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.
Nebraska football players are reporting back to Lincoln this week. Classes begin on Jan. 25 so the players are starting to file in to get school started up. Winter conditioning also begins soon. The team will get in the lab with head strength and conditioning coach Zach Duval to get physically prepared for the 2021 season.
It’s not just returning players coming this week. This recruiting cycle also includes a high number of early enrollees. There are 12 midyear enrollees heading to Nebraska from the 2021 recruiting class.
- QB Heinrich Haarberg
- OT Teddy Prochazka
- OL Henry Lutovksy
- OL Branson Yager
- TE Thomas Fidone
- TE James Carnie
- RB Gabe Ervin
- DL Ru’Quan Buckley
- LB Randolph Kpai
- LB Seth Malcom
- DB Marques Buford
- LB Chris Kolarevic (graduate transfer)
Many in this large group of early enrollees explained to Hail Varsity that they are excited to get to Lincoln. They are ready to work and help the team in any way they can. Defensive lineman Ru’Quan Buckley is ready to learn.
“I want to start my career fast and see what it’s like,” Buckley said. “If I didn’t early enroll it would take me more time to develop. I want to develop fast by watching the guys ahead of me so I can learn from them and be the best.”
Texas defensive back Marques Buford has made it to Lincoln and is excited to get started.
Husker Nation.. I’m home‼️☠️ #GBR
— Marques Buford Jr🐐 (@marques_buford) January 18, 2021
The other factor that plays a large role in this is the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic is still a big factor. Coach Scott Frost welcomes the increased number of early enrollees. He believes that could also be driving the high number of early enrollees.
“The way high schools are right now with COVID, I might be ready to get out of there, too, I don’t know,” Frost previously said. “I think for some, spring sports were a question mark and prom is probably a question mark and they’re probably tired of half-days in school and those types of things, but there’s just more and more of that happening too.
“Kids are ready to take the next step and move on. Kids that do early enroll get a chance to go through spring ball, get accustomed to college, get accustomed to the team, and that gives them a better opportunity to probably play early than if they showed up in June or July.”
We’ll see what type of impact the early enrollees can make on the Huskers in the upcoming season. There are many factors that will go into any of them being able to play right away. But we do know that several are giving themselves a chance to see snaps in 2021 by getting a head start on college life.
Recruit Watch
>> Tyson Ford, a 2022 defensive line target from St. Louis, committed to Notre Dame on Monday.
Blessed to be a Notre Dame Man!!!
Appreciative of everyone that supported me along this process, but now it’s time to get to work!!🍀🍀🍀#GoIrish#NotreDame#FightingIrish#Committed @TomLoy247 @SWiltfong247 @JHMerrittJr pic.twitter.com/38KKtMxdqF— Tyson Ford (@T2Cold7) January 18, 2021
>> Utah 2022 defensive end Carsen Ryan narrowed his list to six and the Huskers made the cut.
TOP 6.
Big things coming for 2021. @cavemanfootball #takingsouls #MILEWR pic.twitter.com/bA7UkZY3Ed— Carsen Ryan (@CarsenRyan) January 18, 2021
>> Former 5-star offensive lineman Wanya Morris will leave Tennessee and head to Oklahoma.
COMMITTED🤍🙏🏾 @OU_Football pic.twitter.com/L0EaFYSObS
— •K I N G👑 (@wanyamorris64) January 18, 2021
ICYMI
>> In his weekly column Derek Peterson looks at a running back do-over, a wideout commitment and a hooper straight hoopin’.
>> Husker volleyball grew closer together during an extended offseason, writes Jacob Padilla.
>> The Nebraska Preps Postgame show is back to discuss the cream rising to the top in Class A.