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 floodgates are getting ready to open up. June is going to be a very busy recruiting month. Those are two sentiments that became popular sayings as soon as it looked like the NCAA would announce the end to the dead period. The dead period ends on May 31. After that, schools can resume hosting visitors including having official visitors for the 2022 recruiting class.
The other big thing that will start happening in early June is that schools will start having camps. That’s going to ramp up the evaluation of players for the 2022 class and beyond. Everyone can see that activity is going to pick up significantly next month. That includes Bellevue West coach Mike Huffman.
He’s got a pair of the hottest recruits in the region with tight ends Micah Riley and Kaden Helms. Huffman also coaches a pair of emerging prospects. Offensive lineman Henry Rickels and running back LJ Richardson are getting more looks.
Huffman believes the dominoes are going to start falling at the end of June with commitments. Then the trickle-down effect will begin. So many schools have the same players at the top of their boards. Those kids will make their college choices after taking official visits. All high school prospects feel the squeeze. Spots are more limited in part because of the transfer portal.
“That next tier of players, like Henry Rickels or LJ Richardson, then their offers are going to fly in. You can’t wait like you used to,” Huffman said. “Xavier Nwankpa and Kaden Proctor, the kids from Southeast Polk, they could probably wait. It’s different when you got Alabama offering. The rest of these cats they’re going to have to make their choices because there’s not as many spots out there. I think that’s going to open things up for our kids.”
If all these things happen within June, it brings up another interesting point. The timing of so much of this will be compressed. If there is a mad dash for prospects to commit then coaches around the country have to reevaluate their recruiting boards quickly. At the same time, they’ll get new information on prospects. They will be working with them for the first time in over a year at various camps. June will also be when the next wave of scholarship offers go out from schools too.
The juggling act will be in full effect this summer on the recruiting trail. It won’t just be from the schools point of view. Some players will have to figure out which official visits are the best use of their time. Others will have to make the same choices about camps. In one month it’ll be hard to hit several school’s camps and many mega-camps.
After the summer it will be interesting to look back at what all this produced. Surely there will be some unexpected outcomes from a busy summer of recruiting.
Recruit Watch
>> Priority 2022 recruit Jaren Kanak picked up another Big Ten offer when Penn State offered him a scholarship on Wednesday.
Blessed to have received an offer from Penn State University!! #WeAre @PennStateFball pic.twitter.com/mnlaK8RkH0
— ✞ Jaren Kanak ✞ (@KanakJaren) May 12, 2021
>> Check out the highlights for 2022 Lincoln Lutheran lineman Jack L’Heureux.
Love playing both sides of the line. Check out these highlights from this year. #pipeline 💪🏻 https://t.co/dekqbYUxvo
— Jack L’Heureux #78 (@lheureux_jack) May 13, 2021
>> Former 5-star defensive back recruit and high school teammate of Deontai Williams, Tyreke Johnson will leave Ohio State after entering the transfer portal.
Officially in the portal.
— tyreke johnson (@Im_showtime_) May 12, 2021
ICYMI
>> Move-in day is fast approaching (Premium) for Nebraska volleyball’s vaunted 2021 recruiting class.
>> Nebraska football released more performance and strength index numbers.
>> Derek Peterson is taking stock of Nebraska’s quarterback room (Premium) following spring ball.
>> The Hail Varsity staff is back to answer your questions in the mailbag including just how good the defense can be in the 2021 season.
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.
