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, well, a lot of people. It tackles the topic of having visitors on campus for the spring game this year.
What is the benefit to having recruits come out to the spring game if they can’t meet with coaches?
It’s important to set the stage of how we got to the point. Recruits are attending spring games around the country as fans. College football has been in an NCAA-mandated dead period for over a year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. That dead period has lasted so long that prospects took matters into their own hands. Players and their parents starting doing “self-guided” tours of campuses. That allowed them to get a feel for a school beyond what they saw on virtual visits and Zoom.
Yet they couldn’t meet with or have any contact with coaches during those visits. Then fan attendance restrictions started loosening around the country. It happened just in time for spring games. Fans are allowed to attend the Red-White Spring Game on May 1 at 50% capacity. That means that recruits can attend too as long as they buy a ticket to the game. Keep in mind that they still can’t have contact with coaches or tour the athletic facilities.
Why should recruits come to the game then?
Well, it is important for prospects to see the team play up close. It’s one thing for a quarterback to hear about how the team coaches and uses the position. It gives a different feel when you actually see it for yourself even if it’s a scrimmage. Players can also get a feel for how coaches interact with their players. Prospects will also see how the players interact with each other. As players make decisions on where to take official visits in June all those data points matter.
The other big thing here is a benefit for both Nebraska and the prospects. We don’t know how many fans will attend in person at Memorial Stadium this weekend. We can assume that it will be among the most fans to attend a spring game this year. Prospects have heard about the passion of Husker fans while being recruited by coach Scott Frost. Seeing it in person as a large group of fans see the team in person for the first time in over a year will feel cool.
This year’s spring game will be different in a lot of ways. Even the way that recruits are visiting will have a new twist. We’ll have recaps throughout the weekend and next week on what recruits thought about making the trip to Lincoln.
Recruit Watch
>> Chicago offensive lineman Valen Erickson announced he will be attending the spring game.
I will be attending Nebraska spring game!!! #GBR 🌽☠️🎈@GregAustin2717 @CoachLubick @coach_frost @SeanDillonNU pic.twitter.com/ASzPO9LLjM
— Valen Erickson (@ValenErickson) April 26, 2021
Erickson also released some updated film.
Full Junior SZN highlights👀🥞‼️
– https://t.co/1ZFhB9ZBhC— Valen Erickson (@ValenErickson) April 26, 2021
>> Nebraska North Dakota jumbo athlete Kelby Azure on Monday.
Full Junior SZN highlights👀🥞‼️
– https://t.co/1ZFhB9ZBhC— Valen Erickson (@ValenErickson) April 26, 2021
ICYMI
>> We’ve got a running list for you (Premium) on who is expected to visit for the Red-White Spring Game.
>> Derek Peterson is getting you ready for the spring game by looking at the spring storyline of where is Jaquez Yant.
>> Husker baseball took two-of-three from Michigan State and the team is now ranked.
>> The new additions to the Nebraska basketball staff are looking to make their mark during spring workouts.
>> In his weekly column Derek Peterson looked at a completely fake spring game roster to make a competitive game.
