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.
Spring football practices are important for teams to get ready for the next season. It’s the first opportunity for players on the team to show their coaches the gains they’ve made physically and mentally since the previous season. It’s also a chance for early enrollees to get a jump start on their playing careers by taking part in those 15 practices.
There is another thing those practices are great for though: recruiting.
The Huskers love using the spring practices as mini showcases events for recruits. Due to the precautions to stop the spread of COVID-19, the Huskers only got two practices in. They did have a few visitors for those practices though. We know that offensive line commits Teddy Prochazka and Henry Lutovsky attended the first practice. So did Kearney Catholic quarterback Heinrich Haarberg. After that first practice, we spoke to assistant coaches. Defensive backs coach Travis Fisher spoke about how big of a deal it is to use those spring practices for recruits.
“It’s huge. It’s the way we practice,” Fisher said. “To be honest with you, the spring game is like a party. As far as the reps. Those guys get so many reps in practice that the spring game is not even close. The spring game is for the parents and the fans. What we do when the doors are closed, it’s strictly grind mode. We are there to service the players 100%. We do that every day when we get in contact with them.”
The spring game is an important recruiting tool for Nebraska too. The now canceled game may not have been a sellout this year. But it would have impressed recruits in attendance, especially the ones that were seeing Memorial Stadium for the first time. Inside linebackers coach Barrett Ruud thinks it's important to get recruits in for practices. The quicker recruiting process makes every time you get in front of recruits crucial.
“For spring practice, the recruits get to see a day in the life,” Ruud said. “That’s one thing we really sell here. One of the best things Nebraska has going is the facilities, the support system both academically and socially. They get to see that when they come for a practice. Sometimes to the lights can blind you a little bit. That’s awesome but really you get to see that seven or eight times a year. This is what we do every day and its good for guys to see that with their own eyes.”
The Huskers have at least temporarily lost a key piece of their recruiting puzzle due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It might be a while before we know how they can recoup those practices and what the rules around them would be. It’s a good thing Nebraska finally felt like it had caught up with 2021 recruiting. They have hosted many top targets several times already. The relationships already built are being boosted via phone calls and FaceTime right now.
Recruit Watch
>> Husker offensive line target Tyler Maro picked up an offer from Eastern Michigan.
Excited to have recieved an offer from the University of Eastern Michigan after a great conversation with @Coach_Creighton. Thanks @Coachjpatton @_b_blanes @Coach_Collett @CoachHoleton #GoEagles pic.twitter.com/sUbvJcA9N8
— Tyler Maro (@tylermaro) March 24, 2020
>> A pair of Georgia prospects are making plans to see Nebraska this summer. Chauncey Magwood is a wide receiver and Baron Hopson is an inside linebacker.
https://twitter.com/illest_magg/status/1242448650472693762
>> Following Kansas’ lead, it looks like Minnesota is doing virtual tours of campus for recruits. Defensive back target Steven Ortiz got one.
Just had a great virtual tour with Minnesota 💯 Thank you to all the coaches and staff that made it possible @Coach_Fleck @coachharasymiak pic.twitter.com/ZDPOGIix0U
— Steven Ortiz Jr (@1stevenortizjr) March 24, 2020
ICYMI
>> Chris Paul Jr., the Huskers' latest commit, joined Hail Varsity Radio on Monday. He told a great story of why Nebraska is the place for him.
>> The Huskers are searching for help at the all-important outside linebacker spot. Could a member of the 2019 recruiting class be switching positions to help?
>> Will Bolt and his players are adjusting to life without Nebraska baseball.
>> Jacob Padilla did a Husker film review (Premium) on quarterback Luke McCaffrey and where he is in his development.
