Nebraska Recruiting: Have Huskers’ Needs Changed After Three Games?

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 Huskers are winding down the 2021 recruiting class. Overall, the class is in good shape with most needs being filled. The Huskers did most of their work early in the cycle, mostly during the summer. Since the 2020 football season has started, the Huskers have just one commitment. Defensive end Jailen Weaver was the lone verbal pledge of the season. He committed on Halloween.

Last month, Scott Frost was asked about the state of the 2021 recruiting class.

“I feel good about the class especially given the circumstances,” Frost said. “Our best chance to get kids is to get them to Lincoln and let them experience game day. It’s been challenging to recruit a whole class without allowing any of those guys to come on official or unofficial visits to Lincoln. We are probably as far away from the average recruit that we bring in as anyone in the country.

“I feel great about the guys we got. I think we are building another really good class. Probably still looking for a couple more defensive lineman. Probably after that it’s just best available. Probably another linebacker or defensive back. We are going to keep working on the guys we are talking to and try and finish it out the right way.”

The remaining needs for the Huskers coming into the season were defensive line and linebacker. Like Frost alluded to, a game-changing defensive back would be welcome as well. Now that we have seen the Huskers in action for three games, do those needs change at all?

Through this cycle the Huskers have been content to take their time recruiting defensive linemen. The team is confident in the returning group of players in Tony Tuioti’s group next season.

• Damion Daniels
• Deontre Thomas
• Keem Green
• Ty Robinson
• Casey Rogers
• Tate Wildeman
• Mosai Newsom
• Jordon Riley
• Nash Hutmacher
• Marquis Black

Still, I don’t think the Huskers look to change course. I expect the team to take two more defensive linemen in this class. Part of the reasoning is simple. They can afford to redshirt and develop players at the position moving forward. That way they can “get old and stay old” like Iowa and Wisconsin seem to do on the lines.

It also doesn’t appear like the need for one more linebacker has changed after what we’ve seen the first few games. There are solid players at inside and outside linebacker returning next season. More depth is always needed to field a solid defense. We’ve seen this year already the value of Nebraska’s increased depth on defense.

The real wild card down the stretch of building the class is what the position of a “best player available.” You can make the argument the Huskers could use a top-flight cornerback. The team is young at wide receiver and has good ones committed in this class, one more wideout wouldn’t hurt.

The answers to these questions and more will be revealed soon as we are just one month away from the early signing period.

Recruit Watch

>> Husker defensive back commit Lardarius Webb posted his highlights today.

Check out my highlight – https://t.co/IH0p1D0qcv

— 𝕃𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕦𝕤 𝕎𝕖𝕓𝕓 𝕁𝕣. (@LardariusJr) November 18, 2020

>> Husker offensive line commit Branson Yager also posted his highlights on Wednesday.

GHS will forever hold a spot in my heart, I am so thankful for the last 4 years of my life. I am so grateful for the coaches that believed in me. To my teammates. Thank you for standing by my side. Onto the next #GBR https://t.co/gtG5JwRVai

— Branson Yager (@BransonYager) November 18, 2020

>> Husker legacy and 2022 defensive back target James Monds III posted a unique edit the team did for him.

🌽 ☠️….@NEB_Recruiting pic.twitter.com/z12PXvbYed

— 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬 III ✞ (@MondsJames) November 18, 2020

ICYMI

>> The November issue of Hail Varsity is out and hitting mailboxes and newsstands this week.

>> Setting the tone and starting hot is an emphasis for the Husker defense.

>> Cam Jurgens’ consistency remains key for Nebraska’s offensive attack.

>> It’s time to get weird in the latest episode of the Mind Your Own podcast.

>> The Hail Varsity staff is back to answer your questions in the mailbag including tackling fixing each part of the offense.

>> The start date is a moving target as the Husker women await a Big Ten hoops schedule.

>> The Big Ten announced a men’s basketball schedule with the Huskers opening conference play at Wisconsin.