With the big news out of Phoenix on Monday that Nebraska legacy recruit Dylan Raiola committed to No. 1 Georgia, Nebraska now regroups. The Huskers went all-in on the top recruit in the country and he chose elsewhere—again.
So what does Nebraska do now? Well, the Huskers have a few options.
Transfer Portal
The easy answer is the transfer portal. It’s also the least-preferred option for the developmental-minded coaching staff. Nebraska brought in Casey Thompson to effectively replace program record-holder Adrian Martinez. Following one season, Thompson entered the portal again as a graduate transfer. Upon his arrival, head coach Matt Rhule brought in transfer Jeff Sims. The Huskers also entertained native Texan Malik Hornsby, who ultimately transferred to Texas State.
Rhule admitted he wouldn’t mind having one more scholarship quarterback going into the 2023 season. Three entered the spring portal window and only Logan Smothers hasn’t announced a new destination. The spring transfer window, however, offers a smaller, less-acclaimed pool of talent than the winter window. Sam Hartman (Notre Dame), Devin Leary (Kentucky), DJ Uiagalelei (Oregon State), Tanner Mordecai (Wisconsin), Spencer Sanders (Ole Miss) and Kedon Slovis (BYU) all transferred in the winter after starting in 2022.
2024 Prospects
There’s a possibility Nebraska continues courting Raiola the rest of the year. That could involve a summer visit and game day visit during the fall. Or the Huskers could instead put resources into someone in their own backyard. Bellevue West quarterback Danny Kaelin is an appealing prospect who Nebraska previously hosted. The Huskers could continue to recruit the Thunderbird and attempt to flip his commitment from Missouri. In doing so, the Huskers would avoid losing the top-ranked in-state quarterback recruit from going to another Power 5 school for a second cycle in a row.
The Huskers could also follow recruiting tendencies of offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield. He recruited 4-star quarterback Dante Reno to South Carolina, where Reno committed to last summer. Satterfield’s move to Nebraska came as somewhat of a surprise to Reno, who remains committed to South Carolina. Flipping him, while not impossible, would be an uphill battle. Nebraska is still set to host native Alabama quarterback Kamari McClellan in June. Satterfield recruited McClellan while at South Carolina but the 3-star quarterback remains uncommitted.
Rhule and Satterfield both complimented mobility of Nebraska’s quarterbacks. Reno and McClellan are both dual-threat quarterbacks while Kaelin is more of a conventional pocket passer.
2025 Prospects
Nebraska’s already offered six quarterbacks in the 2025 class. The most likely commitment among them seems to be Stone Saunders, a 4-star prospect from Bishop McDevitt in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Saunders visited Nebraska this past winter and tweeted about his visit just minutes after Raiola announced his commitment.
#GBR ? 🌽 pic.twitter.com/eHJ9BrwUff
— Stone Saunders (@Stone_Saunders8) May 15, 2023
The Huskers also offered 4-star quarterbacks Blake Herbert and Luke Nickel earlier this month. In December, Nebraska offered Garyt Odom, now an unevaluated quarterback at Faith Lutheran in Las Vegas. Multi-sport quarterback EJ Colson from Cedar Grove in Ellenwood, Georgia, also received an offer from Nebraska. The Huskers entered the running for 4-star quarterback Cutter Boley. He’s set to announce his commitment out of finalists Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida State, Michigan and Penn State later this week.
Recruit Watch
Nebraska wide receiver coach Garret McGuire stopped by Burley, Idaho, earlier this week. That’s the home of 4-star receiver Gatlin Bair, who recently ran a 10.15 in the 100—the second-fastest time in the country. Bair considers Nebraska among his top finalists.
Nebraska extended some new scholarship offers. Legacy recruit Jack Limbaugh gained his first Division I offer in a call earlier this week. He’s a 3-star edge rusher from Algoona, Iowa, and son of former Husker cetnAer Jack Limbaugh and Husker volleyball player Amber Holmquist.
Houston’s Calvin Carter, a 2026 athlete, is the first freshman in Dekaney High School history to receive a Division I offer. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder now has two with an offer from Nebraska. Gekyle Baker from Brosboro, Texas, picked up an offer. The 4-star 2024 receiver made 51 catches for 712 yards and eight touchdowns last season. The Huskers also offered 2024 4-star offensive lineman Bennett Warren from Fort Bend Christian in Sugar Land, Texas. Xavier Atkins, a 4-star 2024 linebacker now at Summer Creek in Humble, Texas, received an offer. He’s been committed to LSU since last summer when he was at Jonesboro-Hodge High in Louisiana.
The Huskers also offered 3-star 2024 receiver Reece Vander Zee from Central Lyon in Rock Rapids, Iowa. He’s mainly been recruited by Iowa and Iowa State, with scheduled visits to both this summer. Special teams coordinator Ed Foley extended an offer while making his recruiting stops across the Missouri River.
SD—->IA—->GBR pic.twitter.com/5K42iS2zoZ
— Ed Foley (@coachedfoley) May 16, 2023
Shamar Rigby, a 2024 receiver from Lakewood in St. Petersburg, Florida, received an offer. He’s a noted route runner with nearly two dozen offers. The Huskers also offered 2025 offensive lineman Will Black from Choate Rosemary in Wallingford, Connecticut. He’s already 6-foot-7, 295 pounds. Colton Davis, a 2025 athlete ferom Palmetto, Florida, also gained an offer. Kwazi Gilmer, a 2024 4-star receiver from Sierra Canyon in Chatsworth, California, received an offer. David Abajian, a 3-star 2024 offensive tackle from Chaminade in West Hills, California, announced an offer. Four-star 2025 athlete T’Andre Waverly from Kamiak in Mukilteo, Washington, received an offer. He’s a 6-foot-4, 225-pounder who plays tight end and ran a 10.70 earlier this spring.
ICYMI
>> The Nebraska baseball team polished a convincing sweep of Penn State last weekend. That gives the Huskers momentum going into the final regular-season series at Purdue this weekend. You can also look at our Hail Varsity photo gallery from Senior Day festivities and a lop-sided Sunday win.
>> Nebraska is one of the last four teams included in the NCAA Softball Tournament, which starts this weekend. The Huskers play Wichita State on Friday in the Stillwater Regional, hosted by No. 6 Oklahoma State.
>> New Big Ten Conference Commissioner Tony Petitti takes over this week. Conference brass introduced him to media members in Chicago recently, where they explained the hiring process and Petitti laid out his philosophies.
