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.
Buckle up, Husker fans. The coaching carousel is heating up.
Not in Lincoln but there are athletic directors weighing whether to fire coaches around the country right now. Those firings will cause trickle down effects as they do every season. This year has some real potential to get interesting if USC opens up to go along with Florida State and Rutgers. There are plenty of others schools where fates of are uncertain. Vanderbilt, Michigan State and Arkansas are a few.
Also, there are always surprise firings and all those jobs that open will be filled, creating new openings elsewhere.
All this pending chaos is made even more intense by the early signing period. There are two big things the timing of early signing affects. It influences athletic director’s timing on firing coaches. Recruiting classes need to be salvaged. On the flip side, it influences prospects because they either want to sign in December or early enroll at their school of choice.
Florida State is seeing this play out right now. After announcing the firing of coach Willie Taggart on Sunday (during an official visit weekend), the Seminoles have seen commits leave their class. It’s going to be open season on their commits until a coach is in place. Will that new coach have enough time to bring those guys back in the fold before Dec. 18?
Here is where Nebraska’s current struggles come into play. It’s an underrated program trait to be in position to take advantage of these situations when they arise. When these inevitable firings and hires take place, your program needs to be in position to pounce.
Nebraska does a nice job of keeping in contact with prospects who they had interest in but have committed to other programs. That’s one part of the equation.
The other part is being at a place as a program that those players look and say, ‘Yeah, it’s better over there.’ Currently, that’s where Nebraska has work to do. All hope isn’t lost. There are still three games left and perceptions can change quickly with one big win. There is also still plenty to sell on the trail if you are on the Nebraska staff.
As ‘silly season’ in college football gets ramped up pay attention to the programs on the rise. They are the ones ready to capitalize before the December signing period.
Recruit Watch
>> Huskers quarterback commit Logan Smothers has put together a fantastic senior season. The early enrollee is set to begin a state title run soon.
QB Logan Smothers (Muscle Shoals) completed 130-of-177 passing for 1,821 yards & 23 TD's with a 73% passing completion percentage with 651 yards on 79 carries & 11 TD's with an 8.2 yards per rush average. Totaled 2,472 yards and 34 TD's. Didn't play in 9 quarters. Best in 6A! pic.twitter.com/nIUTmvzmS4
— Alabama6AFootball (@AL6AFootball) November 5, 2019
>> Quinton Conley, a 2022 wide receiver from Kansas City, put out his season highlights. It’s easy to project him as a big-time player in the region for his class.
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11098222/5dbf90c396778f0c045a9839
>> Outside linebacker target Jared Ivey took an official visit last weekend to Georgia Tech.
Had a great time @GeorgiaTechFB this weekend! Thank you @CoachCollins fr hosting me and my family 🐝#404theCULTURE #TogetherWeSwarm pic.twitter.com/sX7nZWasqS
— Jared Ivey (@jared_ivey1595) November 5, 2019
>> Creighton Prep junior AJ Rollins put out his season highlights. The athlete holds an offer from the Huskers already.
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9773027/5dc0d9f5d45ed70d001111ac
>> Lawrence Free State safety Colter Maldonado picked up a preferred walk-on offer from the Huskers on Tuesday.
Beyond thankful and excited to announce that I have received a PWO from the University of Nebraska! Thank you coaches for this opportunity! @coachwilhite @TMossbrucker #GBR 🔴☠️ pic.twitter.com/lDsavfMXZ7
— Colter Maldonado (@coltermaldonado) November 5, 2019
ICYMI
>> I started a tracker for where coaches are going during the second bye week (Premium) and which recruits they’ll be seeing.
>> Jacob Padilla is continuing his Nebraska basketball previews (Premium) by looking at the frontcourt.
>> With Nebraska women’s basketball back, Amy Williams just wants to see consistency writes Derek Peterson.
>> The Lo-Down this week explains how Nebraska volleyball works to prevent injury.
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.
