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Recruiting roundup: New visits, QB offers, and more for Nebraska Football

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Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

There’s much to discuss regarding Nebraska football recruiting and here are some highlights from the past few days.

The biggest topic of conversation over the weekend for Nebraska football was the commitment of Keelan Smith on Friday to the Huskers.

Like his dad, Neil Smith, Keelan Smith isn’t highly ranked. At least not right now, but if you look at his body, watch his highlights, taking into consideration his NFL bloodlines, and his productivity — it feels like a really good get for Matt Rhule and company.

One thing I like about Rhule and his staff is that they trust their evaluation once they identify a kid. They have taken commitments from recruits that didn’t have many other offers. But they know what they are looking for and frankly, they aren’t worried about what outsiders think, which they shouldn’t.

Smith is one I feel confident will out-play his ranking. I also think he’s a candidate to get a big boost in ranking before he winds up signing.

Alabama offers Gatlin Bair

Gatilin Bair is one of the top targets on the board for Nebraska football in the 2024 class. The Huskers are the favorite according to the On3 prediction machine, but Alabama jumped into the mix this past weekend, which could change the recruitment.

Bair ran a 10.25 in the 100-meter dash over the weekend and his best time is 10.18. This kid is also 6-foot-2, 180 pounds. He might be the best athlete in the entire 2024 class.

You can see why Nebraska football wants him. The Huskers did make the top five but we’ll have to see where Alabama stands. Michigan is in the mix too and in my opinion, the official visits will tell the story.

If Bair takes an unofficial visit to Alabama and then gives them an official visit, which is easier to do for all teams with no limits anymore, the Tide should be considered a real contender.

A new 2025 QB offer

Many Nebraska football fans are focused on 2024 quarterback recruiting and we learned last week that the Huskers will host three-star QB Kamari McClellan for a visit early in June.

Yet, there was some more news in regards to quarterback recruiting over the weekend as the Huskers offered Blake Hebert in the 2025 class. Hebert isn’t ranked in the 247 Sports composite rankings yet, but 247 Sports has him ranked as the No. 19 quarterback in 2025. He’s also rated as an 89.

Even though he’s a three-star right now via 247 Sports, he’s clearly going to be in four-star territory. Out of Lawrence, Massachusetts, he’s 6-foot-3, 205 pounds. UConn, Massachusetts, Rutgers, and Virginia are the other teams that have offered.

Also in case you were wondering, Dylan Raiola got another expert projection from a Georgia insider from On3.com, so it’s looking more and more like he will be a Bulldog.

2024 Nebraska Football RB target schedules official visit

Things are fluid right now for Nebraska football when it comes to running back. Nathaniel Fraizer is the top target but the Huskers need more than one. Plus, landing Frazier, a top-10 running back nationally who plays at Mater Dei in California is going to be tough. USC is already viewed as an early leader.

But if Frazier comes back for an official visit this summer, Nebraska football will have a better chance. At any rate, another name to know for running back is Kewan Lacy.

The three-star running back out of Lancaster, Texas is ranked 526th overall in the On3 industry rankings. Nebraska football made his top six along with Arizona State, Ole Miss, TCU, Baylor, and Miami.

Lacy visited Arizona State this spring along with Ole Miss and Miami. Lacy hasn’t visited Lincoln yet but will be taking a multi-day trip for an official visit and with no clear leader, it seems like the Huskers have a real shot here.

We know that Rhule and Nebraska do well in Texas. Lacy is a bit raw. He only carried the ball 70 times last season according to MaxPreps but scored eight touchdowns and averaged 5.6 yards per attempt. Lacy also caught nine passes for 135 yards.

After running the 100-meter dash in 10.79 earlier this spring, Lacy fits the mold of the typical Rhule skill guy. He is ranked 533rd overall by 247 Sports and it will be interesting to see if an official visit to Nebraska will be enough for the Huskers to try and close because this a talented player with upside who feels under-recruited.

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Nebraska Football: 5 recruits that could commit this weekend (June 2nd)

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Nebraska Football
Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

It’s the first big official visit weekend of June for Nebraska football and here are five potential commitments to watch for.

June is going to be a huge month for Nebraska football recruiting and it started on Friday night as the Huskers welcomed in nine official visitors from the 2024 class.

Matt Rhule has talked about the importance of the June 23rd visit weekend, which is when Carter Nelson, Dae’vonn Hall, Isaiah McMorris, and others are expected to take official visits to Nebraska football.

However, this weekend is important too. A number of top targets are on campus and the Huskers are leading, according to the On3 prediction machine for five of the nine recruits.

They have received crystal ball projections for three of the nine recruits visiting — Mario Buford, Caleb Pyfrom, and Jacory Barney — so the idea of landing some commitments this weekend isn’t far-fetched.

At the very least, I’d expect some commitment announcements to come out of this weekend, and whether it’s announced this weekend or not, here are five recruits most likely to pledge to Nebraska football this weekend.

5. 3-star DB Amare Sanders

Nebraska football is the leader according to the On3 prediction machine but there haven’t been any expert projections at this time. However, the DB from Gulliver Prep in Miami only has an official visit scheduled to Nebraska.

Miami and Florida have both started to show more interest. Sanders, who is ranked 655th overall according to the On3 Industry rankings said he wanted to take a visit to Florida.

That’s why I don’t think it’s super likely he commits this weekend. However, the Huskers have done well in Florida and the coaching staff has ties to that area. This feels like a winnable recruitment and the official visit to Nebraska football can be eye-opening, which is what I’m betting on with Sanders.

Will it be enough to get a commitment? Maybe not this weekend, however, this could prove to be the turning point in Nebraska winning out for another talented recruit from Florida.

