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.
Competition is key as Nebraska football tries to regain championship status as a program. News came out on Sunday that graduate transfer wide receiver Kanawai Noa would be join the Huskers. Building a culture of competition is important for Coach Scott Frost and his staff. This is something defensive coordinator Erik Chinander spoke about at the end of spring practice.
“I think we've embraced the attitude where I tell those guys in the last meeting we ever have, ‘I'm going on the road and I am trying to replace you,’” Chinander explained. “Everybody in this room. Period. Your job is to teach the new guys how to take your job and know they can't do it.' I think Mo Barry and some of those DBs are embracing that job. 'I'm going to teach you how to take my job, bud, but you can't do it. You can't outplay me. You can't outwork me.' That's a huge step in the right direction for us."
Noa fills a need that Nebraska has coming into the 2019 season. The team doesn’t have enough wide receivers that they can rely on as they build the offense around quarterback Adrian Martinez.
What are some of the other positions we can keep an eye for grad transfers now that wide receiver may be settled?
There could still be a need at outside linebacker since there are a lot of questions about that position. If a quality offensive lineman comes on the transfer market, I’m sure the staff would take a hard look. Running back is an emerging position of need given the questions surrounding the potential 2019 contributors. Cornerback has been a position of interest from fans but corner may now be a focus for the 2020 recruiting cycle instead of looking for immediate help.
It’s unclear if any of those positions will ultimately see an addition before fall but we do know that the emerging team culture of competition would welcome and embrace it.
Recruit Watch
>> Major 2021 outside linebacker target Travion Ford visited Oklahoma over the weekend. Ford is part of another stellar group of prospects from St. Louis in 2021.
Really enjoyed myself today @OU_Football. @LincolnRiley @CoachThibbs @Annie_OUFB showed me and my family a lot of love💯 I’ll definitely be back‼️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 #Sooners #OUDNA #Boomersooners pic.twitter.com/5UiuCQd7I7
— Travion Ford ® (@Tre_Got_Skills) May 11, 2019
>> Randolph Kpai, a 2021 linebacker target for Nebraska, picked up an offer from Minnesota.
https://twitter.com/d_kpai/status/1126583418379280390
>> Huskers running back signee Rahmir Johnson won the 100m and 200m dash at the Division E track meet. He also helped his team win the relays.
.@HuskerFBNation commit @rahmir_johnson leads @BergenCatholic to Division E Bergen County title with wins in the 100- and 200-meter dashes https://t.co/3saBi7HQJx
— JJ Conrad (@JJ_Conrad) May 12, 2019
ICYMI
>> Nebraska basketball picked up a commitment this weekend when French forward Yvan Ouedraogo joined the class.
>> Jacob Padilla took a look at what walk-ons that deserve a scholarship on the football team.
>> Want to know more about Nebraska’s incoming junior college guards? Let Scottsbluff alumnus Dru Kuxhausen fill you in.
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.
