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 2020 football season will be different in a lot of ways. Adjusting to life amid the COVID-19 pandemic is taking a toll on how sports are being handled. These adjustments have impacted sports at all levels. Take junior college football for example. The NJCAA voted in July to delay football until the spring. Practices will start on March 1 with the regular season running March through May.
This is all uncharted territory in many regards but there are still so many questions to be answered. Eligibility will certainly be a major issue to sort out. President of the NJCAA Football Coaches Association Joe Forchtner spoke with Hail Varsity about this last month.
“I think a kid we were planning on being a 3-for-2, if he signs out this year he’d still be a 3-for-2, but if they signed out in December—dang, man, now you got me thinking—I think if they didn’t use a year they’d be a 4-for-3,” Forchtner said. “If they play in the spring it’s not going to change anything, they’re still going to use a season of competition. If they don’t, they won’t use a season of competition.”
Let’s set aside the big eligibility question for now. The Huskers sit with 14 commitments for the 2021 recruiting class. Which position groups make sense to add a junior college transfer? There isn’t a JUCO player in the class yet. The Huskers have leaned on JUCO recruiting under Coach Scott Frost. That included signing five last recruiting cycle.
Cornerback could be a position that they look to add a junior college player. The late addition of Nadab Joseph could play a factor here. If he pans out the Huskers might not need another veteran presence. Nebraska has been in touch with a few of the better JUCO corners in the 2021 recruiting class. Defensive backs coach Travis Fisher’s group is talented but inexperienced behind the top line players.
Held’s position group at running back is a possible landing spot for a JUCO prospect in this class. Once Dedrick Mills graduates the Huskers will be pretty young at the position. We might feel differently about the youth in the room after the 2020 season has played out. If a combination of Rahmir Johnson, Sevion Morrison, Marvin Scott, and Ronald Thompkins shows flashes this season it would help.
Pass rushers are always needed and will continue to be a focus until Nebraska gets more consistent pressure. If the team can land an impact transfer who can rush the passer, they will take him. In the end, I don’t see the team taking nearly as many JUCO players this cycle as they did last year. We are probably looking at one or two, if any.
Some of this will be fluid depending on attrition. How the season plays out with the development of the players on the roster matters too. In a season that will be unlike any other there aren’t many things that are set in stone.
Recruit Watch
>> LSU made the top three for tight end Michael Trigg. That would normally not make this space but it’s of note for what Trigg committing to LSU could mean for Thomas Fidone’s recruitment.
Top 3 🧑🏾🎤👀 @MarshallMcDuf14 @flyguyhuey5 @Coach_EdOrgeron @USCCoachHelton @CoachWMuschamp pic.twitter.com/1snMCgJGJW
— Trigg (@mtrigg_23) August 6, 2020
>> Treyaun Webb is a 2023 athlete from Florida who is already a major national recruit. Here he is squatting 500 pounds.
500 Today !! Ready For The Season !! pic.twitter.com/P3f9qGhZ73
— Treyaun Webb (@w_treyaun) August 6, 2020
ICYMI
>> I caught up with Norris tight end James Carnie who has seen interest from the Huskers increase significantly after a strong combine performance. (Premium)
>> Nebraska athletic director Bill Moos is confident that Nebraska will have ‘nice crowds’ this fall.
>> Derek Peterson has your fall camp primer with storylines, names and numbers to know.
>> A defensive development with long-ranging impact is the subject of the latest Tom’s Time.
>> There were lots and lots of Big Ten and Nebraska schedule questions in this week’s Hail Varsity mailbag.
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.
