The big one has come and gone and this week felt strange in a lot of ways. Not just because Nebraska got embarrassed against Ohio State but because going from the excitement and buildup of that game to Northwestern week was a bit jarring. Still, the show must go on and there is a lot of season left to be played.
There is a lot going on this weekend. Nebraska will host a new crop of official visitors and the team is also on commit watch.
Let’s get to the Recon.
Husker Commits
Zavier Betts, wide receiver, Omaha, Nebraska
Alex Conn, offensive lineman, Derby, Kansas
Turner Corcoran, offensive lineman, Lawrence, Kansas
Henry Gray, defensive back, Hollywood, Florida
Blaise Gunnerson, outside linebacker, Carroll, Iowa
Nash Hutmacher, defensive tackle, Chamberlain, South Dakota
Tamon Lynum, cornerback, Orlando, Florida
Sevion Morrison, running back, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Will Nixon, wide receiver, Waco, Texas
Marvin Scott III, running back, Port Orange, Florida
Logan Smothers, quarterback, Athens, Alabama
2020 Needs
| QB | 0 | DL | 2 |
| RB | 0 | MLB | 2 |
| WR | 2 | OLB | 2 |
| TE | 0 | DB | 2 |
| OL | 1 | K/P | 0 |
The Recon:
>> When the Huskers are going through some tough times on the football field it may seem like they won’t be able to recruit. Yet, from what I’ve seen, there is not a lot of dip in what recruits and their families think of Nebraska overall after the Ohio State game. There are a couple of big reasons for that. First, the staff has managed expectations with recruits well. They seem to understand this is Year 2 of a rebuild. Secondly, people really like this coaching staff. They like how tight knit they are. I still have players mentioning what it meant for the whole staff to come from Central Florida. Don’t discount all of that and give too much weight to one single result that was bad but not season-defining.
>> Updates about how 4-star inside linebacker Jackson Bratton felt about his trip to Lincoln are hard to come by. That is understandable since he’s committed to the school he grew up dreaming of playing for. That doesn’t mean he’s not considering the Huskers. He is considering them after being blown away by the atmosphere, fans and coaching staff. He got along well with the other commits too. The wildcard in this recruitment is not actually how good Alabama is currently but how far away from home Nebraska is. The distance is an issue here but Bratton has discussed coming back for another game this season. He is scheduled to be back in Tuscaloosa this weekend.
>> Since the facilities announcement happened, there hasn’t been much talk about it all other than everyone recognizing Nebraska will build one of the biggest and best buildings. I do know that running backs coach Ryan Held immediately sent that video to about 200 recruits right after the ceremony. My sense is that you’ll see another big round of excitement when the weight room, training table and other amenities are fully fleshed out.
>> One question I’ve gotten a few times this week is whether or not recruits often view a game like Ohio State as an opportunity to come to Lincoln and make a difference early. It varies from recruit to recruit but here is what 4-star offensive tackle Turner Corcoran said about how special it feels to be picked by Frost to help turn the program around.
“Of course, it’s exciting,” Corcoran said. “This whole 2020 class is full of dudes that all have the potential to help turn this thing around.”
I’ve been impressed all week with the big picture view that prospects have taken.
>> I’m expecting good news out of Alabama today when 3-star inside linebacker Rodney Groce makes his college announcement. He’s a thumper at inside linebacker and would fit the Big Ten well.
>> Big-bodied wideouts have eluded Nebraska for a while now. Well, one that is committed to Georgia will be in Lincoln this weekend for an official visit. Justin Robinson (6-4, 200) is making his way to Nebraska. An interesting wrinkle here is that he attends the same high school as recent official visitor Marquis Black.
>> Not all 11 official visitors made it to town last week. Darion Green-Warren, the 4-star cornerback, and his 4-star wideout cousin Lavon Bunkley-Shelton had their flights canceled. Green-Warren informed me that he believes he is now coming out for the Wisconsin game. Keep an eye out for that.
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.
