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.
We have reached the one-year mark since the last time Nebraska could host recruits on campus. In January of last year, the Huskers were hosting a pair of Junior Days. Those ended up becoming the only time that some 2021 prospects were able to meet with the coaches in person. We are still months away from the NCAA-mandated dead period from potentially ending. The latest extension of the rule runs through April 15.
It would be nice if the dead period was able to lifted then. Most importantly it would mean the COVID-19 pandemic is in a different place than it is currently. Secondly, that date would line up well with Nebraska’s spring game. The plans for the spring game aren’t set in stone yet but is generally held around that time. If that all lines up, it would be a big deal for Nebraska to resume hosting visitors for the 2022 class and beyond.
Whenever recruits are able to get back on campus, teams will find that recruits are eager to get onto college campuses. Teams are surely jockeying for position early with recruits. They want to be first in line to get those visits when allowed.
Let’s hope those visits are allowed soon. In the meantime, who are some prospects that it would benefit Nebraska to get on campus immediately?
Quarterback recruiting is always important to a team’s success. Teams like to have quarterback recruits locked up early. Not having visits sets that back for Nebraska. A pair of signal-callers stand out above the rest that the Huskers could want to get on campus quickly. Kentucky 4-star Gavin Wimsatt (6-3, 200) would be nice to get out to Lincoln so he can see the campus for himself. Georgia quarterback MJ Morris is another the Huskers will need to host shortly. Other big-time schools are after him, like Alabama, Florida and others.
Let’s flip to the other side of the ball. There are some good defensive back prospects that Nebraska is after for 2022. You’d think a Husker legacy like James Monds III would have all the information he needs to pick the Huskers. It would still be good to get him around the staff and players in person to keep the good feelings going. Iowa defensive back Xavier Nwankpa has been to a Husker game before as a sophomore. That was long before his recruiting stock blew up. Now he holds offers from Clemson, Ohio State, LSU, Texas A&M and plenty of other schools. If Nebraska hopes to stay in the race, it needs to get him back to Lincoln as soon as possible.
It doesn’t always feel like the pressure is on to host in-state prospects. Typically they are on campus so much during a season. But after last season, it is more important than ever for the Huskers to get every in-state offered player back to Lincoln. Kaden Helms, Micah Riley, Deshawn Woods, Devon Jackson and Ernest Hausmann all need to be shown why staying home could be the best option for them.
The Huskers would love to host visitors as soon as possible. When the team can, there will be plenty of players they’ll need to host if they’d like to have them in the 2022 class.
Recruit Watch
>> Elkhorn South center and Husker legacy Isaac Zatechka is walking on at Missouri.
COMMITTED #NewZou 🐯⬛️🟨 pic.twitter.com/3ijQ7pCNNg
— Isaac Zatechka (@isaacjzat) January 19, 2021
>> Texas 2022 4-star defensive back Lando Hullaby has the Huskers in his top 10 that he released on Monday night.
Top 10🙏🏾 recruitment still 100% open. pic.twitter.com/d1GHfiCF0M
— Lando Hullaby. (@_Lhull22_) January 19, 2021
>> The Huskers offered 2022 Kansas wide receiver Jaren Kanak Monday night. He is teammates with 2022 linebacker target Gavin Meyers.
Blessed to have received an offer from The University of Nebraska‼️#GBR @HuskerFBNation #AGTG pic.twitter.com/IAmmjLTIQX
— ✞ Jaren Kanak ✞ (@KanakJaren) January 18, 2021
ICYMI
>> In the latest episode of the Straight Up Breakdown Podcast Jay Foreman and I give our thoughts on MLK Jr. Day and discuss why Houston is having so many problems right now.
>> Derek Peterson continued his Scoring the Huskers series by focusing on the running backs.
>> Top Nebraska women’s basketball 2021 recruit Kendall Coley will be part of the Husker rotation a lot sooner than expected.
>> Watch John Cook talk about the Huskers’ new season, captains and more.