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.
Wednesday was a big day for Nebraska football recruiting. Council Bluffs tight end Thomas Fidone committing to the Huskers is an enormous win on the recruiting trail. It’s always great to land one of the top 50 players in the nation. Fidone fits the offense perfectly with his blend of size (6-5, 220), speed, agility and hands.
Beyond what he can bring on the field, landing a prospect of his stature makes other players take notice. Recruits can’t help but be curious about what the Huskers have cooking in Lincoln to make a player that was so heavily recruited pick them. We saw that right away after Fidone’s announcement.
Defensive end Tiaoalii Savea is a 2021 four-star lineman out in Las Vegas. He noticed the move.
#GBR‼️ https://t.co/8xMU1ReeAa
— T. Savea (@TiaoaliiS) August 27, 2020
So did the No. 1 outside linebacker in the 2022 recruiting class Devon Jackson. The Omaha Burke star is being pursued by most every school in the nation.
— Devon Jackson (@DevontheJet402) August 27, 2020
The No. 1 player in Iowa for the 2022 recruiting cycle, Xavier Nwankpa, also perked up at Fidone’s commitment. The 6-2, 180-pound athlete holds an offer from Nebraska too.
@ThomasFidone 👀? https://t.co/9M1jZykup6
— Xavier “X” Nwankpa (@xaviernwankpa01) August 27, 2020
The players already in the current recruiting class certainly understand how big it is for Fidone to join them. Fidone’s future quarterback Heinrich Haarberg was among the first to react to the news.
LETSSSS GOOO!! @ThomasFidone 🌽🌽❤️❤️ 🎈 🎈🎈 pic.twitter.com/gXmA7PtKXV
— Heinrich Haarberg (@HKHaarberg10) August 27, 2020
Fellow pass catching commit Latrell Neville has been recruiting Fidone to join him in Lincoln since the day he announced his own commitment to Nebraska. He was rightfully excited about the commitment.
double trouble headed to the Big Ten! @ThomasFidone 🥰
— S E V E N (@LatrellNeville7) August 27, 2020
It wasn’t just the recruits that were excited to see Fidone’s name officially be placed in the commitment column. Sophomore sensation Wan’Dale Robinson is ready to go to work with the tight end.
welcome to the fam! ready to work with you 💪🏾 https://t.co/SnlE9T0BkB
— Wan’Dale Robinson (@wanda1erobinson) August 27, 2020
Omar Manning, one of Nebraska’s other recent huge wins on the recruiting trail, sees what the excitement from the young players. Manning likes what he sees from them.
https://twitter.com/TheOmarManning/status/1298977395651866624
There is no denying the buzz around Fidone’s commitment. The impact will be felt on the recruiting trail right away and down the line on the team. It’s good to remember that some of Nebraska’s signature wins on the trail have all come under Scott Frost. Having Robinson, Manning and Fidone all together is great. So is adding in Turner Corcoran and Bryce Benhart who were huge wins on the offensive side of the football.
The future looks bright for Frost’s high-powered attack.
Recruit Watch
>> Wide receiver target Antonio Gates Jr. picked up an offer from Iowa State.
Blessed to receive an offer from Iowa state university ‼️‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/ZIGkMbxj0z
— AntonioGatesJr‼️‼️‼️ (@AntoniogatesJr1) August 25, 2020
>> Husker offensive line commit Branson Yager will have his game livestreamed this week if any Husker fans want to check him out in action.
https://twitter.com/BransonYager/status/1299025464741126150
— Branson Yager (@BransonYager) August 27, 2020
ICYMI
>> If you want to know what makes Thomas Fidone such a special player (Premium) just ask his coaches.
>> Eight Nebraska football players filed a lawsuit against the Big Ten on Thursday morning.
>> Kearney Catholic high school football season is finally here and Derek Peterson has the details.
>> Creighton Prep is excited to play football this season and begin their journey by facing off against rival Omaha Westside.
>> Tom’s Time takes a look at the 1993 recruiting class which was a big hit though many focused on the one miss.
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.
