Jr., Inside linebacker, Cordele, Georgia
Teddy Prochazka, Offensive Lineman, Elkhorn, Nebraska
2021 Needs
| QB | 1 | DL | 4 |
| RB | 2 | MLB | 2 |
| WR | 2 | OLB | 2 |
| TE | 2 | DB | 2 |
| OL | 1 | K/P | 0 |
The Recon:
>> Last weekend a big quarterback domino fell when California 4-star Peter Costelli committed your Utah. It was a surprise that Costelli committed when he did. He mentioned that he wanted to take more visits before picking a college and would wait until things opened back up. For a long time now Costelli was Nebraska’s No. 1 target for the 2021 quarterback slot.
Now that Costelli is off the board, the assumption is that Kearney Catholic quarterback Heinrich Haarberg will be the quarterback this cycle. That might end up happening but I’d be cautious about it happening soon. Nebraska hasn’t offered Haarberg yet and sources indicate that the team will take its time with finding a signal-caller this cycle. They do have the luxury of doing that based on how the room is set up right now. Also, there will be off the radar prospects that stay that way because of a lack of a true evaluation period. Camp season is in danger too so Nebraska may not get to see new quarterbacks on the board throw in person.
>> I wrote about Nebraska’s desire to “win” in the 500-mile radius earlier this week. It’s important for several reasons but with travel restrictions it’s even more important to lock down the good prospects close to home. Right now, I like Nebraska’s position with tight end Thomas Fidone, linebacker Seth Malcom, wide receiver Keagan Johnson, wise receiver Jaylin Noel, tight end AJ Rollins and cornerback Avante Dickerson. Add those guys to those already committed—Teddy Prochazka, Henry Lutovsky and Randolph Kpai—and that’s one heck of a haul.
>> On Thursday the NCAA announced that it would expand the amount of virtual meeting time allowed by colleges. It begins on Monday, April 20.
“At the recommendation of the Collegiate Commissioners Association Compliance Administrators, committee members voted to allow teams in all sports to require up to eight hours per week of virtual nonphysical countable activities like film review, chalk talks and team meetings. At the request of the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the committee also will require student-athletes to be provided at least one day off per week.”
Obviously the longer the COVID-19 restrictions last, the more need there will be for additional meeting time for coaches to keep their players engaged. Meeting time is important even if everyone would like it to be in person.
>> Illinois linebacker Tyler McLaurin (6-2, 225) has become a hot prospect in the Big Ten. He’s received offers from almost every school in the conference with Iowa joining the party this week. He told me that Nebraska and Michigan are leading for him right now and he wants to take official visits to those two schools. He plans to choose a college July 21. McLaurin is an interesting prospect because he could be looked at to play either inside or outside linebacker giving the Huskers a swing guy at the spot. Think back to the way the team viewed Choe Bryant-Strother last cycle who went to UCLA.
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.
