As we shift toward the traditional signing day, a high percentage of prospects are off the board having signed their letter of intent during the early signing period. Nebraska will still look to add players to the 2019 recruiting class after signing 23 prospects last week though.
On Wednesday, we took a look at the offensive prospects to watch. It’s now the defense’s turn. Let’s look at the defensive side of the football for Nebraska to finish off the cycle and a handful of players to keep an eye on.
4-star DB Noa Pola-Gates
Pola-Gates is the top target left on the board for the Huskers. Well, if he is still on the board that is. We don’t know if he signed anywhere during the early signing period and is keeping it a secret until Jan. 19 at the Polynesian Bowl. Either way, we will find out in January where the talented defensive back from Arizona will be going to college.
3-star LB Brandon Mack
The Huskers have long coveted the pass rusher from Alabama who was a long time Pitt commit. Mack left the Pitt class right after the early signing period and has opened things back up. Nebraska would love to get an official visit from Mack in January but he only has one left after using visits on Florida Atlantic, Missouri, Ole Miss and Pitt. The defender is likely near the top of the staff’s board and would be a very welcome addition.
3-star DB DJ James
The stout cornerback stands a 6-foot, 160 pounds and is a current Mississippi State verbal commitment. However, he did not sign during the early period and has stated that he will take visits. James told Hail Varsity that he will be in Lincoln for an official visit the weekend of Jan 11. James is a true corner prospect which will make him very coveted in the late recruiting period. He has also recently picked up offers from Iowa and Oregon.
3-star LB Eugene Asante
Every once in a while, you pop on a player’s Hudl film and wonder why he doesn’t have more offers or why teams were slow to offer. That is exactly what I thought after seeing Asante’s film. He’s aggressive, runs well and is a good tackler. It’s no wonder why Virginia Tech, Maryland, UCLA, Baylor and Nebraska have all shown interest recently. The younger brother of former Blackshirt Larry Asante should be making a January official visit to Lincoln to check out what the Huskers have to offer.
4-star OLB Steven Parker
Parker was part of the Texas Tech recruiting class and has since backed off that pledge after coach Kliff Kingsbury was let go. He is a rangy outside linebacker who stands at 6-foot-4, 220-pounds. The Dallas native has also seen his stock rise since the he didn’t sign but his athleticism would fit nicely into defensive coordinator Erik Chinander’s defense.
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.
