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.
Normally on a bye week the news is a slow drip. The players and coaches are taking a little time away to recharge for the weeks ahead. This week has been anything but that around Nebraska football. The big picture question around the program got answered. Scott Frost will return as coach for a fifth season. The news to follow four assistant coaches firings presents a lot of questions. It’s been a news-filled week for the Huskers. It’s easy to forget that the team had recruiting objectives that needed to be hit this week.
What are those objectives now and do they need to change with the four assistant coach openings? The Huskers haven’t been out on the road this year aside from the first bye week. Frost made the decision to do that. The group was supposed to be back out on the road during the second week too.
The first consideration is seeing current commits. The most local commits are on campus enough that they probably don’t need to be visited. Ernest Hausmann, Jake Appleget, Gunnar Gottula and Ben Brahmer just saw the coaches last weekend. Jalil Martin was just on an official visit last weekend so he’s good too.
It would make sense to get down to Florida to see Victor Jones Jr. The wideout is the most coveted Husker commit and he just lost his position coach. It’d be smart to stop by his high school in person to at least speak with his coach about the situation. The same goes for Nevada running back Ashton Hayes. His team is still in the playoffs so sending a coach to his game would be a wise move.
During the first bye week Nebraska made it a point to get into some junior colleges to see prospects. The team will be reliant on JUCO and the transfer portal this cycle. Doing that again seems like good strategy. It wouldn’t surprise me if defensive backs coach Travis Fisher popped up at a junior college in search of immediate help. The cornerback position will need help for 2022.
If I were advising Frost there is one big thing I would suggest to him. Go out to Nebraska high schools. It could be alone or with in-state recruiting coordinator Barrett Ruud. Just go be present in high schools and see some coaches that you may not have had time to see during the busy season. Of course, there are prospects around the state to learn about too. It’s not just the fans that want to feel connected to the coach. High school coaches have a hard time recommending their players to pick Nebraska if he isn’t coming to those schools. Frost could be more aggressive in that area.
Nebraska is in a tough spot at the moment because the team is down four assistant coaches. There are only so many places the other coaches can get to over a couple days. The team did practice multiple times this week so the first real opportunity to hit the road is Thursday. There is plenty the team can accomplish on the recruiting trail this week to gain some momentum.
Recruit Watch
>> Kansas kicker Charlie Weinrich was offered a preferred walk on spot Thursday. He recently made a game day visit to Nebraska.
Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln! Go Big Red! pic.twitter.com/vXtNxwONS0
— Charlie Weinrich (@charlieweinrich) November 11, 2021
>> Husker priority 2023 outside linebacker target Tausili Akana was offered by Penn State.
Truly blessed and honored to receive an offer from Penn State University. #WeAre @BrandonHuffman @bangulo @adamgorney @GregBiggins @Rivalsfbcamps @DemetricDWarren @PupulePaul @MooseB90 @levelupelitesFB @RobDeMelloKHON pic.twitter.com/CzRPbBGhtd
— Tausili Akana (@AkanaTausili) November 11, 2021
>> Nebraska safety commit Gage Stenger released his senior highlight on Thursday.
• Senior Season Highlights
• (7 games)
• 72/110 (65% completion rate)
17 passing touchdowns
0 Interceptions
• 76 rushes (555 yards)
11 rushing touchdowns
• 12 Tackleshttps://t.co/VeLIkTbztu— Gage Stenger (@StengerGage) November 10, 2021
ICYMI
>> Nebraska defender JoJo Domann will not play in another game for the Huskers this season.
>> As Scott Frost searches for his next offensive coordinator he wants someone (Premium) that he can trust and has done it.
>> Omaha North is hoping to continue its magical run (Premium) in a semifinal matchup with Gretna on Friday night.
>> The Nebraska basketball team signed a four-man 2022 recruiting class this week.
>> Tom’s Time takes a look at when tensions ran high by Bill McCartney’s design when CU came to town.
