For the second week in a row, Nebraska will host a 4-star junior college linebacker. Last week it was DE/OLB Jermaine Johnson. This week, they will host inside linebacker Lakia Henry from Dodge City Community College in Kansas. The defender was offered by the Huskers staff back in February. He was very excited back then to get the offer when he did because it showed him that he was a priority for the staff.
“They were targeting me when they were at UCF," Henry said. “They didn’t offer me a scholarship because I had bigger offers so they were afraid I wouldn’t go to their program but when they got the job at Nebraska they offered me right away. That was big to me because that showed I was a big priority on their list.”
If Nebraska wanted to make Henry feel like a priority, they have succeeded in that goal. He told me that his main points of contact at Nebraska are inside linebackers coach Barrett Ruud, defensive coordinator Erik Chinander and he also talks to Scott Frost on a regular basis. When I asked Henry how the relationship is going with the staff, he was pretty positive.
“I have a really good relationship with the coaching staff already. They’ve put a lot of effort in me and they talk to me a lot on a consistent basis so that’s good. Whenever I call them, they answer. They are a real good group of people.”
Henry is excited about the trip to Lincoln this week after visiting Knoxville to check out Tennessee last week. He told me that two things are standing out to him above everything else when it comes to evaluating the Nebraska program.
“The facilities and the coaching staff. They went a whole season undefeated. They didn’t lose to anybody. That’s with the players they had at the American Conference level. They have Big Ten conference level players now so I’m excited to see what they do this season.”
At this point in the recruiting cycle, there are many JUCO prospects with double-digit offers to their name. Typically, the action heats up once the season starts but Henry is an exception. He currently reports 16 offers right now. Even though he has a sizable offer list that is growing by the day, he has a handful of schools he is looking hardest at.
“Nebraska, Tennessee, Alabama, Texas A&M and Ole Miss would be the top schools I’m looking hardest at.”
There is a timeline that he has in mind for making a decision. Henry told me that It’s going to be before the season at Dodge City. He says he’ll probably decide in either June or July. He has a big decision ahead with some major programs in the mix, so what will be the deciding factor in his recruitment?
“How I connect with the coaching staff. It’s all about those little things and how life would be when I get there.”
http://www.hudl.com/video/3/9444884/5a0c7b82dfe29b0e3ca9f82f
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.
