There has been a lot of change to the Huskers’ roster this offseason. The team had 17 players enroll mid-year which is a school record. There are few spots that haven’t seen changes this offseason. That includes the coaching staff.
In a normal recruiting cycle we would take a look at all the new additions from high school and junior college. This year was far from normal with the transfer infusion into the program. Let’s take a look at breaking down all the newcomers to Nebraska’s team.
Quarterbacks
Class of 2022 signee: Richard Torres
Transfers: Casey Thompson, Chubba Purdy
The Huskers needed new blood in the quarterback room. There was nothing more important for the potential success of next season than landing a veteran quarterback. The Huskers ended up with an ambitious goal of landing two quarterbacks. Offensive coordinator Mark Whipple deserves a hat tip for that. High school quarterback Richard Torres enters the program with promise and the tools to succeed in Whipple’s offense.
Running Backs
Class of 2022 signees: Ajay Allen, Anthony Grant, Emmett Johnson
Transfers: None
If there is a surprise for a position being shaken up this much its with running back. The team needs more production from the unit. A quarterback led the team in rushing the last two seasons. Bringing in three backs to a young stable of players is an interesting move. Only Grant, the junior college transfer, will participate in spring football. Running backs coach Bryan Applewhite has a lot of new players to work with. The team technically still has a commitment from Texas A&M back Deondre Jackson too.
Wide Receivers
Class of 2022 signees: Janiran Bonner, Decoldest Crawford, Victor Jones Jr.
Transfers: Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda, Trey Palmer
Mickey Joseph has a major infusion of talent heading to his room. If you tried to rank these players based on potential it would be difficult to do so. Nebraska got a good blend of size, speed and athleticism with the group of wideouts coming to Lincoln. Bonner and Crawford will not be in Lincoln for spring ball. Competition for snaps at this position will be earned all the way through the season kicking off.
Tight End
Class of 2022 signees: Chase Androff
Transfers: None
The Huskers have promising young tight ends on the roster. It wasn’t a surprise that only one was taken for the 2022 class. There was never much traction about taking a transfer here either. Androff is one of the true mysteries of the class. He rarely caught though ball in high school because his team ran so much. He’s a good blocker and that will help him in college.
Offensive Linemen
Class of 2022 signees: Justin Evans-Jenkins
Transfers: Hunter Anthony, Kevin Williams Jr.
The offensive line might be the most closely watched position group this spring. The group took a major step backwards during the 2021 season. A pair of transfers were added which will help the overall depth of the group. New Jersey native Justin Evans-Jenkins makes an intriguing center prospect for the Huskers. The team will look to add at least one more player to the mix this summer.
Defensive Linemen
Class of 2022 signees: Brodie Tagaloa
Transfers: None
Defensive line recruiting was a mystery last cycle for the Huskers. The team was in a much better position on the roster with defensive linemen than they are now. Several departures and a couple misses in the portal will have them searching for more help this summer. Tagaloa, a California native, bringing an versatile skill set to the mix. Will he end up staying on the defensive line or move to tight end? With Tony Tuioti gone to Oregon, will he make it to Lincoln at all?
Linebackers
Class of 2022 signees: Jake Appleget, Ernest Hausmann
Transfers: None
A pair of in-state players were the picks for linebackers the cycle. Appleget projects as an all-around outside linebacker moving forward. Hausmann will begin his career inside. Both have good upside but will need more time to develop. Pass rush wasn’t really addressed in this class. That is also something Nebraska will keep searching for.
Defensive Backs
Class of 2022 signees: Omar Brown, Tommi Hill, Javier Morton, Deshon Singleton
Transfers: Jaeden Gould, Malcolm Hartzog, Jalil Martin, Gage Stenger
If you are a returning defensive back on the team it’s time to embrace competition. Seven players that will for sure play in the defensive backfield are heading to town. So is Millard South athlete Gage Stenger who could end up at safety. There is a lot of talent in this group. That will make the competition this spring intense. No spots in the secondary are safe this offseason. That is how defensive backs coach Travis Fisher wants it. It would be surprising if at least one of these newcomers didn’t start in 2022.
Specialists
Class of 2022 signees: None
Transfers: Timmy Bleekrode, Brian Buschini
Nebraska needed to improve special teams this offseason. They upgraded both the kicker and punter positions. Both Bleekrode and Buschini will come to Lincoln with experience and accolades. The team also brought in new long snapper when it picked up Brady Weas. The return game will get a boost from Palmer who proved what he can do at LSU.
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.
