The April edition of Greg’s Guys is here!
There was some movement with the rankings this month. Kaden Helms and Xavier Nwankpa were both moved off the list due to lack of interest in the Huskers. Nwankpa hasn’t publicly ruled out Nebraska but the Huskers appear on the outside looking in. Missouri lineman Armand Membou committed to Missouri so he’s out too. Three new players made their debut this month and we have a new number-one player.
The Huskers also picked up two commits in the last month so that has caused some shuffling too. If you aren’t familiar with the Greg’s Guys list, it’s my top 10 players in the class based on Nebraska’s needs, how a player fits in the scheme and talent. The list is always fluid and that’s what makes it fun.
1) QB MJ Morris (Atlanta, Georgia)
Last Rank: 3
One of the biggest questions of this recruiting cycle is becoming who the quarterback in the class will be. Morris is the highest-rated quarterback the Huskers seem to have good traction with. Still, it’s going to be a battle for his signature. The dual-threat quarterback has close to 40 scholarship offers from around the country. Florida State figures to be in his recruitment until the end. Can the Huskers sell Morris on being the only quarterback in the class since the Seminoles already have one in the 2022 class? Nebraska would love to secure an official visit from Morris soon.
2) OLB Popeye Williams (Westfield, Indiana)
Last Rank: Unranked
Each recruiting cycle the Huskers are after edge rushers who can impact the quarterback. It has to be a staple of the 3-4 defense to make it work to its full potential. This class one of the top targets at that hybrid position is Indiana native Popeye Williams. Standing at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Williams has the size to hold up against the run but can rush the quarterback too. The Huskers have done well with Williams and he has an official visit set the first weekend of June.
First stop Lincoln Nebraska! Can’t wait to see the campus. @coach_frost @coachdawsgbr @HuskerFBNation pic.twitter.com/tpB36mCliS
— Popeye Williams (@Popeye2022) March 25, 2021
3) ATH Brenan Thompson (Spearman, Texas)
Last Rank: 1
The Texas playmaker (5-10, 165) is an electric athlete. He also might be the fastest 2022 player in Texas with a verified 10.32 100m dash. The big question with Thompson and Nebraska is if the Huskers can stay in it long enough to get a visit from him. He’s starting to set official visits. The first announced trip is to Oklahoma State. There are a lot of heavyweights like Clemson and Alabama after him. The home state schools Texas and Texas A&M are also heavily involved.
4) DB James Monds III (Fort Pierce, Florida)
Last Rank: 5
Monds has become one of the Huskers’ top defensive prospects this cycle. Standing at 5-foot-10, 177 pounds, he can play inside or outside at cornerback. So far he has two official visits lined up for June. The first weekend in June he is coming to Lincoln. He will also check out Indiana in June. The Huskers have recruited him hard. The team bonding activities by the Huskers have stood out to him.
“I knew a little bit about them with my uncle playing there,” Monds said. “I didn’t really know a whole bunch about what they have and the things that they do for their team that I know now. When Coach Chinander sends me pictures of the whole team having barbecues or going out bowling and just things like that having fun. I really like that about them.”
The Huskers are in a good spot here but still need the visit to go well in June.
5) ILB Gavin Meyers (Hays, Kansas)
Last Rank: 9
One of the first prospects I thought of after Columbus linebacker Ernest Hausmann committed was Gavin Meyers. There are only so many inside linebacker spots available in the class. With Hausmann taking one where does that leave the talented Kansas native? Meyers has long been a target for the Huskers and he fits so well into what they’d like to build on defense. It would not surprise me at all to see Meyers pop up for a visit to Lincoln soon to get a better feel for campus.
6) DE Joe Strickland (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Last rank: Unranked
Some recruits have the feel where the Huskers are going to land them or end up playing against them for four years. Strickland (6-4, 233) has that feel to him. He’s a powerful strong side defensive end that most of the Big Ten is after. He’s got official visits set in June for Penn State and Michigan. The Huskers are hoping to get a June visit from the Indiana native with pass rushing skills.
7) WR Quinton Conley (Kansas City, Missouri)
Last Rank: 4
The Huskers have been getting bigger at the wide receiver spot for a couple years. It’s been a focus of the staff since they went through a Big Ten schedule in their first season. The big-bodied (6-4, 200) Conley is one of the Huskers’ top offensive targets this cycle. Some teams think he can grow into a tight end but the Huskers like him out wide which is fine with him.
“I don’t really have a preference either way,” Conley said. “I know that I play wideout a lot in in high school and in seven-on-seven. I know with my size and frame that it’s a good possibility that I’ll be moved to tight end. I’m not really opposed either.”
There isn’t an official visit date locked in with Conley yet but spots at the position are getting tighter.
8) WR Quan Lee (Gainesville, Florida)
Last Rank: Unranked
While the Huskers have locked in a lot more size at the wide receiver position there is still a need for slot receivers in the offense. The 3-star out of Florida might fit the bill this cycle. Lee (5-11, 170) runs track like a lot of other Husker commits and targets. He posted an 11.16 100m dash last month. Lee has a few official visits on the books already for June but he’s very active with the Huskers on social media. There is a good chance that the Huskers can host him for an official visit this summer. Lee wants to make a commitment in July.
G…B…R 🌽 https://t.co/171Hbj8Wmo
— Quan Lee™️ (@QuanLee_5) April 2, 2021
9) DT Domonique Orange (Kansas City, Missouri)
Last Rank: 8
For some prospects the extended dead period has slowed down their recruitment. The Missouri defensive tackle is not one of them. Orange is becoming a national recruit now. He’s up over 20 scholarship offers with the latest coming from Ohio State. Colleges are intrigued by his 6-foot-4, 300-pound frame. He also has the size and quickness to be a versatile player along the line in college. If the Huskers want to stay in the race they’ll need to get Orange on campus this summer.
10) DL Jalen Marshall (Overland Park, Kansas)
Last Rank: 10
The St. Thomas Aquinas standout (6-5, 270) has seemed to slow down his recruitment. He’s got about 10 offers right now with the latest coming in from Arizona State. Marshall seems content to let the dead period expire so that he can get out and see more schools that have offered him. If he does the camp circuit this summer his stock might continue to rise. The only visit he has on the books currently is to Oklahoma State. His dad, Karl, was a walk-on at Oklahoma State in the late 1990s.
