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.
Recruiting at inside linebacker continues to go well for the Huskers under Scott Frost, Erik Chinander and Barrett Ruud. Over the weekend, 2021 Iowa linebacker Seth Malcom joined the recruiting class. Malcom is the third inside linebacker the Huskers have gotten a verbal from this cycle. He joins South Dakota native Randolph Kpai and Georgia native Chris Paul Jr.
To improve depth at the inside linebacker spot, Nebraska landed two players at the position last class. Keyshawn Greene and Eteva Mauga-Clements signed with the Huskers this recent cycle. Mauga-Clements was an early enrollee while Greene arrives this month. There are high hopes for both players as they adjust to Big Ten football.
The Huskers added Nick Henrich, Jackson Hannah and Garrett Snodgrass to the scholarship mix with the 2019 recruiting class. Colorado State transfer Zach Schlager also joined the team. Walk-on Luke Reimer emerged as a player who won’t shouldn’t be without a scholarship for long.
The type of overhaul the Huskers coaching staff has underway makes sense. The team has to be better at the position to have sucess in the Big Ten. Chinander noted the need to have at least four game-ready players at the spot in March.
“I think you need to have four. Probably a fifth too,” Chinander said. “You want that four-man rotation with a fifth guy that is ready to swing on both positions. When you only have four, that’s another thing. Not to make an excuse for anyone but when you have to play the Will and Mike and rotate, that’s guy playing two positions. It seems like they are just playing inside linebacker but they’re not.
“They are playing Will and Mike. When you can really say you are the number one Will and you are the number two Will, they can hone in on those a little bit. Obviously when you have two guys that are above everyone, someone has to be a swing and learn both positions. You’d love to have guys that can play one or the other.”
Nebraska should be able to pull off the scenario that Chinander laid out during the 2020 season. Returning starters Will Honas and Collin Miller will likely keep their jobs but the depth behind them should be much improved. There is a wealth of players eager to show they are ready for snaps this fall.
It shouldn’t be long before Ruud’s unit can be seen a strength of the defense. That would be a big step in the right direction for the defense.
Recruit Watch
>> Pat Bryant, a 2021 athlete from Florida, has announced an intended decision date.
ANNOUNCING MY COMMITMENT JUNE 14TH ‼️ pic.twitter.com/C9XO1Up00j
— Pat Bryant 💔🦁 (@duvalpat3) June 6, 2020
>> Husker running back target Trenten Howland committed to Indiana on Friday afternoon.
Respect my decision! Happy birthday mom 🔴⚪️ #Leo @EDGYTIM pic.twitter.com/Yj13zQLKz0
— T💭 (@HowlandTrenten) June 5, 2020
>> Defensive tackle Marquis Black is all set to arrive in Lincoln from Georgia.
I’m Incredibly Proud of My Baby Boy!💙 @keesekeese22 #ClassOf2020🎓 #NextStopNebraska🏈🌽 #Huskers #GBR #HuskersMom😎 #Nebraska pic.twitter.com/cHgVz1Le3P
— Tomeka black (@Tomekablack3) June 6, 2020
>> Wide receiver target Latrell Neville left Virginia Tech’s recruiting class over the weekend.
❤️.. pic.twitter.com/nZBXg5TeRK
— S E V E N (@LatrellNeville7) June 6, 2020
>> Quarterback commit Heinrich Haarberg is already working on Neville.
— Heinrich Haarberg (@HKHaarberg10) June 7, 2020
ICYMI
>> Former Husker defensive back Henry Gray has landed on his feet at Florida International.
Chapter 18: Perseverance🖤💯 pic.twitter.com/Nh6xSZooY8
— Chosen👶🏾🖤 (@_HG2X) June 6, 2020
>> I took a look at how wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson found the positives during his time in quarantine.
>> Derek Peterson told us how COVID-19 has impacted several in the Nebraska family.
>> Linebacker Luke Reimer is the focus of Jacob Padilla’s latest Nebraska film study. (Premium)
>> The Varsity Club podcast caught up with Husker women’s basketball coach Amy Williams.
