The Huskers are back with another big recruiting weekend. The program is hosting seven official visitors with another key opportunity to make moves with their targets. It’s a smaller weekend than originally set up but things have shifted as we have moved through June. Nebraska will also host its second Friday Night Lights camp of the summer and the Adidas OL/DL Pipeline camp this weekend.
There is plenty to dive into so let’s get to the Recon.
2023 Commits
Dwight Bootle, Defensive Back, Miami, Florida
Benjamin Brahmer, Tight End, Pierce, Nebraska
Jaidyn Doss, Wide Receiver, Peculiar, Missouri
Gunnar Gottula, Offensive Lineman, Lincoln, Nebraska
Brock Knutson, Offensive Lineman, Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Sam Sledge, Offensive Lineman, Omaha, Nebraska
Riley Van Poppel, Defensive Lineman, Argyle, Texas
William Watson, Quarterback, Springfield, Massachusetts
2023 Needs
| QB | 0 | DL | 3 |
| RB | 0 | MLB | 1 |
| WR | 3 | OLB | 2 |
| TE | 0 | DB | 1 |
| OL | 2 | K/P | 0 |
The Recon:
>> One fun storyline to watch this recruiting cycle is if the Huskers can land all three Cedar Grove High School prospects they hosted on June 3. Wide receiver Barry Jackson, defensive back Kayin Lee and defensive end Adonijah Green are all in play for Nebraska. Jackson said this week that he could see them all coming to Nebraska.
“Yeah, I feel like all of us would fit in perfectly in the positions that we play,” he said. “We can be a key to the offense and defense.”
Both Lee and Green also mentioned discussing playing together at Nebraska after their official visits. This is definitely something to watch. It would be welcomed by the Husker coaching staff on all three coming to NU
>> The Huskers have a big-time official visitor coming to town next weekend. Cameron Lenhardt, a 4-star defensive lineman from IMG Academy, told Hail Varsity that he will visit June 24-26. The program is in a good spot for Lenhardt who is excited to make the trip.
“I’m pumped to meet the whole staff for the first time and tour the facilities and school,” he said.
Lenhardt (6-3, 240) has 17 offers from around the country including Michigan State, Penn State and South Carolina.
>> I reported some significant news earlier this week. Offensive lineman Cayden Green told me that he canceled his Michigan official visit.
Big recruiting nugget to pass along. 4-star OL @CaydenGreen3 told me that his visit to Michigan is off. Has visited Nebraska, Oklahoma and LSU. He still plans to visit Missouri. #Huskers
— Greg Smith (@GregSmithHV) June 13, 2022
Green seems to be narrowing down his choices. While the Huskers are still pushing it does look like everyone is chasing Oklahoma here. The 4-star does plan to commit on July 8, so an announcement is coming soon.
>> Pennsylvania linebacker Phil Picciotti has been pretty quiet since his official visit to Nebraska. The defender is one of the team’s top targets on that side of the ball this cycle. When he came to Nebraska for that visit he left feeling like a priority.
“The main thing I took from my visit is that I’m a very wanted target amongst the coaches and also I got to spend a good amount of time with the players and learned a good amount of things from them and their experience as a Husker football player,” Picciotti said. “I spent a lot of time with Coach Ruud and went over the procedure of coming in as a mid-year guy and talked a bit of Xs and Os and where I fit in in their defense.”
The Huskers have continued to impress the defender at every turn. He took a mid-week visit to Michigan and will take a trip to Auburn over the weekend.
>> Teitum Tuioti was another defender that the Huskers had in town for an official visit last weekend. Since his dad is no longer on the staff there has been a lot of discussion about why he’d want to take an official to Nebraska. I gave him an opportunity to clear the air on that.
“Yes, this was my first official visit,” Tuioti said. “I decided to do the Nebraska visit because I am very interested in Nebraska. I had a great time back. It was great to see all the coaches and some of the players again! One of the biggest reasons I came on this visit was to build my relationship with the coaches and players and it was great to finally get back and do that.”
Blaise Gunnerson was his player host and the pair got along well. Tuioti was also able to get in the film room with defensive front coach Mike Dawson. Nebraska views him as playing outside linebacker for the team. It’s a unique situation but the Huskers will be in his recruitment until the end.
>> Louisiana defensive end Ashley Williams Jr told Hail Varsity that he is taking an unofficial visit to Texas this weekend. He does hold an offer from the Longhorns and wants to check out the campus during their big visit weekend headlined by Arch Manning. Williams took an official to Minnesota after his official to Nebraska. The Huskers are in the driver’s seat for now but increased interest from Texas could be an issue for the team. Williams intends to commit sometime during his senior season.
>> There is another big visit note to pass along. Elkhorn South star Maverick Noonan told me that he is not visiting Iowa this month. He originally planned to visit Iowa, Nebraska and Stanford in June. This is now mostly a two-team race between Nebraska and Stanford. I like the Huskers’ chances to ultimately win out here but the Cardinal are a legitimate threat.
