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 have made another addition to the offense.
Former Texas A&M running back Deondre Jackson will be transferring to Nebraska. He made that decision public on social media on Tuesday afternoon.
– Adversity only visits the strong, but stays forever with the weak. Let’s Go Nebraska !! #GBR 🌽🔴 pic.twitter.com/iUM93YccFW
— Deondre Jackson (@1Deondrejackson) January 11, 2022
The running back is the 10th transfer the Huskers have brought in this offseason. Jackson (5-11, 230) had three carries in five games during his two seasons with the Aggies. He did sit behind some talented backs. Most notably potential 2022 first-round NFL Draft pick Isaiah Spiller and Devon Achane.
Jackson did not have big production at his previous stop, but the Huskers did like him a lot in the 2020 recruiting class. The Huskers took two running backs that cycle, Sevion Morrison and Marvin Scott III. Neither running back is with the program anymore. Morrison is transferring to Kansas while Scott is headed to Florida Atlantic.
Jackson visited campus twice during his recruitment, that included a trip to Lincoln for the 2019 spring game. Tight ends coach Sean Beckton was involved with the recruitment of the Stone Mountain, Georgia, native. Coming out of high school, Jackson picked the Aggies over Nebraska, Tennessee, Clemson, Auburn and others. He committed to Texas A&M following a summer official visit. This latest transfer addition is another example of why it helps to keep relationships cordial even if a prospect picks another school.
Jackson is set to arrive in Nebraska this week. He has four years of eligibility remaining as he joins a fairly young group of running backs. The running back room at Nebraska is in an interesting place. Rahmir Johnson, Gabe Ervin, Jacquez Yant and Markese Stepp are scheduled to return. Freshman Emmett Johnson is set to join the team this summer. The leading returning rusher is Rahmir Johnson who tallied just 495 yards in the 2021 season. There isn’t a clear top dog in the running back room right now. It should be a priority this offseason to jumpstart a Nebraska running game that has sagged in recent years.
There is another unresolved piece to the running back puzzle at Nebraska. Coach Scott Frost hasn’t hired a running backs coach yet. Since the team fired running backs coach Ryan Held the Huskers have lost Morrison and Scott to the transfer portal. The program has brought in two running backs without naming a running backs coach. That’s an interesting strategy because it makes sense that the new coach would like some say in who is coming in. It’s unclear when the running back hire will be made. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of urgency to complete the staff before recruiting resumes later this week.
The Huskers have done a lot of work in the transfer portal this offseason. Pretty soon there will not be a position group that doesn’t have a new player coming in.
Recruit Watch
>> Nebraska offensive line coach Donovan Raiola is on the lookout for the next set of ballers on the offensive line.
Congratulations to Zach Wiegert on being selected into the CFB HOF! Wiegert is the seventh offensive lineman from the University of Nebraska to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Who’s next?#GBR /// #Pipeline pic.twitter.com/QOPfFK98qS
— Donovan Raiola (@DonovanRaiola) January 10, 2022
>> Class of 2024 athlete Ryan Wingo, out of St. Louis, picked up an offer from the Huskers.
Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Nebraska @CoachAdamCruz1 @SLUHfootball @HuskerFBNation @CoachChinander pic.twitter.com/RNwBRDsBT3
— Ryan Wingo (@_Ryanwingo1) January 8, 2022
>> Finland-born offensive lineman Olaus Alinen was re-offered by the new Duke coaching staff.
Grateful to be re-offered by Duke University! @TrueBlueTrooper @LoomisFootball @GridironImports pic.twitter.com/E0BLT0qhh1
— Olaus Alinen (@alinen_olaus) January 11, 2022
>> Transfer defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo released a top four that does not include Nebraska.
Thank you to every school that I have talked to but I would like to focus on these 4 schools @RazorbackFB @USC_FB @LSUfootball @OU_Football pic.twitter.com/T1tVGgFkZr
— mekhi wingo (@WingoMekhi) January 11, 2022
ICYMI
>> I gave you some early Husker targets to know (Premium) for the 2023 recruiting class.
>> The red-hot Illini present a big challenge for the Huskers as Jacob Padilla writes.
>> The defensive line is up next for Steve Marik in his scoring the 2022 Huskers series.
>> Nebraska’s Alexis Markowski was named national freshman of the week on Tuesday.
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.
