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.
We’ve gone through these opponents so far:
Colorado |Northern Illinois | Illinois | Ohio State
Northwestern’s 2020 recruiting class at a glance:
| Quarterback | 1 |
| Running back | 1 |
| Wide receiver | 3 |
| Offensive line | 4 |
| Defensive line | 2 |
| Linebacker | 2 |
| Defensive back | 3 |
| Total Commits | 16 |
Best current commit: 4-star center Peter Skoronski
Did Nebraska recruit any of the players in their class?
Yes, Nebraska did recruit a couple of the Wildcats’ commits. Outside linebacker Cullen Coleman (6-3, 220), a 3-star out of New York, was a player that the Huskers wanted to get on campus. He never visited Lincoln and ended up committing to Northwestern. Cornerback Jaheem Joseph is another player the Huskers looked at but ultimately things did not progress very far.
Are there remaining targets on their board that Nebraska is also recruiting?
No, there aren’t. Northwestern has only offered 64 scholarships for the class of 2020. Contrast that with Nebraska who has offered 67 players in just the state of Florida and have 418 total scholarships out. The only uncommitted player that holds an offer from Nebraska and Northwestern is Kaden Johnson. However, Johnson is not interested in the Wildcats.
Any prospects from their last class playing as freshmen?
The Wildcats have not played very many true freshmen in the 2019 season. Wide receiver Malik Washington has a few catches for 18 yards. Linebacker Bryce Gallagher has one solo tackle and a half tackle for loss.
How has Nebraska recruited the state?
Nebraska has only signed one player from the state since 2015. The program has only offered 29 Illinois natives in that time period. The Land of Lincoln just hasn’t been a priority for the Huskers. There are a few 2021 targets from the state that Nebraska is after. The top 2021 target is defensive end Ryan Keeler who visited for the Northern Illinois game. The state hasn’t been a priority.
Are there any notable players that Nebraska lost to them?
There aren’t any notable players that Nebraska lost to Northwestern over the last cycle or two. The best example recently of a player that Nebraska should have recruited but went to Northwestern is running back Justin Jackson. The Illinois native had high interest in the Huskers but was not offered a scholarship. He went on to rush for 5,440 yards and 41 touchdowns at Northwestern.
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.
