Last week in the recruiting notebook, I took a look at a handful of position groups that Nebraska needs to hit out of the park in the 2020 recruiting class. I now want to take a deeper dive into some players to watch at those positions. First up is the defensive line.
Nebraska is off to a terrific start here after landing defensive tackle Nash Hutmacher out of South Dakota. Hutmacher was one of the Huskers top overall targets regardless of position due to his talent and fit in the program. When he arrives to campus next summer, he will have a real shot at playing early even though it’s a tall order for any true freshman to play meaningful snaps in this conference. It also feels like the addition of junior college defensive lineman Jahkeem Green is for the 2020 class but he counts for 2019 and is immediately eligible.
Who are some other players in the 2020 class that Nebraska will now look at to round out its defensive line efforts?
Jamar Sekona, a 4-star from Marin Catholic High School in California, is a primary target. Nebraska got him on campus for the spring game and he was impressed with what he saw. Sekona has a long-standing, great relationship with defensive line coach Tony Tuioti, which may end up being the winning factor in the end. I expect Sekona to visit Lincoln for an unofficial visit early in the season.
After Sekona, there aren’t many clear-cut targets. It also depends on what the Huskers are looking for to fill out the rest of the line. One player to watch would be 3-star defensive end Noah Arinze from St. Louis. His stock has soared since Nebraska had him on campus for Junior Day. He could be a high upside prospect with a great frame (6-5, 240) and raw pass rush ability.
If Nebraska is looking to go with a more stout prospect, I’d look at Montra Edwards down in Lexington, Mississippi. He stands at 6-foot-3 and 285 pounds. He also currently has enough versatility to play anywhere along the line. Highland Community College’s Travis Geiger (6-3, 330) is of that same mold.
Nebraska is in a pretty good spot to be selective here considering the amount of young defensive linemen on the roster already. Hutmacher being on board already certainly helps but this position also feels like one that will see new targets emerge once we get into the season.
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.
