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.
There are a lot of ways to build a successful program that is built for the long-run. Each school is different though. It can vary based on your conference, school history and the style of play that your coach is best suited to run. Over the years we have seen changes made to the Nebraska model. The school transitioned from Bill Callahan to Bo Pelini to Mike Riley and now to Scott Frost.
Despite different coaching styles over the years, there has been one constant when Nebraska is winning big and competing for championships: offensive line play.
“We can get offensive linemen. Nebraska is Pipeline U. Nobody had better offensive lines for 20 years than Nebraska had,” Frost said at Big Ten Media Days in 2018. “That hasn’t existed at Nebraska for a while. It’s not an overnight change, you have to rebuild The Pipeline but we’ve got the right guy in Greg Austin and the right strength coach in Zach Duval to make all that happen.”
During that same press conference, Frost said the word “formula” 12 times in an hour. Frost and Austin have gone to work on rebuilding Nebraska’s offensive line since arriving in Lincoln.
Here’s how many scholarship offensive linemen they’ve signed since their first full class:
| 2019 Class | 6 |
| 2020 Class | 2 |
| 2021 Class | 3 |
| Total | 11 |
It is in the Huskers’ DNA to have strong offensive lines. There has been a lot of talk about the overhaul Frost and quarterbacks coach Mario Verduzco have done to the quarterback room. They deserve credit for that. Yet, before Wisconsin or Iowa became ‘Offensive Line U,’ that distinction belonged to Nebraska.
If Nebraska wants to set itself up for long-lasting success, it will start with the offensive line. That’s the type of “Oregon speed meets Husker Power” concept that Frost wanted to marry upon first taking the job. Going into the 2020 season, it seems like Nebraska is on its way to building the type of depth, versatility and athleticism to make the offense go.
Brendan Jaimes, Matt Farniok and Cam Jurgens are locks to start this fall. Bryce Benhart is poised to take over the right tackle spot which will kick Farniok to right guard. The biggest battle on the offensive line will be at left guard. Boe Wilson and Trent Hixson have started games for Nebraska. Yet redshirt freshman Ethan Piper will have a real shot to start at the position. That competition will credit good depth for the Huskers no matter how it shakes out.
The offensive line powering Nebraska in 2020 and beyond can only help the program. Every other skills position player’s job is easier if the line is churning. There is a real possibility we see that in Memorial Stadium this fall.
Recruit Watch
>> Kilgore Community College wide receiver Jaylon Griffin committed to UCF on Sunday.
— Jaylon R Griffin (@TheJG__) June 21, 2020
>> Jonathan Jones, a 2021 defensive end from Texas, included the Huskers in his top five.
Thank you to all the schools that put time in recruiting me and with that being said these are my top 5 schools. @MHS_FB_Recruits #wawg #wawn pic.twitter.com/F6aLeCDdJH
— iamjonathanjones🦍🎒 (@They_callmejon) June 19, 2020
>> Nebraska tight end target Gunnar Helm picked up an offer from Iowa over the weekend.
Unreal! After an amazing conversation with @CoachBFerentz I am excited, and blessed beyond words to announce that I have received an offer from The University of Iowa! Thank you @HawkeyeFootball for the amazing opportunity! @CCNextLevelFB @sheridanswag pic.twitter.com/qXz9jfvkIo
— Gunnar Helm (@gunnar_helm) June 18, 2020
ICYMI
>> Florida linebacker Deshauwn Alleyne is keeping tabs (Premium) on the Huskers now that there is a spot available at inside linebacker for the 2021 class.
>> As Derek Peterson writes, Frost believes that Luke McCaffrey is ‘going to be ready.’
>> Buy or Sell has rolled into Ann Arbor to dissect the 2020 Michigan Wolverines football team.
>> Nebraska basketball landed a commitment from guard Elijah Wood on Friday.
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.
