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 latest edition of the Greg’s Guys list came out earlier today. It had some movement as a a few players that were on the July list committed during the month. Now that we are in August and fall camp has begun, it’s typically the time where the recruiting board is pretty big. It’s much different this season. The Huskers are in a spot where the team will likely only take 13-15 players in the 2021 recruiting cycle.
The class sits at nine right now after Illinois offensive lineman Valen Erickson committed to the team. There isn’t a deeper pool of players to pull from to look at who just missed the cut for the August list. So let’s switch things up.
Let’s take a look at three players for the 2023 recruiting class who will surely pop up on the Greg’s Guys list next cycle.
Quarterback Reese Mooney
The Louisiana signal-caller has been on the radar for over a year already. He took a self-guided visit to Nebraska for the spring game in May. Mooney (6-1, 190) is planning to return to Lincoln for a game in early September. That’s good for the Huskers since he’s set a commitment date of Sept. 15. The Huskers are battling Georgia Tech, Miami and others for his commitment.
Good work today. Season is close. @wyattdalton4 @denhamspringsFB @efrance23 @BrettBeard92 @CoachRFournier pic.twitter.com/kE74Heidv0
— Reese Mooney (@ReeseMooney1) July 26, 2021
Outside Linebacker Maverick Noonan
Elkhorn South star Maverick Noonan is a popular in-state player for the 2023 cycle. He’s been to Nebraska couple times this summer. Noonan was at the Huskers’ first practice of fall camp too.
Thanks @coach_frost for allowing me to come down and watch practice today pic.twitter.com/Pulrmzu3ZS
— Maverick Noonan (@MaverickNoonan) July 30, 2021
He just visited Iowa State and will be at Missouri recently as well. Noonan plays defensive end for his high school but the Huskers would have other plans for him.
“They are mainly just talking to me about outside linebacker,” Noonan said. “I talked with Coach Dawson about how he wants me to use me. Just the edge rusher type player so it’d be their outside linebacker.”
Noonan likes that fit in Nebraska’s scheme. The legacy recruit is taking his time with his recruitment but expect the Huskers to be in this until the end.
Defensive Back Watts McBride
The Huskers hosted the Iowa defender last week for an unofficial visit before fall camp began. Watts was a player that picked up an offer from Nebraska this summer after a good performance at camp. He enjoyed the return trip to Lincoln.
“While I was there I learned a lot about the academics,” McBride said. “I watched film of players Coach Fisher has coached and learned more about what it’s like to play for him. Overall, I got to spend a lot of time with the coaches and see what it’s like to play at Nebraska.”
Look for McBride to be back in Lincoln for a game this fall.
Recruit Watch
>> Nebraska 2024 quarterback target Dylan Raiola is back to the football grind.
Back to the grind💪🏾!!! https://t.co/YXJ7PYqUCk
— Dylan Raiola (@RaiolaDylan) August 3, 2021
>> Recent addition to the Greg’s guys list Watts McBride is excited about the season being near.
4 weeks away ⏰… First day of camp today! Let’s get it!💥💥💥 #rollwash pic.twitter.com/JXxwleGBLV
— watts mcbride (@wattsmcbride21) August 2, 2021
ICYMI
>> In the latest Straight Up Breakdown podcast my guest was Mirin Fader author of GIANNIS: The Improbable Rise of an NBA MVP.
>> Pheldarius Payne is poised to play a big role for the Huskers this fall after a healthy offseason. (Premium)
>> Lifelong friend C.J. Wilcher and Quaran McPherson are making good impressions early on at Nebraska.

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.