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 know that the Huskers are among the teams that offer the most scholarships in the country in each recruiting cycle. That is in part because the program relies so heavily on players from outside the region. So an offer is more of a good faith gesture that the program is interested and would like you to visit. The one exception to that rule with offers is quarterback.
The Huskers have a particular way they like to recruit quarterbacks. Each year, coach Scott Frost and quarterbacks coach Mario Verduzco only offer a handful of signal-callers. The pair also prefer to see prospects through in person. That’s a big part of the evaluation process for them. Over the last year Verduzco has had to adjust as much as any assistant coach on the staff on how he recruits his position.
“I guess I do okay with Zoom. I’m better when I’m in front of players and their parents,” Verduzco said. I feel a heck of a lot more comfortable that way. But from that standpoint, it’s been good. You can’t go out and watch guys thrown in person. You got to be astute as you possibly can be watching their game tape or if they have practice tape when they’re throwing in a workout or something like that. That way you can figure out if they have any major issues and what they are. It’s been ok like but like I said I do much better one on one and not in Zoom.”
Due to the rules of the last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Huskers did sign quarterback Heinrich Haarberg in the 2021 cycle without getting to see him throw in person. Thankfully for everyone, Haarberg arrived on campus ready to roll in January.
“He was pretty clean,” Verduzco said. “There was not a heck of a lot to do seriously. Sometimes those young guys are taught that you really want to throw over the top, you got to get your elbow up and all that sort of crazy stuff. When it comes right down to it, just throw the damn thing to some degree. He’s learning our drop backs and the mechanics with regards to those and how they apply to different pass routes and pass patterns. He was a pretty clean cat. What we saw on tape was pretty much what we got which was good.”
It is crazy to consider that the first time Verduzco saw Haarberg throw in person was this spring. There are so many of those types of situations around the country. The early returns seem to be good for the Huskers in this case but we won’t know the true impact of recruiting during the pandemic for a couple years.
Recruit Watch
>> California athlete Kevin Green Jr. has the Huskers in his top eight.
Top 8 👀 😁
(Recruitment still open) pic.twitter.com/PGNVeNMIRK— Kevin Green Jr. (@ts_kevo) April 7, 2021
>> Alabama wide receiver Jarel Williams committed to West Virginia on Thursday.
Committed 🗻💛💙 pic.twitter.com/Irx3awoRyV
— Jarel Williams (@JarelWilliams8) April 8, 2021
ICYMI
>> In this week’s Mind Your Own podcast Erin and Sausha are joined by Sadie Gray, the co-host of Meathead Test Kitchen, to discuss a wide range of topics including imposter syndrome.
>> Nebraska volleyball was shut out of the Big Ten’s individual awards but three Huskers did earn All-Big Ten honors.
>> Huskers defensive lineman Casey Rogers is coming for everything this spring (Premium) writes Derek Peterson.
>> Check out Husker baseball coach Will Bolt discuss his team returning home to face Maryland.
>> Nebraska will open football practice to the public on April 17.
>> Cade Povich’s pro approach has the Huskers in first as Maryland comes to town.
>> Experienced returners and key additions are creating stiff competition (Premium) at inside linebacker for the Huskers this spring.
>> Check out our photo gallery from the Huskers fifth practice of the spring.
