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.
Relationships can take you a long way in recruiting. We talk about how Nebraska’s staff is very good at building relationships with prospects. It’s why the team tends to do better with prospects if they are able to visit campus on several occasions. There is so much focus on the staff building relationships with recruits but we can’t overlook the relationship building needed with high school coaches.
When I spoke with Hightower High School Joseph Sam about the latest Husker commit Latrell Neville, we also talked about the Nebraska staff. The Nebraska coaches were in touch with a number of Hightower coaches as they pursued Neville. Sam, the wide receivers coach and the school’s recruiting coordinator have all interacted with Nebraska at some point.
Sam also knew a couple of assistant coaches on the Huskers’ staff from his previous coaching spot. He was the defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Mansfield Legacy High School, which is where he met Matt Lubick prior to joining Nebraska’s staff. Sam really likes Lubick and tight ends coach Sean Beckton.
“I had a previous relationship with those guys,” Sam said. “So when Latrell came to me and he was telling me about Nebraska wanting him I told him that they’re a good group of coaches. They’re definitely a good group of coaches and I like what they’re about. I haven’t had much interaction with them outside of just telling them about Latrell but my interactions with them go back before we got Latrell.”
Having a good reputation with high school coaches is key. They naturally move jobs just like college coaches tend to do, so you never know who your path will cross with again down the road. I mentioned in my five thoughts piece on Neville’s commitment that the Huskers want to continue recruiting Texas hard. That topic has come up with the Huskers and Sam.
“I remember me and Sean [Beckton] talking and that was one of the things that he brought up,” Sam said. “With Scott Frost being a former quarterback at Nebraska he said back in their heyday a lot of their guys came from Texas. Making that transition from the Big 12 to the Big 10 may have hurt a little bit, just because you kind of lose that recruiting base if you don’t have guys that kind of understand that.”
Frost and his staff are putting an emphasis on recruiting the Lone Star state. The hope is players like Darrion Daniels, Damion Daniels, Brant Banks, Will Nixon, Omar Manning and now Neville can help the team make a bigger push into the state. There are still targets left on the board in the 2021 class that Nebraska is after as well.
We’ll see how the plan works for the Huskers in the future but it’s smart for the team to go back to the Texas well again.
Recruit Watch
>> One of the Huskers recent enrollees at linebacker is hard at work recruiting 5-star linebacker Terrence Lewis.
Make that move I was once committed to Tennessee to🤣 https://t.co/2aoKUv7D13
— TenXVI💞 (@ButlerJimari) July 6, 2020
>> Colorado tight end Gunnar Helm is on his way to visit Lincoln on his own.
Up next is Lincoln Nebraska! 📍🌽
— Gunnar Helm (@gunnar_helm) July 6, 2020
>> Huskers 2022 QB target Ty Simpson will be playing in the Under Armour Game next year.
Blessed to say I’ve committed to the Future 50 and The Under Armour All- American Game @DemetricDWarren @AllAmericaGame edit by: @Hayesfawcett3 pic.twitter.com/JR7dFMbxtL
— Ty Simpson (@tysimpson510151) July 6, 2020
ICYMI
>> In Derek Peterson’s latest column, he took a look at balance in the wideout room and Nebraska’s rapid flip.
>> Early work has benefitted the Husker volleyball program amid recruiting calendar changes, writes Jacob Padilla.
>> Will this be a bounce back year for Northwestern football? It’s time for Buy or Sell with the Wildcats.
>> The Huskers are rolling out mobile ticketing but will decide on stadium capacity at a later date.
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.
