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.
The Warren Academy Showcase was great for many reasons. It was nice to get back into a football camp after missing them all summer. You don’t realize how much you enjoy the setting until it’s taken away. The opportunity for kids to show how much they’ve improved since last season was key too. There will be a number of players that attended the showcase that will get new college looks because they were able to show off their talents.
One player that didn’t have to worry about that was 4-star tight end Thomas Fidone. The Huskers’ No. 1 target for the 2021 recruiting was the alpha dog of the showcase. He lived up to every bit of the hype that surrounds the borderline 5-star prospect. At 6-foot-5 and 222 pounds, he ripped off a 4.63 40-yard-dash with a 37.4 vertical jump. Fidone also had a slick one-handed grab during the one-on-one part of the day.
But all the measurables and nice plays are not what has stuck with me since last Saturday about Fidone. When Hail Varsity asked him why he felt the need to come out and compete, his answer stuck.
“There’s no replacement for competition,” Fidone said. “It’s kind of what my coach has always said and it’s in me now. Wherever there is competition and wherever there’s a place I can get some work in, that’s where I’m going to be. So, I just wanted to come out and grind it out with some of the best of the best.”
When thinking about what separates the good players from the great ones, remember quotes like that. Fidone holds close to 40 scholarship offers. He could have rested on his laurels as he decides on his ultimate choice. Instead, he doesn’t miss any opportunity to compete.
Whoever lands him will get one of the top-rated tight ends in the country but what that school will also get is a young man that can help build a culture in the program. Having your best players embrace the grind as he does can’t help but trickle down to other players.
Since arriving in Lincoln, the Husker coaching staff has talked about finding competitive players that love football. They have quietly built a roster full of the players over the last few recruiting classes. Fidone fits in perfectly for the mentality Scott Frost wants in his program.
Recruit Watch
>> Bellevue West 2022 tight end Kaden Helms picked up an offer from the Huskers on Wednesday.
Extremely blessed to receive a scholarship offer from the University of Nebraska! ☠️ pic.twitter.com/doA83XXBZs
— Kaden Helms (@KadenJHelms) July 29, 2020
>> Georgia 2022 tight end Bennett Christian released his top three on Wednesday and did not include the Huskers.
Top 3. @OhioStateFB @PennStateFball @Vol_Football pic.twitter.com/026RWH86I3
— Bennett Christian (@BennettC87) July 29, 2020
>> Future Husker outside linebacker Will Schweitzer showed a nice edit from the team and still excited to get to Lincoln.
https://twitter.com/WillSchweitzer2/status/1288238750556815361
>> Huskers 2022 lineman target Ty Chan picked up a cool honor on Tuesday.
Congrats to OT/DE Ty Chan ‘22 (#2) and G/DT Ryan O’Connor ‘23 (#5)for being ranked among the Top 10 players in their respective classes by Mass HS Football News! #spartanpride @ryanoconnor2023 @chansanity5 pic.twitter.com/QFQmVobwwY
— Lawrence Academy Fball (@LASpartansFB) July 28, 2020
ICYMI
>> Bellevue West tight end Kaden Helms is making the most of his opportunity (Premium) to improve this summer. He spoke with Hail Varsity to update his recruitment.
>> Jacob Padilla explains why sports are important in his latest Padding the Stats.
>> Matt Lubick appeared on the radio last night and said the leadership of Wan’Dale Robinson and Kade Warner helped the Huskers this summer.
>> The Hail Varsity mailbag has returned to look at Lavonte David’s career, Nadab Joseph’s future and the possibility of college players opting out.
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.
