One of the Huskers’ top defensive targets for the 2022 cycle has come off the board.
Florida defensive back James Monds III has been a priority target for the Huskers all cycle. Monds elected to play in the Big Ten, but not at Nebraska. The defender committed to Indiana on July 4.
BALL GAME. pic.twitter.com/fYRg4ZIBX9
— 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬 III ✞ (@MondsJames) July 4, 2021
Monds took an official visit to Nebraska the weekend of June 18. Following that trip, he was very positive about the weekend. He even left Lincoln with the Huskers as the leader in his recruitment.
“Nebraska is definitely at the top of my recruitment right now with Indiana and a couple of other schools,” Monds said. “They are definitely at the top.”
After that visit weekend to check out the Huskers, Monds went to another Big Ten school. Wisconsin got an official visit from him before he ultimately decided on joining coach Tom Allen’s program.
The loss of Monds stings more because his uncle, Wonder, played defensive back for the Huskers in the 1970s. This is the second time Allen and Nebraska coach Scott Frost have gone head to head on a cornerback prospect. Remember back to the 2019 recruiting class––Florida defensive back Taiwan Mullen was an official visitor that cycle. He was in town for Nebraska’s first scheduled game of the Frost Era. It appeared Mullen would be a Husker, but picked the Hoosiers. He’s now an All-Big Ten caliber player.
The search will continue for Nebraska at defensive back for the 2022 class. It’s likely the team will take a pair of additions to defensive backs coach Travis Fisher’s room. The Huskers also hosted Markeith Williams, Avery Powell, Nathan Vail and Jaden Mangham in June. None of the four are currently committed.
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.
