Have you ever wondered how Nebraska’s opponent for the current week is doing in recruiting? Perhaps you’d like to know more about the battles on the recruiting trail in recent years. In this new feature, we are going to take a look weekly at some key factors in recruiting for the team Nebraska is facing.
First up was Colorado. Next is Northern Illinois.
Northern Illinois’ 2020 recruiting class at a glance:
| Quarterback | 1 |
| Running back | 2 |
| Wide receiver | 1 |
| Offensive line | 5 |
| Defensive line | 4 |
| Linebacker | 2 |
| Defensive back | 3 |
| Total Commits | 18 |
Best current commit: 3-star dual-threat quarterback Dustin Fletcher
Did Nebraska recruit any of the players in their class?
No, Nebraska didn’t offer a scholarship to any of the players in Northern Illinois’ current class. The Huskies do have a Nebraskan in the class though. Running back Jay Ducker from Bellevue West is committed to play for them. During his junior season, Ducker ran for 1,707 yards with 26 touchdowns. He also caught 40 passes for 486 yards and six scores.
Are there remaining targets on their board that Nebraska is also recruiting?
The Huskers and Huskies aren’t locked in any recruiting battles currently. There are plenty of prospects that both programs have offered scholarships. Most of those prospects were long shots for Northern Illinois. An example would be 4-star tight end from Michigan Maliq Carr.
Any prospects from their last class playing as freshmen?
Northern Illinois has found a way to get a few freshmen involved early in the season. Running back Michael Love has two catches for 5 yards on the season. Mark Aitken, a defensive back, has five solo tackles and one pass breakup. Defensive lineman Demond Taylor has tallied two total tackles plus a half tackle for loss.
How has Nebraska recruited the state?
In a surprise to me, Nebraska has not recruited Illinois well. Having been in the Big Ten for several years now, I would have thought the Huskers would make more of an effort in the state. Since 2015 Nebraska has only signed one player from the state. The program has only offered 29 Illinois natives in that time period. The Land of Lincoln just isn’t a priority for the Huskers.
Are there any notable players that Nebraska lost to them?
There are no players that I’d classify as head-to-head losses with Northern Illinois.
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.
