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.
If you haven’t been reading the “Scoring the Huskers” series that started back up last week, you are missing out. Derek Peterson has been scoring Nebraska’s position groups on a 10-point scale based on where things stand right now. Wednesday’s group was the wide receivers and tight ends.
That piece got me thinking about a storyline that emerged during the 2020 recruiting cycle. And that storyline was directly caused by the level of play we saw on Saturdays. As the 2020 cycle went on, it became more clear that the Huskers needed help at the wide receiver position. That was something that was talked about on this site often. Nebraska signed five wideouts during the December signing period confirming that notion.
The changes for that position didn’t stop in December. Nebraska also got a new offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach after the team and Troy Walters mutually parted ways. That paved the way for Matt Lubick to assume that role.
Lubick inherits an unproven group of wideouts that are bursting with potential. After so much talk about the group underachieving in 2019 there should be high motivation to flip the script in 2020. Looking at the group on paper there is a lot to be excited about the scholarship group.
- Zavier Betts (FR)
- Alante Brown (FR)
- Marcus Fleming (FR)
- Will Nixon (FR)
- Omar Manning (JR)
- Jamie Nance (rFR)
- Darien Chase (rFR)
- Demariyon Houston (rFR)
- Wan’Dale Robinson (SO)
- Jaevon McQuitty (JR)
- JD Spielman (SR)
We know that Kade Warner will factor in based on last season as long as he is healthy. There is no reason that Nebraska shouldn’t have a capable receiving corps in the 2020 season. One reason for that as mentioned is the potential of this group. In retooling the room on the fly, Nebraska now has more variation in the types of receiver on the roster.
Chase, Betts, McQuitty and Manning can win you 50-50 balls on the outside. Fleming, Nance and Houston are burners. Brown, Robinson, Nixon and Spielman can play Duck-R or line up in the slot. Five receivers in 2020 and having double-digit scholarship wideouts will have an impact on the 2021 class. I wouldn’t expect Nebraska to skip recruiting pass-catchers altogether. Avoiding a hole this cycle for scholarship distribution purposes is smart. But the team can afford to be selective, really pushing for a prospect or two that they really like. Receiver won’t have the same laser focus by fans in the 2021 cycle but it will be interesting to track who the staff covets.
Recruit Watch
>> Priority 2021 4-star outside linebacker TJ Bollers shared the photos from his trip to Nebraska’s Junior Day last weekend.
Had a great time this weekend at Nebraska with my dad and Lil Bro‼‼Thank you to everyone that helped set this up!! #GBR #Blackshirts ☠ @NEB_Recruiting @CoachChinander @HuskerFBNation pic.twitter.com/j9frn2Vn3i
— TJ Bollers (@tj35ballin) January 29, 2020
>> Husker 2021 offensive line commit Henry Lutovsky is moving some serious weight these days.
645×1 pic.twitter.com/vb1UAAIzpL
— Henry Lutovsky I ⁵⁹ (@Luto_72) January 29, 2020
>> Recent Huskers visitor Ru’Quan Buckley received an offer from Indiana on Tuesday night. The defensive lineman continues to see his stock rise.
I'm very blessed and thankful to say that I have received another offer from Indiana university thank you @MHart2032 #GoHoosiers pic.twitter.com/dp0k8saEdy
— Ru'Quan Buckley (@Darealruquan) January 29, 2020
ICYMI
>> Derek Peterson had three thoughts on Nebraska basektball’s latest loss. (Premium)
>> The Hail Varsity staff is back to answer your questions in the mailbag including taking a shot at predicting Nebraska versus Ohio State headlines.
>> An offensive drought tore the Huskers apart in a 79-68 loss to Michigan Tuesday night.
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.
