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.
We often hear from coaches who are rebuilding programs that they need to overhaul the culture in the program. We certainly heard that a lot from Coach Scott Frost as he and his staff went to work on restoring the Nebraska program. Through the first few full recruiting classes it definitely feels like there is a premium on finding players with the right mentality.
Last signing day, Frost commented on how important off field traits are. Finding players that are tough, winners and love the game matter.
“You can evaluate kids from afar by watching highlight tape and watching game tape and I think we have people on our staff that are really good at evaluating the talent,” Frost said. “What is harder is to go into the high school and see which kids are the type of kids who are going to fight through anything and that will play football anytime anywhere and just love the game and love to compete. We need more of those guys. I think we landed a bunch of them in this class. I want guys that want to be around the team all the time, that want to be around the game all the time and that are going to fight for what they want no matter what. It really comes down to toughness and love for football.”
The Huskers are hitting their mark of adding players that meet that criteria. The most recent Husker commit definitely fits the mold. Linebacker Mikai Gbayor is described as a player that can be a future captain in Lincoln. His high school coach relayed a story of how he asked current players about the level of work ethic already in Lincoln. Tight end Thomas Fidone has made comments about how he wanted to find a team that worked hard on and off the field. That mattered to him in the process because that’s what he likes to do.
Building a roster full of players that embrace the work required to become a good program has many benefits. The biggest one might be that it sets an expectation for all players. When you enter the program, you know that hard work is required. It’s a lot easier to have a team identity of being tough when you identify the right guys on the recruiting trail.
Nebraska has several players at each position group who can be described as grinders. Not all were recruited by this staff. As the program tries to round the corner it’s going to take a group effort. Nebraska has routinely out recruited teams in the Big Ten West on paper that they finish behind in the standings. Maybe those intangibles are what’s needed to take a few steps forward.
Recruit Watch
>> Over the next few years you will hear a lot about Bellevue West wideout Dae’vonn Hall. The 2024 prospect got his first offer on Tuesday and it was from Iowa.
Blessed to receive a scholarship offer from the University of Iowa! #Swarm 🐤 pic.twitter.com/Q1k40p4q62
— Daevonn Hall (@DaevonnHall) September 8, 2020
>> Texas wide receiver Eric McAlister will be revealing his college announcement on Friday.
I will be committing this Friday @…. 🤐
— Eric Mcalister (@EricMcalister9) September 8, 2020
ICYMI
>> The Huskers released their latest personalized video and logo for a player. This time Wan’Dale Robinson got the honor.
went through some tragedies, i made it out to make it right.. pic.twitter.com/onR7aCmvGh
— Wan’Dale Robinson (@wanda1erobinson) September 8, 2020
>> Brandon Vogel has notes from a chaotic Week 1 of college football.
>> Check out the former Huskers who made NFL rosters and when they play.
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.
