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.
Nebraska’s search for consistent production at wide receiver will take a different look during the 2020 season. The news that record-setting wide receiver JD Spielman will not return to Nebraska after his leave of absence broke on Monday. Gone with Spielman are 170 receptions for 2,546 yards and 15 touchdowns of career production.
The Huskers don’t have much in the way of returning production. Wan’Dale Robinson is now officially the team’s leading returning receiver.
#Huskers WRs with a reception at the FBS level:
– Wan'Dale Robinson (40)
– Kade Warner (15)
– Chris Hickman (1)Many expected this would be the end result. Many are high on the WR class they brought in this cycle (myself included). But this is still going to be a challenge.
— Derek Peterson (@DrPeteyHV) June 8, 2020
The Huskers are not without receivers to be excited about. A healthy Kade Warner can help the team win. Jamie Nance and Demariyon Houston are still on the team from the 2019 class and will have every opportunity to impress new wide receivers coach Matt Lubick when camp opens up. Nebraska brought in the second-best haul of wideouts in the conference for the 2020 cycle. Omar Manning, Zavier Betts, Alante Brown, Marcus Fleming and Will Nixon will all be in the mix this season.
At least two of those five will likely need to be counted on with the official departure of Spielman. It’s not necessarily ideal to break in this many new wide receivers but that doesn’t mean it can’t work out in the long run. Patience should still be had as the new group rounds into form.
There is one wide receiver committed to Nebraska so far in the 2021 recruiting class. Georgia native Shawn Hardy is in the class and there is certainly room for one more receiver to join him. Depending on how the numbers shake out elsewhere in the class we could see two more receivers in the class.
Football activitiescan’t come soon enough for Nebraska. The NCAA might be set to announce something on that soon according to reports.
NEWS: #NCAA FB Oversight Committee is set to approve this week a preseason practice plan that'll include walk-thrus – with a ball! – starting in mid/late July.
The plan, now in ink, is being circulated to schools. More progress toward an on-time kickoff.https://t.co/6iioMDIc51 pic.twitter.com/ZYOynP8Lxo
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) June 8, 2020
From a strictly football point of view they’ll need as much time as possible to get Adrian Martinez on the same page with his new pass catchers.
Recruit Watch
>> Colorado tight end Erik Olsen included the Huskers in his top six. Olsen has be a priority target for Nebraska for quite some time.
Top 6!!! @CUBuffsFootball @NDFootball @HuskerFBNation @StanfordFball @UCLAFootball @UW_Football pic.twitter.com/LGZeyQAo0S
— Erik Olsen (@e_olsen12) June 8, 2020
>> Beatrice standout tight end Kaden Glynn picked up an offer from Northwestern College on Monday.
Blessed to have received an offer to play football at Northwestern College! @coachmmmcc @NWCredraider_FB pic.twitter.com/HdDKUTz2lg
— Kaden (@GlynnKaden) June 8, 2020
>> JUCO running back prospect JD Martin was named as one of the top backs in junior college this season.
AGTG! pic.twitter.com/5VSurGdrRG
— 💙“J Dizzle💙 🌹(JD Martin)🌹 (@fns_jd23) June 7, 2020
>> Georgia athlete Sirad Bryant named the Huskers as one of his top five schools on Sunday evening.
💛💙My Top 5💙💛
Thanks, @nate_smith_9 @OleMissRebels @GTFootball @HuskerFBNation @USFFootball @KU_Football @BradHarber1 @ChadSimmons_ @CoachPattyJ @lilbaby4PF pic.twitter.com/w7YvZYPc74— Sirad Bryant (@SiradB15) June 7, 2020
ICYMI
>> I gave five thoughts (Premium) on the commitment of 3-star linebacker Seth Malcom.
>> In Derek Peterson’s weekly column, he dedicated the space to speaking with several former Huskers about the intersection between activism and sports.
>> As Jacob Padilla writes, the Husker volleyball team is set with Kenzie Knuckles but need more specialists to step up.
> > In the latest Moore To It Podcast, Jay is joined by Brandon Vogel to discuss a wide range of football topics.