Nebraska Recruiting: Proven Recruiter Mickey Joseph Helms The Interim

Coaching changes happen in college football. Recruits de-commit or transfer regardless of coaching changes.

But Nebraska’s recent decision to dismiss Scott Frost brings some uncertainty to the Huskers’ recruiting efforts. Not only because targets were on the sidelines to witness last Saturday’s game against Georgia Southern but because the head coach who pitched them on the program was no longer employed after it.

Interim head coach Mickey Joseph, a noted recruiter, said it all comes back to relationships. That’s how you build trust with high school players and build them up when they’re playing in college.

“At the end of the day they don’t sign with a coach they sign with a university,” Joseph said. “You have to make that clear to them. All of the committed kids were in good shape. You got to understand these kids are 20 and 21 now. They bounce back. They are going to be OK.”

Athletic director Trev Alberts likes to meet recruits when they come to Memorial Stadium. He said during Sunday’s press conference that he’ll do whatever Joseph asks but not get in the way.

“I want him to be successful, because ultimately, that means our young men are being successful,” Alberts said. “I’ll do whatever Mickey and the staff ask me to do.”

Recruit Watch

Husker recruits have in turn responded. Lincoln East standout Malachi Coleman tweeted a photo involving Joseph on Monday, a day after he was announced as interim head coach.

🚂 💨 pic.twitter.com/z8HdpEa7J1

— Malachi Coleman (@ChiColeman23) September 12, 2022

Keep in mind, Joseph has worked in all levels of college football, most recently at LSU before returning to Lincoln. He was the primary recruiter for 4-star receiver Omarion Miller out of Louisiana.

Joseph was the primary recruiter for three 5-stars (Terrace Marshall, John Emery Jr. and Kayshon Boutte) and 13 4-star prospects.

Nebraska is expected to host a significant amount of recruits for Saturday’s game against Oklahoma.