Now that the early signing period has ended and we know who has signed with Nebraska, we can put a focus on some news questions. There is still work to be done on the trail for the Huskers as we push into the second recruiting period.
Here are five remaining questions for Nebraska recruiting.
How many official visits will be saved for 2020 prospects?
In a recruiting cycle, each team is allotted 56 official visits to use throughout the year. Thanks to a new rule change last year, prospects that are juniors can now take official visits from April 1 to the end of June. By my count, Nebraska has used 37 official visits at the close of the early signing period. Nebraska will only take 3-7 more players this cycle so if they can be efficient with its visits perhaps they can have 8-10 official visits left to use for juniors this spring and summer.
Will they land more pass rush?
If there is one thing most people agree on is that there is still a need for more players that can get after the quarterback in the 2019 class. Defensive end/outside linebacker Jamin Graham, defensive end Ty Robinson and outside linebacker Garrett Nelson are capable pass rushers but Nebraska will need to add a player or two to that mix. Uncovering more pass rushers will be the top priority until February.
How far ahead can the Huskers get on 2020?
One of the big differences between this recruiting cycle and Scott Frost’s first cycle at Nebraska is the Huskers don’t have as many prospects to chase and close in the second recruiting period. The benefit of that is the staff will be able to work ahead and continue laying the foundation with the class of 2020. This time can be used to continue the good relationship with players like defensive tackle Nash Hutmacher, offensive tackle Turner Corcoran, offensive lineman Carson Lee, wide receiver Xavier Watts and others. The staff can also continue locking in players to visit Lincoln for the winter Junior Day. It would not be surprising to see another player join quarterback Logan Smothers in the 2020 class in the month of January.
Will there be any big surprises?
There have been a few times this recruiting cycle where surprise commitments have snuck up on all of us. There have also been times where players that were not known to be on the radar suddenly became big priorities. Will there be any more of those situations or even a surprise visitor?
What happens with Noa Pola-Gates?
Now that Wandale Robinson has officially flipped back to Nebraska and signed, plus Ty Robinson is safely on his way to Lincoln, there is a new big fish to keep an eye on. Noa Pola-Gates, the 4-star defensive back from Arizona, has the most intrigue surrounding his recruitment. We still don’t know for sure if he signed with Nebraska during the early signing period and will keep it quiet until Jan. 19 when he announces at the Polynesian Bowl. Either way, all eyes have shifted to the hard-hitting defender.
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.
