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.
We see peaks and valleys when it comes to the number of commitments happening during a typical recruiting cycle. Over the last year we saw some huge spikes in the numbers as prospects were gobbling up preferred spots. They had to do this in large part without visiting college campuses. Coaches accepted those commitments without meeting players in person in some cases.
Back during his Signing Day press conference in December, Nebraska coach Scott Frost still felt like he had a good handle on his new guys.
“I still feel like I know them all really well, but there’s several I’ve never been in the same room with,” Frost said.
Now as things creep back to being “normal” again, where are the commitments? It feels like things have been pretty slow when it comes to guys joining recruiting class lately. As Bud Elliott of 247Sports found, the numbers are startling.
The recruiting trail has been a whole lot different this year after the fallout from the pandemic. @BudElliott3 noticed this eye-popping trend 😳 pic.twitter.com/pQw8RtE48b
— 247Sports (@247Sports) May 10, 2021
The Huskers’ last commitment was April 1. That’s not unique though. In fact, it’s pretty good compared to the division. Here’s a look at each Big Ten West team’s last commitment date:
- Illinois: 4/29/21
- Minnesota: 3/21/21
- Northwestern: 4/26/21
- Iowa: 2/17/21
- Purdue: 7/15/20
- Wisconsin: 1/30/21
What’s keeping players from committing right now and coaches from accepting commitments? Well, I think it’s the light at the end of the tunnel that everyone can see. We are just a couple weeks from June. Class of 2022 prospects know that they’ll be able to take official and unofficial visits soon. They’ll also be able to attend camps and receive instruction from coaches.
Once players and coaches are able to connect face to face, I expect things to change in a big way. That’s when the floodgates will open back up with commitments around the country. If players have waited this long to commit to a school, there is no sense in rushing it now. Unless the school you really like is only taking one player at your position it makes sense to wait it out.
Everyone is preparing for June to be a busy month for recruiting. Players will be back on the road visiting schools. Coaches will be hosting camps and participating in satellite camps. Official visits will also happen. Those things should also end up making June quite the month for commitments around the country.
Recruit Watch
>> Former Husker commit Tony Fair committed to Auburn on Wednesday.
Just posted a photo @ Birmingham, Alabama https://t.co/EfPWMskhLJ
— Tony Lamar Fair (@TFair__) May 12, 2021
>> Husker linebacker commit Ernest Hausmann posted a graphic the Huskers sent him.
⏳⏳⏳☠️#GBR pic.twitter.com/rj0Ly1iQ2j
— Ernest Hausmann (@Ernest_Hausmann) May 12, 2021
ICYMI
>> I spoke with 2023 outside linebacker Chandavian Bradley who was at the spring game and liked what he saw (Premium) from the defense.
>> In the latest episode of the Mind Your Own podcast, Erin Sorensen and Sausha Durkan explain that it’s OK to care.
>> Check out Nebraska baseball coach Will Bolt speak about Nebraska’s upcoming series with Northwestern and more.
>> Garth Brooks is set to play Memorial Stadium on August 14.
>> In this week’s Padding the Stats, Jacob Padilla looks at the parallels between Russell Westbrook and a former Husker quarterback
