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.
Two years ago, the Huskers were blanked in the U.S. All-American Bowl. It was a tough pill to swallow for fans. They watched other fan bases get excited to see their top high school prospects in action.
Things changed last year and the Huskers were well represented. Bryce Benhart, Nick Henrich, Noa Pola-Gates, Ty Robinson and Wan’Dale Robinson all played in the game. Pola-Gates was not a known commitment at the time. Henrich did not play in the game while rehabbing his knee injury.
Offensive tackle Turner Corcoran, inside linebacker Keyshawn Greene and outside linebacker Blaise Gunnerson were the Husker signees selected to play in this year’s game. Gunnerson will not play in the game as he finishes up his rehab from a previous injury. Corcoran and Greene have had had strong showings in practices so far. Corcoran, Nebraska’s highest-rated recruit, still has an opportunity to push for five-star status this week.
Coast to Coast Matchups
Peep what happens when you bring the best players from across the country and let them compete.#AABSZN20 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ofqL9ewtxP
— All-American Bowl (@AABonNBC) January 2, 2020
The rosters from both the East and West teams are littered with prospects the Huskers recruited. Muhsin Muhammad III, Quandarrius Robinson, Cody Simon, Darion Green-Warren, Roger Rosengarten and Myles Slusher all visited Nebraska. There are plenty of other prospects in the game holding Husker offers.
It will be tough to follow last year’s performances in the game for the pair of Husker signees playing. Even as Corcoran makes a push for five-star status, it’s tougher for an offensive lineman to get noticed as much. It’s best if he quietly does his job on Saturday. On the other hand, Greene will have more chances to make splash plays. It will be pretty easy to spot if he is flying to the football and making big hits.
It needs to be a regular occurrence that the Huskers have signees playing in these all-star games. If the last two years are an indication, we will see a lot of future Huskers in these games. There will always be some odd snubs like wide receiver Zavier Betts. I would count quarterback Logan Smothers as another snub who I think should be in San Antonio. It is still odd to me that neither Smothers or Luke McCaffrey were invited over the last two seasons.
There are also top Nebraska junior targets in San Antonio this well too. Tight end Thomas Fidone and outside linebacker TJ Bollers are participating in the All-American Bowl Combine.
You’ll be able to check out the future Huskers in action this Saturday, Jan. 4 at 12 p.m. CT on NBC.
Recruit Watch
>> Husker signee Henry Gray is excited for his future in Lincoln.
8 days #GBR
— Astro Boy💙💫 (@_HG2X) January 2, 2020
>> Here are a couple of pictures of TJ Bollers checking in at the combine in San Antonio.
National combine registration. Check off another event that @tj35ballin has been watching for years. Big time competition means big fun. It's all about the experience . #enjoytheride pic.twitter.com/sl5XSwXjZF
— Trevor Bollers (@tbollers) January 2, 2020
>> Kearney Catholic quarterback Heinrich Haarberg is all set to attend on of the Huskers’ Junior Days this month.
Thanks to @Coach_Verdu @coachwilhite and @SeanDillonNU for the Junior Day invite! pic.twitter.com/s4Gu4mRsRI
— Heinrich Haarberg (@HKHaarberg10) January 2, 2020
ICYMI
>> Tom’s Time is back to look at the time the Blackshirts brought in a new decade with a shutout.
>> As Jacob Padilla writes, Nebraska needs Yvan Ouedraogo to come up big (Premium) in Big Ten play.
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.
