This season brings the swan song of the Big Ten as we know it. The 2024 season, with four West Coast additions and expanded playoff, will change everything. That includes recruiting. Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA, all with at least a dozen commits in their 2024 recruiting classes so far, are now tackling logistics of recruiting in this new landscape.
Recruits are already asking Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer questions. The head coach told reporters last week that he’s happy to answer them and reassure recruits of his intentions.
“Us building trust in the recruiting process, being open and honest, that’s all they can really ask of us,” DeBoer said. “Really, all we can do. So that message you’re hearing right now is a major part of the message that we’re sharing with them. I think they take that, they trust that. There’s different ways you can spin it to fit our goals here at UW.”
Washington currently ranks No. 54 in the composite recruiting rankings, just behind Iowa State and ahead of USF. The Huskies have 12 commitments, led by two four-star pledges. Eight of those commitments are from California. UCLA ranks at No. 50 in the composite with 12 total commitments. Five of the Bruins’ commitments are from California with two pledges each from Washington and Utah. Chip Kelly’s squad also has commitments from Michigan and Texas. USC is No. 17 in the rankings with 15 commitments. The Trojans, already a national brand, are taking a national approach. Four of their pledges are from California, three from Texas and two each from Florida and Georgia.
Oregon is the crown recruiting jewel of the bunch right now and also taking a national approach. The Ducks are No. 12 in the rankings with 22 commitments. Seven come from California, three from Oregon and Texas, and two from Arizona and Maryland. They flipped 4-star cornerback Dakoda Fields from USC last week and gained a pledge from 4-star offensive lineman JacQwan McRoy of Pinson, Alabama. The Ducks are already competing with the likes of Michigan and Ohio State for recruits. That trend will likely continue with this new round of realignment.
Recruit Watch
Three-star 2025 quarterback Luke Nickel committed to Miami on Friday. He’s the son of former Stanford tight end Paul Nickel and younger brother of Jack Nickel, a tight end at Michigan State. Nebraska offered him in May but didn’t gain much headway.
With Nickel’s commitment, Nebraska is still searching for a quarterback in the 2025 class. Uncommitted slingers Michael Terry III (San Antonio, Texas) and Garyt Odom (Las Vegas) still hold offers from the Huskers. Nebraska could also try to flip EJ Colson (UCF commitment) and Stone Saunders (Kentucky commitment). There’s also a potential in-state solution with Omaha North standout Sebastian Circo. Expect offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Marcus Satterfield to keep an eye on him this fall with the potential of a scholarship offer.
ICYMI
>> In a loaded post-scrimmage update, Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule confirmed Bellevue West graduate Zavier Betts left the team. Betts played two seasons at Nebraska before leaving the team last March and rejoining with the new coaching staff in the winter.
>> The Nebraska volleyball season is just around the corner and Hail Varsity has positional breakdowns for you to prepare for the season. Staff writer Jacob Padilla takes a look at the team’s battle for setter.
>> Two exhibition victories give Nebraska momentum going into the season opener Thursday against Creighton. Hail Varsity provides you with five takeaways on what stood out from those two matches.
