What a first week it was for recruiting around the country. The news and notes have been coming at a furious pace for the last 10 days. That pace does not figure to slow down at all through the month. The Huskers are hosting another big official visit weekend with six players set to come to Lincoln. There are also more hosted camps and satellite camps for the staff to attend.
Let’s get to the Recon.
2022 Commits
Chase Androff, Tight End, Lakeville, Minnesota
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 | 0 | DB | 3 |
| OL | 3 | K/P | 0 |
The Recon:
>> Things are starting to come into focus with how Nebraska wants to utilize the remaining two spots from the 2021 recruiting class. The team has been saving those two spots for the right situations. One of those situations has presented itself. With just two spots left, one is marked for former 5-star defensive back transfer Tyreke Johnson. The team feels good right now that he will be a Husker.
The other may just get saved in case something crazy happens so they’d have a spot. With the way transfers happen now, you never know when an elite player may leave a school. Spots are tight so having the scholarship to use could be clutch.
>> That’s why they didn’t offer Iowa Western defensive lineman Jordan van den Berg a full scholarship. When he got his offer last week the team told him he’d have to walk on then be put on scholarship in January. Iowa offered a full immediate scholarship. So did Penn State, and he is going to be a Nittany Lion. You can’t necessarily blame the staff for not going all in on a defensive lineman when the position group has a lot of talent currently.
>> Last weekend the Huskers hosted Texas quarterback Richard Torres. The signal-caller is the top quarterback on the Huskers’ board at this point. It’s been difficult to reach him directly for a comment but I was able to get a comment from his coach Ricky Lock on how the visit went.
“Man, he was impressed with Nebraska and Coach Frost and how they conducted business,” Lock said. “It was impressive. I was glad to see it because you always wonder when they haven’t seen the place. His family too, they were really excited when they got back. So I’m glad that went well.”
The feeling right now is that Torres will decide between Nebraska and Kansas State following his official visit to Manhattan this weekend. I believe the Huskers are the heavy favorite right now, but it is recruiting and you never truly know.
>> Nebraska’s recruitment of week one official visitor Justin Williams will be interesting. The running back loved his visit to Nebraska. He was the most excited of all the recruits I spoke with, which is why it was striking that he wants to wait until after his senior season to commit to a school. If that holds there is a long road ahead to earn his commitment for Nebraska. They are aware of this and are planning accordingly. Still, Williams would be the top choice for running back in this class.
>> The Huskers made a big impression on wide receiver Landon Samson and his family last weekend. I think Nebraska is in the lead here. The only thing that could mess that up right now is if Ohio State comes through with an offer. Samson is working out for the Buckeyes this weekend along with his quarterback 5-star Quinn Ewers, who is committed to Ohio State. I have a hard time seeing a Buckeyes offer for Samson. He’s an early enrollee but still taking a heavy class load to make that happen. He doesn’t have a lot of time for visits so he might make an announcement this month.
>> In the recruiting notebook yesterday, I wrote about Lincoln Southeast 2023 offensive lineman Gunnar Gottula’s reaction to his scholarship offer from Nebraska. While the Huskers weren’t first, the early offer does help here. Plenty of other schools are showing interest in the lineman. I think eventually he will be a Husker but he’s not rushing into an announcement.
>> This weekend, another solid group of one-on-one workouts will happen in Lincoln. About 20 players will work out, including Bellevue West lineman Henry Rickels and Grand Island linebacker Vince Genatone. Those two have the best shot to earn a scholarship offer from the Huskers. With spots being limited, they are going to have to blow the staff away. Rickels being looked at as a potential center will help his cause. St. Louis wide receivers Chris Brooks Jr and Caleb Merritt will also be working out for the team.