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’ve been in the NCAA-mandated dead period about as long as we’ve been in a pandemic. Last March the NCAA put a mandatory dead period in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the summer approaches it appears the rules are coming to an end. CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd had the scoop on what may come next.
“The NCAA Council this week is expected to set an end date of June 1 for the long-standing recruiting dead period, multiple sources told CBS Sports,” Dodd wrote. “The dead period was imposed in March 2020 after COVID-19 shut down college sports. It was extended eight times over the past year as the global pandemic raged, the last time in February.
“With widespread distribution of the coronavirus vaccine, it has become easier to envision more in-person contact, including football camps and official visits, beginning in June. For more than a year, college football coaches have been able to do little more in recruiting than hold Zoom calls with prospects.”
The COVID-19 pandemic altered recruiting in a major way. Coaches who never used Zoom before became very familiar with the platform. It became a must-use tool to connect with recruits and their families. Nebraska’s quarterback coach Mario Verduzco spoke about this recently.
“I guess I do okay with Zoom. I’m better when I’m in front of players and their parents,” Verduzco said. “I feel a heck of a lot more comfortable that way. But from that standpoint, it’s been good. You can’t go out and watch guys thrown in person. You’ve got to be astute as you possibly can be watching their game tape or if they have practice tape when they’re throwing in a workout or something like that. That way you can figure out if they have any major issues and what they are. It’s been OK, but like I said I do much better one-on-one and not in Zoom.”
Schools are operating as if the dead period will end on June 1. Programs from coast to coast are hustling to line up official visits now with preferred prospects. The Huskers already have a handful of players ready to make the trip to Lincoln for the first weekend in June. I imagine it will feel like Disneyland opening up for prospects and schools.
There is still a lot to learn about how this will all work. It appears that the dead period will be coming to an end soon.
Recruit Watch
>> Kansas City area defensive tackle Jalen Marshall has locked in an official visit to Nebraska for the first weekend in June.
Nebraska Official Visit June 4-6! #GBR #Huskers pic.twitter.com/Ow3vMjdL7L
— Jalen Marshall ♱ (@JalenMarshall03) April 13, 2021
>> Oklahoma defensive tackle target Chris McClellan was offered by Texas A&M on Monday night.
#AGTG Blessed and honored to have earned an offer from Texas A&M University! @TJRushing20 #GigEm 👍🏾 #Pre22ure pic.twitter.com/v2a2r6yP5v
— Chris McClellan 7️⃣🦍 (@ChrisDMac10) April 13, 2021
>> The Huskers offered elite 2023 TE prospect Luke Hasz out of Oklahoma on Tuesday.
Beyond blessed and excited to say I have received an offer from The University Of Nebraska!! ❤️🤍🌽 #GBR @HuskerFBNation @CoachRHeld @CoachBeckton @samspiegs @BrandonDrumm247 @Josh_Scoop @gabrieldbrooks pic.twitter.com/M6oNf0S3BZ
— Luke Hasz (@lukehasz2) April 13, 2021
ICYMI
>> Georgia 4-star quarterback MJ Morris (Premium) will be heading to Nebraska to check out the spring game.
>> In the latest episode of the Straight Up Breakdown podcast I am joined by Erin Sorensen to discuss what is fair and equitable.
>> Check out our video of John Cook and Lauren Stivrins speaking ahead of the NCAA Tournament for the Huskers.
>> Competition is ‘rough’ at the cornerback position according to Cam Taylor-Britt (Premium) and no job is safe.
>> As I wrote, competition and aggression are fueling the offensive line’s mindset (Premium) this spring.
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.
