Recruiting never stops and it’s easy to miss the top stories day-to-day. Recruiting analyst Greg Smith recaps all things Nebraska recruiting news, analysis and more so you never miss a thing.
We would normally be coming out of a dead period for recruiting as spring practices get started around the country. That’s obviously not the case this year as we have been in an NCAA-mandated dead period for a year now. Schools have not been able to host prospects and their families on campus since January 2020. A lot has happened in the recruiting world in that time.
Teams have completely shifted their recruiting boards for the 2022 class. Prospects have gotten better over the last year. Most played a football season in 2020 to continue helping their stock rise. There is a weird gap because a lot of 2022 prospects who have been getting offers over the last year haven’t been to any of the schools that offered them.
With that being the case, who are a few prospects that would be first in line to get on campus if the Huskers got their way? For the sake of argument, let’s say that the dead period is lifted June 1. Which prospects would it be most impactful for Nebraska to host right away? Shout out to Hail Varsity’s Derek Peterson for sparking this idea.
QB MJ Morris
The Huskers’ search for a 2022 quarterback will become a bigger storyline. As always, a lot of top signal-callers are coming off the board already. It’s important for Nebraska to make progress with a QB in this cycle. Morris is highly-rated but seems pretty open with his top choices right now. It would help big time if the Huskers get an early visit from him.
DB James Monds III
The Huskers are in a good spot with the legacy recruit. He’s familiar with the program since his uncle, Walter Monds, played at Nebraska. Monds (5-10, 177) has a lot of quality offers though including Miami, Michigan State and Indiana. It would be great for the Huskers to get him to Lincoln as soon as possible to make a big impression. Monds is also on the short list of players that I could see being the first commitment of the 2022 class.
OLB Jared Badie
Badie (6-5, 210) is a really intriguing prospect. He’s got the frame and athleticism that teams covet for a hybrid outside linebacker. So it makes sense that his recruitment has seen steady progress over recent months. There is just one wrinkle. Badie didn’t get to play a junior season because he lives in Illinois and there was no high school football in 2020. He just picked up his first SEC offer from Tennessee on Wednesday.
Honored and Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Tennessee🟧⬜️@coachg76 @CoachLolohea @CoachLeBlanc1 pic.twitter.com/mRlmg8GrbI
— Jared Badie (@JaredBadie) March 4, 2021
He has a chance to blow up during his senior year. Getting him on campus as soon as the dead period is lifted would be key.
Recruit Watch
>> Bellevue West tight end Kaden Helms was offered by LSU on Thursday.
Extremely blessed to have received a scholarship offer from THE Louisiana State University! 🐯 @daboot02 pic.twitter.com/rG0Rt0ZjBn
— Kaden Helms (@KadenJHelms) March 4, 2021
>> The Huskers offered a new 2022 quarterback on Wednesday night when they joined the race for Texan Richard Torres.
#AGTG I’m Blessed to Receive a Division 1 Offer from The University of Nebraska #GBR @coach_frost @coach_verdu @callaghan_NEB pic.twitter.com/d0Qq0FwGN3
— Richard Torres (@richie_2112) March 4, 2021
>> Nebraska made the cut to 10 schools for Arizona defensive back Benjamin Morrison.
Proverbs 16:9 “We make our own plans but God decides where we will go.” First, I’d like to thank all of the school who believed enough in me to recruit me. I am very grateful for you seeing something in me. That being said, I will focus on these 10 schools. pic.twitter.com/kbEBwANVLv
— Benjamin Morrison (@BMoe_21) March 3, 2021
>> Defensive back Avery Powell included Nebraska in his top six on Thursday.
Top 6… #AGTG pic.twitter.com/TxcsOV8VQ0
— ₂₉ (@Averypow_29) March 4, 2021
ICYMI
>> After a 51-week wait, Nebraska baseball is ready to take the diamond again.
>> A “new Nicklin” is putting up big numbers (Premium) for Nebraska volleyball this season.
>> The Big Ten announced that fans will be allowed to attend the upcoming men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.
>> Fred Hoiberg hopes that the Huskers can sustain its winning ways at No. 5 Iowa.
>> The attention has been shifted to the regular season finale against the Hawkeyes for Amy Williams’ squad.