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 is something that I’ve been kicking around in my own head. It comes from Twitter user @fullbacktrap. They want to know how offensive line portal recruiting connects to quarterback recruiting. There is a lot in this question so let’s dive in.
What needs to happen with the O-Line in the portal from a success standpoint next season and how could that influence other transfers at the skill positions and with QBs
— Fullbacktrap (@fullbacktrap) December 27, 2021
There are two separate questions here that are both good. The Huskers need a good amount of success in offensive line recruiting to help the 2022 season. A big topic when spring ball rolls around is going to be how the offensive line is improving. The line not only underperformed in the 2021 season but regressed significantly.
By the end of the season, a lot of conversation was generated about the offensive coordinator hire. That ended up being Mark Whipple who brings a lot of experience to Lincoln. The most important hire made this offseason is Donovan Raiola.
How he recruits and re-shapes this offensive line will be big. It will go a long way to determining how the season goes for Nebraska in 2022. There really shouldn’t be any spots on the line that are locks to go to anyone at this point. Everyone should be battling this spring in healthy competition. That allows the cream to rise to the top.
The other part of the question is interesting too. What is happening with Nebraska trying to upgrade the offensive line does have influence over other positions. That makes sense to me. I’m not sure how much a wide receiver will be monitoring the offensive line developments. A running back could have some questions. The big one is quarterback. The Huskers struggled all season protecting quarterback Adrian Martinez last season. A potential new quarterback will want to know how that will be fixed. The new potential quarterback will have other questions. The direction of the offensive with a new coordinator will be top of mind. How will that works with a coach who has been heavily involved in the offense his whole career?
The thing that makes all this tricky is that it’s all happening at the same time. The Huskers already have one portal offensive lineman on the way. The team is looking for at least one more this offseason. Quarterback portal recruiting has been ongoing this offseason. Nebraska needs to get someone in place before the semester starts Jan. 18. There are a lot of puzzle pieces that need to be slid into place at once for the Huskers.
Then the work begins to get updated systems in place on offense. Coach Scott Frost has a lot of work ahead of him to reach a bowl game for the first time in his tenure at Nebraska.
Recruit Watch
>> Nebraska portal wide receiver target Tyrese Chambers is returning to Florida International.
Gods Plan > Yours.
I want to thank all the schools who
offered me a scholarship while in the
transfer portal after a month of
praying & talking it over with my
family I would like to announce I will
be withdrawing my name & returning
to FIU for the 2022 season! #PawsUp🐾— 𝙏𝙮𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚 “𝘽𝙞𝙜𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚” 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙨 (@_BigTime0) December 27, 2021
>> Nebraska legacy wide receiver Chris Brooks Jr. picked up an offer from Wisconsin on Tuesday.
Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Wisconsin! @BadgerFootball @CoachWhitted @SLUHfootball @Rivals_Clint @AllenTrieu @McNamaraRivals pic.twitter.com/i6iL9bQd6u
— Chris Brooks Jr. (@chris_brooksjr2) December 28, 2021
ICYMI
>> This week on the Straight Up Breakdown podcast we put together a ‘best of’ 2021 put ‘em on blast.
>> Jacob Padilla has a round-up (Premium) on the 2021 Metro Holiday Tournament quarterfinals.
>> The Nebraska women’s basketball team want to continue having fun and success in the Big Ten.
>> Jacob Padilla has five thoughts (Premium) on the Bishop Neumann Holiday Tournament.
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.
