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.
The questions never stop in the recruiting world. No matter what time of year it is, there is always something to talk about so we have been taking reader and listener suggestions on questions. I then answer the questions in a quick video. This week’s question comes from Twitter and hits the topic of the Huskers having another top-25 recruiting class.
I’m thinking Neb will not be a Top 25 class in ‘22 for the first time in awhile. And I’m totally OK with that. Am I in the minority with that feeling?
— Jim in MN (@HuskersMN) April 5, 2021
I think that the answer to this question depends on when it is asked. If you had asked someone this before last week, someone may have been more inclined to say no. The Huskers finished the week strong on the recruiting trail. The team picked up its second commitment of the 2022 cycle when Victor Jones Jr committed. It doesn’t count for the purposes of this question but the first 2023 commit got “N” last week too.
The start of cycles always seem to feel slow around Lincoln. Under Coach Scott Frost, the team finds a way to rebound and climb the rankings. The team has had a top-25 ranked class every year under Frost per 247Sports.
- 2018- 23
- 2019- 17
- 2020- 20
- 2021- 21
As of writing this, the Huskers are ranked 57th with just two commitments on the board. That’s going to change over the course of the cycle. There are two big things that will impact where the Huskers end up in the recruiting rankings. First, the Huskers are working hard to lay groundwork right now to set official visits for June. We don’t know 100% yet if the NCAA will lift the dead period at the end of May. Schools are operating right now as if the dead period will be lifted.
If that happens, Nebraska needs to have official visits locked in with its top targets. The pressure is on to lock those visits in now, especially from the players who are saying they’d like to decide before their senior season. Nebraska can make a big jump if it gets players here to check out the campus in person.
The other big thing that has to happen for the recruiting ranking to rise this cycle is that the team has to be better. In Year 4 of the Frost Era it’s time for the program to show the improvement that Frost says exists behind the scenes. If this is the season we see that progress in wins the timing will be good. If the Huskers win seven games this season, that would be a sign of progress. It’d go a long way into selling recruits that things are going in the right direction. Combine that with being able to host players for game days and the Huskers could shoot up those rankings.
There is still a long time before the December signing period. Jim isn’t alone in thinking this class might end up being Frost’s first that doesn’t land in the top 25. The opportunity is certainly still there for Nebraska to put together another solid group of recruits.
Recruit Watch
>> New Husker commit Victor Jones Jr. posted a new PR in the 100m dash over the weekend.
10.86 new Pr getting better every week ⚡️💪‼️🤫 pic.twitter.com/3NZt23h5QI
— Victor Jones Jr (@VictorJonesJr1) April 4, 2021
>> Husker 2022 athlete target Jaren Kanak posted some big-time track times recently.
10.6 laser 100 at 210 lbs⚡️ pic.twitter.com/g0TcS2J5LI
— ✞ Jaren Kanak ✞ (@KanakJaren) April 2, 2021
>> Take a look at 2023 offensive line prospect Olaus Alinen getting work in out in Connecticut.
6’7 315lbs 4⭐️OT class of 23’
Getting better everyday! @CoachJeffMoore @GridironImports pic.twitter.com/wgkrZsV2RB— Olaus Alinen (@alinen_olaus) April 4, 2021
ICYMI
>> The Husker defense has confidence and a clear path forward this spring writes Derek Peterson.
>> Husker baseball has a share of first place after taking two out of three against Illinois over the weekend.
>> Check out the photo gallery from the men’s gymnastics team taking second place at the Big Ten Championships.
>> Mario Verduzco has a goal in mind for Adrian Martinez this fall. Get that and the rest of the practice notes here.
>> Nebraska basketball landed a commitment from 2021 Lithuanian center Oleg Kojenets on Monday.
>> True freshman Gabe Ervin is working himself into the running back mix (Premium) with his work this spring.
>> The decision to return to school was pretty easy (Premium) for wide receiver Levi Falck.
