With a number of recruiting questions submitted for this week’s mailbag, we decided to do things a little differently. Recruiting analyst Greg Smith pulled out those questions and is here to answer them all in a special recruiting mailbag as we get closer to National Signing Day on Feb. 6.
Let's get to it.
Seems we've added a ton of walk-ons lately. How many more do we get/take? Do you think any of them have the potential to make an impact next year or in a few seasons? (@Sal_Vasta3)
Nebraska has certainly been on a roll lately when it comes to adding walk-ons. What is pretty cool to see is that Nebraska has been adding walk-ons all season just the same as scholarship guys. There isn’t a mad dash at the end of the cycle to add a few guys just to say you are utilizing the walk-on program.
The Huskers currently have 21 walk-ons and will likely add a handful more. It’s tough to see anyone making an impact their first year on campus but one name that would really intrigue me down the road would be junior college walk-on center Josh Wegener. Also keep an eye on athlete Luke Reimer, linebacker Caden McCormack and linebacker Garrett Hustedt, as well as punter Grant Detlefsen.
Will Pola-Gates’ commitment have any effect on his cousin's (Pola-Mao) recruiting, and could we be witnessing a pipeline forming in Arizona or is this simply a case of right kids, right year? Having three of the top 14 and possibly a fourth seems like a big deal. (@InDaWilderness)
Surely having Noa Pola-Gates in the fold will help in the Huskers’ efforts to land Matthew Pola-Mao. They have talked about playing together and the families are comfortable with the idea as well. Even without the cousin connection, I think Pola-Mao is a good take for the class and an intriguing prospect.
What is happening in Arizona is something Nebraska would love to see continue. The staff has spent a lot of time cultivating those relationships in a state that has been good to Nebraska in the past. Now that three top players who are all well-known are coming to Lincoln, it will only help boost the Huskers’ presence in the state.
What’s the latest on Eugene Asante? (@_LilBigRed12_)
This recruitment has been a bit strange actually. Once he picked up the offer from Nebraska, Asante said that he’d be visiting the Huskers. Then he got a bunch of new offers that shook things up but has gone pretty quiet. It doesn’t look like his interest is high in Nebraska right now.
Who are some 2020 names to watch as we get ready to turn the page? (@code_dunham)
There are so many 2020 names to watch, which is a great thing for Nebraska. The Huskers have done a terrific job of getting 2020 prospects to campus and building relationships. The 500-mile radius is very strong in the 2020 cycle especially on the offensive and defensive line. Here are names to keep in mind.
- 4-star offensive tackle Turner Corcoran
- 4-star defensive end Kevon Billingsley
- 4-star wide receiver Zavier Betts
- 4-star offensive lineman Reece Atteberry
- 4-star linebacker Jackson Bratton
- 3-star tight end Jonathan Odom
- 3-star offensive lineman Jalen St. John
- 3-star wide receiver Xavier Watts
- 3-star offensive lineman Carson Lee
Of that group, only Billingsley and Bratton have not been to campus at least once. Both plan to visit soon.
Which players burned their redshirts last year? Did the Huskers have a lot that saved their redshirts? (@BigRed9597)
Maurice Washington, Adrian Martinez, Caleb Tannor, Barret Pickering and Cam Taylor all played enough as true freshman to use their redshirts. The rest of the high school class redshirted, which could pay off down the road (especially for players like Cam Jurgens, CJ Smith, Miles Jones, Tate Wildeman, Casey Rogers, Andre Hunt and Katerian Legrone).
How many scholarship players can Nebraska take in the 2020 class? (@Tanner_Claws)
The safe answer is around 20. It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Huskers end up finding a way to take a full complement of 25. There is certainly enough talent in the 2020 group to want to make that happen.
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.
