Recruiting never stops and it's easy to miss the top stories day-to-day. Hail Varsity is here to recap all things Nebraska recruiting news, analysis and more so you never miss a thing.
It's not his first order of business, but it might need to go on new Nebraska defensive line coach Tony Tuioti's job description anyway: Help beat back your former school for Cornhusker State recruits.
Yes, Michigan is a team we're talking about as it pertains to Nebraska recruiting because Michigan is a team we don't often have to talk about with Nebraska recruiting. Certainly not locally.
But the Wolverines have made two offers in-state this week. On Wednesday, 2020 wide receiver Xavier Watts of Omaha Burke reported an offer from Michigan.
Very excited to have received an offer from Michigan ‼️@Coach_SMoore pic.twitter.com/gpF8dXZGN5
— Xavier Watts (@xavierwatts6) February 27, 2019
Not a huge surprise based on Watts' talent. He already has offers from most of the Big Ten plus Notre Dame and Tennessee.
But the Wolverines weren't done with Nebraska yet. On Thursday morning 2021 Elkhorn South athlete Teddy Prochazka tweeted an offer from the maize-and-blue as well.
Honored to receive an offer from the @UMichFootball thank you @4Warinner and @CoachJim4UM for the opportunity! pic.twitter.com/2pj0TdY3WO
— Teddy Prochazka I ⁶⁴ (@TeddyProchazka) February 28, 2019
Michigan's in a little earlier on Prochazka, a likely offensive lineman with reported offers from Nebraska, Iowa, Iowa State and Northwestern. While Watts' already had the profile of a rising star in his class, Prochazka, who is not yet a junior, was more of the classic variety for a young Nebraska prospect (i.e. local).
For Michigan to jump in now is notable, but for the Wolverines to be in on Nebraska prospects at all is the bigger story. Neither 247Sports nor Rivals list an offer from Michigan to an in-state prospect in the 2016–19 classes. (Tuioti was part of that 2016 class, Harbaugh's first full recruiting cycle in Ann Arbor, as Michigan's director of player personnel and head of the recruiting department.) Yes, Nebraska and Michigan clash for recruits–at least 15 Husker signees since 2016 also had Michigan offers–it's just rare for it to happen on the Huskers' home turf. That's still an edge for Nebraska.
Watts and Prochazka are both plenty familiar with the Husker staff. Watts took part in Nebraska's junior day in February and picked up an offer from the Huskers last October. Prochazka announce his Nebraska offer the same day last fall, has been on campus as an unofficial visitor for multiple games and recently said he'll be hitting the Huskers' second junior day at the end of March.
Recruit Watch
>>Husker fans are used to seeing weight-room videos from current Huskers during this time of year. Here’s one from a future Husker, 2019 signee Ty Robinson.
https://twitter.com/N_schafferIT/status/1100946224713068544
>>High 3-star athlete De’Rickey Wright, another Alabama prospect in an ongoing trend for the Huskers, shared the love.
https://twitter.com/d__wright14/status/1101164308141146114
ICYMI
- Derek Peterson looks at the key questions facing the Huskers on special teams.
- Greg Smith identifies some 2020 prospects to watch on defense.
- Tony Tuioti’s experience in the Big Ten left a lasting impression.
Brandon is the Managing Editor for Hail Varsity and has covered Nebraska athletics for the magazine and web since 2012, Hail Varsity’s first season on the scene. His sports writing has also been featured by Fox Sports, The Guardian and CBS Sports.
