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.
The questions never stop in the recruiting world. No matter what time of year it is, there is always something to talk about so we take reader and listener suggestions on questions. I then answer the questions in a quick video. This week’s topic comes everywhere. Many fans have wondered why we haven’t seen much movement with Nebraska’s roster after spring football. Let’s dive into that.
It probably feels like the Huskers have been in a holding pattern longer expected. That’s because the program finished spring football two weeks earlier than the majority of programs. The Huskers needed to complete post-spring exit interviews with players. It also makes sense that we wouldn’t start seeing roster attrition from Nebraska until other schools started concluding spring ball. Everyone is basically waiting for the ball to get rolling around the country. Once it starts going things could get wild pretty quickly.
There is a May 1 deadline looming for players to enter the transfer portal to move to another school without sitting out a year. It’s not a true “free agency” deadline but serves as one in a sense. It’ll be interesting to see if coaches in the sport push for a transfer window to help things along if the NCAA doesn’t feel it should act.
Nebraska is basically in a one-in, one-out scholarship situation. Nebraska fans want the team to add TCU defensive end transfer Ochaun Mathis plus a pair of defensive tackles. The team badly needs that to happen to boost the chances of success in 2022. For that to be possible, the program needs some players to move on. Mathis is deciding on April 30 between Nebraska and Texas.
There are positions that Nebraska needs additional reinforcements. Interior defensive line and pass rush are at the top of the list. What about offensive line? We don’t know how much progress was made this spring to settle that position group. Some of that is tied to Teddy Prochazka and Turner Corcoran missing the spring. That position is still a question mark.
Other positions have potentially shifted up the priority list. Coming into the spring no one thought the team could be in the market for a tight end. That position group got hit by the injury bug in a big way this spring. If a veteran player became available at that spot would the Huskers look to add him? With the scholarship situation the way it is now it would be difficult.
That’s why roster management and balancing will be critical for Nebraska this offseason. Running back, wide receiver and quarterback are positions that have felt ripe for attrition this offseason. As we’ve discussed in previous videos it might make sense for all the quarterbacks to stick it out at Nebraska. As things currently stand the Huskers will have eight running backs on scholarship once Ajay Allen, Emmett Johnson and Deondre Jackson arrive this summer. If all three make it to campus that room will be too crowded given the team’s needs elsewhere.
There is also a danger in depleting depth in one room to bring in talent elsewhere. As we saw with tight end this spring you are one bad string of luck away from being thin at a position. All these different factors make it very difficult to manage a roster in college football right now.
This week is when we should start to see attrition and potential additions to the team. Nothing is predictable in today’s college football so it’s best to remain flexible as the program navigates these choppy waters.
Recruit Watch
>> Check out recent Husker defensive line visitor Trey Wilson putting in work.
SPOT LIGHT PLAYER OF THE DAY
One of my TOP HITTAS…Mr. 4 ⭐️ on On3, 247, ESPN, & Rivals! Don’t get it twisted he comes ready to work like has no ⭐️’s. The hips says it all 😳…HUNT TRIGGA TREY HUNT! @EgeTrey pic.twitter.com/SeW1Tepcfa
— TEP’S QB HUNTING CLUB EST. 2012 (@TEP5252) April 24, 2022
>> The Huskers made the top eight for California 4-star athlete Daylen Austin.
eight. pic.twitter.com/4q4ZqkJQrQ
— DAYLEN AUSTIN 🦇 (@DaylenAustin4) April 21, 2022
>> The Huskers offered 2024 offensive lineman Ian Moore over the weekend.
After a great call with @coachdawsgbr I’m blessed to have received an offer from the University of Nebraska. @DonovanRaiola @HuskerFBNation @NPCoachRalph pic.twitter.com/WLdjXUzoVX
— Ian Moore (@IanMoore2024) April 21, 2022
ICYMI
>> I gave five thoughts on the Six Star high school football camp on Sunday.
>> Check out the Hail Varsity YouTube page for full coverage of Nebraska’s volleyball exhibition match over the weekend.
>> Jacob Padilla is doing a Path to the Draft series featuring Nebraska’s NFL Draft hopefuls and first up is Cam Jurgens.
Greg is the Recruiting Analyst for Hail Varsity and has covered Husker athletics since 2013. He has always had a passion for sports while growing up in the Chicago area. As he got older and had to hang up his cleats and sneakers, he realized his passion for sports went beyond just watching and attending games. He has covered many events from the Rose Bowl to championship boxing matches. If he’s not talking sports, he’s hovering over his grill. He is married to an amazing woman, Kim, and they have a dog that barks when Greg yells at the TV during games.
