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.
There are several question marks on the Nebraska’s team this spring and many moving parts and position battles that need to be cleared up. Nebraska is also working in a new offensive staff (with the exception of tight ends coach Sean Beckton). There are new transfers and early enrollees all over the field for Nebraska this spring.
Scott Frost is also seeing a change in his role. He is taking on more of a CEO role as the team searches for ways to improve on his tenure so far. The impact of how he handles that will not fully show itself until the games start in the fall. It is a critical offseason ahead of a year that Frost’s team must show improvement.
Change is in the air at Nebraska and there are many key players that the team needs to replace. It’s easy to look to the transfer portal as the solution to that problem. The team has looked to the portal to plug holes and will continue doing so through the summer. The balance between patiently developing players on the team and going into the portal is tricky.
It’s easy to forget that the most important pieces to the Husker puzzle for the 2022 season could be returning players.
The original Frost recruiting class still has four scholarship players remaining. Braxton Clark, Casey Rogers, Caleb Tannor and Tate Wildeman are on the team. Rogers and Tannor will be starters this season. Clark is pushing for playing time and is taking on more of a leadership role. That is a natural fit as an elder statesman in the room. Wildeman has battled injuries through his career so we’ll have to see where he is in his development.
The 2019 recruiting class players should have a big say in how things go this season. That class was who Frost hoped would lead the program to great heights as his first full class. The list of players from that class on the team that will be counted on this fall is deep:
- ILB Luke Reimer
- ILB Nick Henrich
- OT Bryce Benhart
- DL Ty Robinson
- RB Rahmir Johnson
- S Myles Farmer
- CB Quinton Newsome
- DL Mosai Newsom
- DL Garrett Nelson
- Nickel Javin Wright
- ILB Garrett Snodgrass
- OL Brant Banks
- TE Travis Vokolek
- OL Ethan Piper
The majority of those player will either start or are competing to start at their positions.
The 2020 class has a core of players remaining that could contribute this fall too. Turner Corcoran, Omar Manning, Alante Brown and Nouri Nouili will start or play large roles in 2022. Isaac Gifford, Jimari Butler, Nash Hutmacher and Blaise Gunnerson are emerging young players.
The team and returning players have invested a lot into Husker football in their time on campus. The Huskers do need more players at certain positions. A lot will be made about the ability for transfers to make an impact this season. There are a lot of players in the program that need time to develop and gain experience. That is what spring football is for. Don’t lose sight of the players returning who can elevate their play to contribute in the 2022 season.
Recruit Watch
>> TCU transfer EDGE Ochaun Mathis will take an official visit to Nebraska.
Heading out to Lincoln Nebraska for an official next week! Definitely looking forward to it! 🌽🌽🌽#Huskers
— Ochaun Mathis (@OchaunDevon) March 30, 2022
>> The Huskers made the top five for 3-star defensive Shawn Battle out of Philadelphia.
— shawn battle (@shawnbattle5_) March 29, 2022
>> Texas 2023 linebacker target Caleb Otlewski is coming to Lincoln for the spring game.
April 9th📍@HuskerFBNation pic.twitter.com/peqetiFNuD
— Caleb (@OtlewskiCaleb) March 30, 2022
ICYMI
>> Mark Whipple talked quarterbacks, tight ends on the mend and red zone offense on Wednesday.
>> A good day for Husker hoops was the topic in the latest Padding the Stats.
>> The Husker bats just couldn’t cash in against Creighton as they lost 3-2 to the Bluejays.
>> Mark Whipple sees an opportunity in installing the offense this spring while missing many projected starters.
>> Young tight end AJ Rollins is taking advantage of the extra reps he is getting this spring.
