It might end up being a fun piece of Husker Jeopardy one day: who was the first player to do a private workout for the Huskers after the long dead period was lifted? The answer is Lincoln Southeast athlete Jake Appleget. The versatile playmaker was excited for what the day could bring when the team extended the invitation to work out for them.
“I thought that most likely some pretty good news would come since they wanted to get me down there first thing,” Appleget said. “I thought it’s a good chance to show them what I got. They haven’t been able to see me in person in a long time.”
Appleget got to Nebraska’s campus on Tuesday morning. The team got his height and weight plus some general body measurements. He tested in the vertical, 40-yard dash and pro agility. before doing drills at outside linebacker and ran a few routes.
He was able to take a tour of the school and facilities and everything the Huskers had, which he thought was all really nice. Then the good news came. After talking with the coaches for about 30 minutes after his workouts, Appleget came away with a scholarship offer from the hometown team.
Blessed to have received an offer from The University of Nebraska! #GBR ⚪️☠️🔴 pic.twitter.com/PDbpFCugDj
— Jake Appleget (@ApplegetJake) June 1, 2021
“Coach Frost the linebacker coaches had been saying you’re doing really good and testing well. I was kind of hoping that the offer was coming,” Appleget said. “When Frost offered me, it was kind of a surreal moment. I just kind of got chills throughout my whole body hearing the words come out that we want to offer you a scholarship. It was pretty amazing and meant a little bit more, you know, being an in-state kid.”
One of the biggest sources of intrigue with his offer is what position the Huskers project him at. Appleget stars on both sides of the ball for Southeast. For him, it doesn’t matter where he plays as long as he is in a position to be a playmaker.
“I’m pretty open about it,” Appleget said. “I always say I play a playmaking position on both sides of the ball. I can go up and make a game changing catch in the endzone or game changing tackle. So, I’m fine with either side of the ball. Wherever they want me and wherever it’s best for me that’s where I’ll play.”
The workout for Nebraska on Tuesday begins a busy month for Appleget. He’s doing a camp at Minnesota on Wednesday, June 2. He will then head to the Lindenwood camp before hitting Iowa State on June 9. After that he will likely do a camp at Kansas State and Northwestern.
The Huskers did extend an invitation for the Southeast star to return to campus.
“They invited me to a barbecue on the 18th for their early commits and guys they are recruiting hard,” Appleget said. “They haven’t really talked about an official yet or anything like that. But I’m sure that I’ll be back down there soon.”
Appleget doesn’t have anything scheduled currently on June 18th, so there is a chance he will accept that invitation from the Huskers.
The pandemic really set Appleget back with him being able to show schools his talents. But the last year allowed him to see which schools were most interested in him. The schools that reached out the most are the ones he locked in June camps with. As he visits these schools through the month, he knows what he is looking for.
“I want coaches that are invested in me and have the ability to work with me,” Appleget said. “I want them to be able to transform me into the player that know I can be. I’m also looking for a school with a winning tradition. One that has great players and a great program. Somewhere that just feels like home.”