A handful of recruits committed to Nebraska by the end of a dizzying Father’s Day. All of their recruitments to Lincoln came through the summer’s camp process.
This signals a new phase in recruiting for Matt Rhule’s coaching staff. Nebraska started recruiting nationally ranked and high-profile recruits. They worked off national connections, largely in Texas, to cast a wide net and build relationships. That’s materialized in six 3-star commits and two 4-star commitments in the 2024 recruiting class. Typically, Rhule and his staff like to see recruits in person. They want to see first-hand what film can’t convey. Rhule’s history of building NFL draft picks includes finding overlooked recruits and developing intangibles not noticed by others. Right now, camps are the best way to show those hidden traits.
The first camp offers came out of the two Texas satellite camps. Then came the camps back in Lincoln, leading up to last week’s Friday Night Lights camp. Christian Tutson, a 2025 receiver, Ja’Kyrian Turner, a 2025 athlete, Gavin Hoffman, a 2024 tight end, VanKeith Brown, a 2024 receiver, Romel Stevens, a 2025 receiver, Joshua Moses, a 2025 offensive lineman, Derrek Brown Jr., a 2024 linebacker, Charlie Woleben, a 2025 edge rusher, Alex Manske, a 2025 quarterback, Landen Davidson, a 2024 offensive lineman, Jack Lange, a 2025 offensive lineman, Tristan Johnson, a 2024 defensive lineman, Quinn Clark, a 2024 receiver, Joshua Williams, a 2025 offensive lineman, Rex Guthrie, a 2024 safety, and Bryson Hayes, a 2025 receiver, are among those offered. That doesn’t include the three latest commits (Callen Barta, Jake Peters and Braylen Prude) or in-state products like Bishop Neumann’s Conor Booth, a 2025 fullback, Omaha North’s Donovan Jones, a 2024 defensive back, Creighton Prep’s Michael Burnt, a 2024 tight end, and Elkhorn North’s Chase Loftin, a 2025 tight end.
The full list of offered camp participants includes multiple linemen, ideally the anchors to Nebraska’s future. There’s also fast, athletic skill-position recruits all over the board. A few quarterbacks garnered attention and will remain on the Huskers’ board going forward. The featured fullback camp also shows a sharpened focus to the offense’s needs and a keen eye for the various skills needed to play fullback.
Nebraska’s coaches worked intensely in camp, with Rhule often working directly with campers. Coaching staff members sometimes pulled campers aside afterwards to exchange information. The full impact of the first Nebraska football camps under Matt Rhule won’t be known until years from now when the youngest campers are signing letters of intent and 2024 recruits appear on mock drafts.
Recruit Watch
Ohifame Ijeboi, a 3-star 2024 running back Nebraska recently offered after a strong camp performance, committed to Minnesota on Sunday. His offer from the Huskers was his fourth from a Big Ten program.
Nebraska is still firmly in the top five for 4-star defensive lineman Dominic Kirks from Cleveland. The Huskers offered him last month and now stand among Kentucky, Pitt, Wisconsin and Washington for his commitment. Brandon Baker, the No. 1 offensive tackle in the country out of Mater Dei High School, included Nebraska in his list of top 10 schools. Baker’s enjoyed his multiple visits to Lincoln, likes the coaching staff and Nebraska’s history for building some of the nation’s best offensive linemen.
BREAKING: Five-Star OT Brandon Baker is down to 🔟 Schools!
The 6’5 290 OT from Ontario, CA is ranked as the No. 1 OT in the ‘24 Class
Where Should He Go?👇🏽https://t.co/ZyVPyAkpcR pic.twitter.com/LR8k6cUdaN
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 15, 2023
Omaha Westside linebacker Christian Jones received an offer from Texas A&M during the weekend while camping at College Station. The 4-star 2025 recruit’s profile will likely continue to rise.
ICYMI
>> Nebraska’s football team isn’t the only one welcoming commits. Lincoln Lutheran libero Keri Leimbach announced her commitment to join the Nebraska volleyball team earlier this weekend. She’s one of the top recruits in the 2025 class.
>> A change on Amy Williams’ coaching staff allowed Julian Assibey to join the Huskers as an assistant coach. The former assistant at Florida joined Williams’ staff ultimately after a long wait for a rental car in Dallas brought Assibey and Williams together.
>> Among a hectic week of camps in Lincoln came the first ever Nebraska fullback camp. Some native Nebraskans took in the camp with hopes of joining the fraternal order of fullbacks in Husker history.
