The May edition of Greg’s Guys is here!
This is the first edition of the list after Nebraska’s annual Red-White Spring Game, which saw several players on the list make the trip to Lincoln. There was some carry-over on the list from last month and there was a big shakeup in the order. Indiana pass rusher Popeye Williams dropped off the list after he committed to Louisville recently. We also saw a huge riser on the list this month. Kansas athlete Jaren Kanak made a big debut on the list.
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: 1
Right now it feels like the Huskers have locked in on a No. 1 quarterback target. The door is wide open for the Huskers right now with the talented 4-star dual-threat quarterback from Georgia. Florida State was the main competition for him but the Seminoles took a second quarterback before Morris could make a decision. He was in Lincoln for the spring game seeming impressed with what he saw.
Omg 😳😳 #GBR pic.twitter.com/M4t5J6PQTc
— MJ Morris (@mj_morris7) May 1, 2021
2) ATH Jaren Kanak (Hays, Kansas)
Last Rank: Unranked
Each recruiting cycle there seems to be a player that is very important to the class even though his ranking doesn’t match. Nash Hutmacher is an example of this from a couple cycles back. Kanak (6-2, 200) can play either wide receiver or defensive back in college. Nebraska likes him at wide receiver and for good reason. He ran a 10.6 100m dash this March and is a good football player. Clemson is lurking but the Huskers have done great early work here.
Jaren Kanak of Hays HS opened up his junior track season with a 10.66 FAT in the 100 meter dash. 2022 ATH has 7 FBS offers. Very rare w: his size, speed and strength at 6-2 210. All-Non senior pick this fall from SIK. Also 22+ in LJ. No track season as sophomore #sportsinkansas pic.twitter.com/vm8Xvlv3aC
— Sports in Kansas (@sportsinkansas) April 2, 2021
3) DB James Monds III (Fort Pierce, Florida)
Last Rank: 4
The Huskers have been connected to Monds strongly since last year. He’s a legacy recruit since his uncle Wonder Monds played for Nebraska in the 70s. His official visit has been rescheduled to June 18 but the Huskers remain in good position. He recently released a top six that has a strong Big Ten flavor to it. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Monds end up in the Big Ten one way or another.
4) ILB Gavin Meyers (Hays, Kansas)
Last Rank: 5
It seems like things between Meyers and the Huskers are heating up. The Kansas native fits the profile of the type of sideline-to-sideline run stopping inside linebacker that can thrive in the Big Ten. Nebraska has been recruiting him hard all cycle. Meyers made the trip with Kanak to Lincoln for the spring game. The defender is locked in for an official visit the first weekend of June. Nebraska is in a great position with him currently.
5) WR Quinton Conley (Kansas City, Missouri)
Last Rank: 7
When the Huskers started recruiting more big-bodied wide receivers once offensive coordinator Matt Lubick came to town, a player like Conley is exactly who the team pictured adding to the team. Standing at 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, there are schools even recruiting him to play tight end. He might continue to grow but the Huskers are recruiting him as a wide receiver. Conley made the trip to Lincoln for the spring game with his grandparents. He’s also looking to set up an official visit to Nebraska in June.
Priority 2022 WR/TE Quinton Conley (@quinton_conley) taking in the sights on campus at Nebraska today. pic.twitter.com/rBAKiflx2T
— Greg Smith (@GregSmithHV) May 1, 2021
“I’m looking to set one up,” Conley said. “I know they were still trying to get their times and camp dates and all that still worked out. So, if I can put them on in that first week of June I’ll try to. But if not, I’m sure we can do it after that.”
The Huskers are battling Kentucky the most for the talented Kansas City native.
6) DL Jalen Marshall (Overland Park, Kansas)
Last Rank: 10
The versatile defensive lineman was also in Lincoln for the spring game. Marshall (6-6, 275) is an important regional recruit for Nebraska. The program wants to land more players from the Kansas metro and Marshall gives them a great shot. He has an official visit scheduled for the first week in June to Nebraska. He also has Indiana and Oklahoma State visits planned. Those three teams seem to be the top contenders for him now.
#GBR 😀 pic.twitter.com/j9jTZZ6FB4
— Jalen Marshall ♱ (@JalenMarshall03) May 1, 2021
7) DT Domonique Orange (Kansas City, Missouri)
Last Rank: 10
Orange (6-4, 300) has become one of the hottest defensive line recruits in the Midwest. He has close to 20 scholarship offers now with Georgia and Ohio State coming to the table recently. Still, his recruitment is wide open for now. He has no official visits set yet.
The Huskers got in early on Orange. They have to hope that early relationship can lead to a June official visit.
8) DE Joe Strickland (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Last rank: 6
The Huskers have stepped their game up in the last couple cycles trying to get defensive lineman from the Big Ten footprint. The Indianapolis defender (6-4, 245) has a couple Big Ten options he seems to like with Northwestern and Purdue. He’s also taking a hard look at Stanford. He has a few official visits scheduled already to Michigan, Penn State and Boston College. Nebraska is pushing to get one of the remaining visits from him too.
Top 10 schools I’m focusing on… AGTG pic.twitter.com/rpTxpyL0YQ
— Joe Strickland. (@J3stripe) March 13, 2021
9) WR Quan Lee (Gainesville, Florida)
Last Rank: 8
Lee (5-11, 175) might not be the biggest guy, but after adding several bigger wideouts the Huskers could look for a slot receiver next. The Huskers had been after Lee for a while but now they are still hoping to get an official visit set with him The Gainesville, Florida, native has official visits on the books with Miami, West Virginia, Central Florida and Coastal Carolina.
10) ATH Brenan Thompson (Spearman, Texas)
Last Rank: 3
The Huskers are trying to remain in the race for one of the fastest players in the 2022 class. The problem is that Alabama and Clemson are recruiting him hard, as well as home state schools Texas and Texas A&M. Oklahoma State has a local tie as well so it’s an uphill battle for coach Scott Frost and his program. Thompson (5-10, 165) is well worth continuing to pursue despite fading interest since he fits the offense perfectly.
