Last week was a busy one for Nebraska on the recruiting front. This week has been quieter for the Huskers. That’s OK though since it seems like the momentum is still rolling for the Big Red behind the scenes.
There is also rampant speculation about the return to play efforts within the Big Ten. We’ll see how that all shakes out in the coming days.
Let’s get to the Recon.
Husker Commits
Koby Bretz , Defensive Back, Omaha, Nebraska
Marques Buford, Defensive Back, Cedar Hill, Texas
Gabe Ervin, Running Back, Buford, Georgia
Thomas Fidone, Tight End, Council Bluffs, Iowa
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
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 | 1 |
| WR | 0 | OLB | 2 |
| TE | 0 | DB | 0 |
| OL | 0 | K/P | 0 |
The Recon:
>> As noted in the most recent Greg’s Guys list, defensive end Ru’Quan Buckley, the new No. 1 player, has long been a priority for the Nebraska staff. He has taken his time with his recruitment though there haven’t been many new schools that have entered the picture for him lately. Buckley informed me that he has a decision date locked in. He will announce his college choice on Oct. 14. I’ve had a prediction in for Buckley to be in the class for months and there isn’t a reason to change it at this point.
>> On Friday night, New Jersey linebacker Mikai Gbayor will announce his college choice. Gbayor was another of the latest prospects to visit Lincoln on his own to be able to check out campus. Following that trip, he was supposed to go to Michigan State to check out East Lansing but did not make that trip. Instead he went to West Virginia. That’s notable since the Spartans were thought to be the biggest competition for the Huskers. I like Nebraska’s chances with the defender.
>> There is so much chatter around what is or isn’t happening with the Big Ten restarting the season. Athletic director Bill Moos said this week on Big Red Wrap Up that the earliest timetable that has been discussed is Thanksgiving for getting the season going. Rumors have been flying about an Oct. 10 start date which Moos did not say was a target. However, I wouldn’t expect him to bring attention to that date. I don’t think those involved with decision making in the conference want to get players, coaches and fans hopes up so they have to tread lightly.
What I can tell you is that Nebraska did practice on Thursday and planned to practice on Friday. The team needs to stay prepared to hit the ground running in any situation. Each day seems to bring more twists and turns in the Big Ten saga.
>> I’m keeping an eye on Tennessee 3-star (HV Rating: 87.0) defensive back John Howse IV. It doesn’t feel like the Huskers are done adding players to the position group. That makes sense given some recent attrition in the room and when you factor in Javin Wright sliding down to outside linebacker. Howse has the green light to commit and could be closing in on a decision soon. It seems like Michigan is the biggest competition for Nebraska but the Huskers have the momentum right now.
>> There is great thing brewing to watch with one of the latest Husker commits. Tight end Thomas Fidone is already active as a peer recruiter. It’s going to carry a lot of weight when he recruits other prospects because of his status as an elite player. It also comes at the perfect time when there is work to be done for the Huskers for 2022 recruiting in Nebraska and Iowa. You can already see him publicly working on Iowa athlete Xavier Nwankpa.
I think I know a place 🎈
— Thomas Fidone II ²⁴ (@ThomasFidone) September 3, 2020
It wouldn’t surprise me to see Fidone quickly become a player host when he arrives on campus like Wan’Dale Robinson, Cam Taylor-Britt and others have done right away.
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.
