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 Twitter. It tackles the topic of recruiting rankings.
Theo wants to know if we should put as much stock into recruiting rankings for the class of 2022 with limited evaluation?
Should we mostly throw the recruiting rankings out the window this year based on the limited evaluations that will have been done up until now?
— Theo (@EasyEarlyGoal) May 9, 2021
This question is interesting. One big way that fans can identify with whether or not a recruiting class is good is the rankings. When taken over time the recruiting rankings give you a good picture of a team’s overall ability to bring in talent. It, of course, doesn’t tell you how well a school develops talent. It also can’t account for how well a team identifies players that fit their system and culture.
Still, with camp season looming on June 1, it’s going to be very important for the Nebraska coaching staff to see and work with prospects. Defensive coordinator Erik Chinander explained that a few weeks ago.
“I think that’s going to be big,” Chinander said. “I mean, there’s a big trust factor right now, obviously. High school coaches trusting us and us trusting high school coaches. It’s important to see is a guy really 6-foot-5 or is he going to walk in here and be 6-foot-1. But also, just trying to find out what that guy is all about. Can you do it over the phone and Zoom? To some degree but I don’t know if you’ll ever really figure out what somebody is all about until you shake their hand, put your eyes on them and get a chance to talk to the person.”
Since we are going to get more evaluations starting this summer for the 2022 class, things should get caught up. As for 2022 prospects, they will have the opposite situation that the 2021 group had. There will be a later surge this year in evaluations. That might cause rankings to shift down the road. I could see prospects and then teams making big moves in the rankings once we get to the final rankings at the end of the cycle.
The 2021 class got a lot of early evaluation. Players were able to make a move in the rankings before the shutdowns started last March but then kept getting better (or worse) without much change to rankings. I should say it was much harder to change those rankings because there was a gap in being able to evaluate players on the camp circuit. Events like the US All-America Game were canceled which also helps fuel rankings changes.
So yes, I would say to not hold on so tight to recruiting rankings for now. That does not mean throw them out completely. By the time we get to signing day in December and then again in February, things should be straightened out in terms of evaluations.
Recruit Watch
>> Louisiana defensive back target Jordan Allen committed to Miami over the weekend.
— Jordan “LOCKDOWN” Allen (@jordanallen2022) May 10, 2021
>> North Dakota athlete Carson Hegerle is excited to get to Lincoln this summer.
Had a great conversation with @coach_frost last night! Excited to get down there and visit in June! @HuskerFBNation @NEB_Recruiting pic.twitter.com/ACS0Zpj7Hs
— Carson Hegerle (@CarsonHegerle) May 10, 2021
>> Nebraska defensive back signee Malik Williams is getting ready for state track.
State 13-15 @Carrollton_High. IF YOU WANNA SEE THIS IN PERSON COME 🏃💨 #STATE @TrackBuford @BufordHS @Coach_Davis22 pic.twitter.com/hkJeBJnz4b
— Malik Williams (@malik112201) May 9, 2021
ICYMI
>> In Derek Peterson’s latest column he ponders if Nebraska needs to look into the transfer portal for another quarterback.
>> Former Husker Brenden Jaimes says he is ready to play wherever for the Chargers.
>> Nebraska wideout Jamie Nance entered the transfer portal on Mother’s Day.
>> The Nebraska Preps Postgame Show was joined by Thomas Viglianco to discuss a range of topics.