4. 4-star WR Jacory Barney

Jacory Barney is one of the three recruits visiting Nebraska football this weekend that has received a crystal ball projection to the Huskers. The newly-minted four-star wideout in the 247 sports composite rankings actually has two projections to Nebraska.

At 6-foot, 160 pounds, Barney is ranked 412th overall in the 2024 class. Barney is a really skilled player. He maybe needs to add some weight, but he looks ready to contribute to a Power-5 program. He’s got the ability to get deep and has speed, of course, but he’s also dynamic after the catch.

There is competition though. Nebraska football is getting the first official visit, but not the last. Barney will head to Texas A&M next weekend and Illinois after that.

Ideally, he would shut down his recruitment soon after the stop in Lincoln. However, with a trip to College Station looming, that might be a big ask. It’s possible though as the Huskers appear to be in the lead.

3. 3-star D-line Carlon Jones

Of all the recruits visiting Nebraska football this weekend, the 6-foot-4, 260-pound defensive lineman from Bay City, Texas, might be my favorite.

It’s crazy to me that Nebraska is the only official visit Carlon Jones has scheduled right now. He’s ranked No. 661 overall according to the On3 Industry rankings and is explosive. He’s maybe a bit of a tweener between EDGE/D-line but he lives in the defensive backfield.

Last season he had 102 total tackles and 29 tackles for loss. The 260-pounder also had 13 sacks and four hurries. He’s explosive and although he’s raw, Nebraska football could be getting a steal here.

The Huskers lead according to the On3 prediction machine. There aren’t any predictions yet, but Jones posted this video of his official visit and my hope is that Nebraska really pushes for a commitment this weekend.

It feels like it’s there for the taking.

2. 4-star CB Mario Buford

This is a name Nebraska football fans will know well. Mario Buford is not just one of the top targets on the board for Nebraska football at cornerback in 2024, but his brother is a starting safety for the current squad.

That’s a nice in for the Huskers. However, they have really prioritized Buford, who is out of Desoto, Texas. Buford posted a video with Matt Rhule on social media Friday night and even then, Rhule was telling Buford, “Go Big Red.”

I don’t believe he was just referring to the chant either — he was inferring a commitment. At least that’s what I took from it and since Buford has been trending with expert projections from 247 Sports, On3, and Rivals, it seems possible.

There are visits looming to Michigan State and Penn State. Yet, Rhule and the Huskers have been fantastic at converting official visits into commitments and I’m wondering if that happens with Buford this weekend (or soon after).

1. 3-star OT Caleb Pyfrom

Now that Brandon Baker is clearly not coming to Nebraska football, it makes landing in-state offensive tackle Caleb Pyfrom even more important.

The 6-foot-5, 310-pounder is ranked 710th overall according to the On3 Industry rankings and is ranked No. 6 among recruits in the state of Nebraska for the 2024 class.

Pyfrom has been trending with projections to Nebraska football leading up to his visit, but Minnesota and Illinois are also expected to host him for official visits later this month. The Omaha Central product has 11 offers total including Penn State, Iowa, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Missouri, and Kansas State among others.

That’s a pretty impressive list of Midwest teams, so the kid is a player. But with Daniel Kaelin coming to campus on Saturday, it could help sway the in-state tackle to stay home and help protect the in-state quarterback commitment.

Regardless of the exact date, I expect Pyfrom and a few others on this list (Jones, Buford, and Barney) to be Nebraska football commitments by the end of the month. I also wouldn’t be shocked if some decisions came sooner rather than later, maybe even one or two this weekend.

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Nebraska Football zeroing in on local 2025 LB

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Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska football is beginning to make inroads into the 2025 recruiting class, and they will have visitors on campus next weekend. Hosting some local talent. 2025 outside linebacker Zayvion Campbell will be in Lincoln next weekend.

This is notable for a couple of reasons. For one, Ryan Gottula is the head coach at Lincoln Southeast. His son Gunnar is part of the 2023 Nebraska football recruiting class. The family connection could help Nebraska football land Campbell.

Secondly, Nebraska is continuing to recruit in-state. This is something that we have seen in the 2023 and 2024 recruiting classes it appears that in-state recruiting will be a focal point. This is something the coaching staff has zeroed in on as one of their main goals during their time at Nebraska. They are sticking to that goal.

What could he bring to Nebraska football?

Campbell is a very intriguing player. He measures in at around six-foot-three, 200 pounds. He has good pursuit ability, and is able to wrap up and make tackles with ease. Campbell would be able to fit the Nebraska football defense by providing a solid presence inside. Campbell uses a variety of moves in order to get to the quarterback as well.

He would give Nebraska a player that could be used in multiple ways in a 3-3-5 defense. It would be fun to see defensive coordinator Tony White work with him. He has the ability to rush as well as fill gaps on the inside. That type of versatility is what Nebraska football should be looking for defensively with the scheme they have.

At the very least, Campbell is coming to campus to check things out.  It’s important that Nebraska continues to look at multiple candidates at the linebacker position. At the very least,  they need to make an effort to continue the recruiting pipeline in-state. The 2023 and 2024 classes were filled with Nebraska-born players. This is a trend that needs to continue.

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Nebraska Football: QB visit canceled and a Carter Nelson update

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Nebraska football
Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska football is set for its first official visit weekend of June and Kamari McClellan has canceled, plus the latest on Carter Nelson.

One of the big questions lingering about Nebraska football recruiting this weekend was whether or not three-star quarterback Kamari McClellan would make it for his official visit.

It was still on the schedule for this weekend according to the recruiting sites and in a recent interview, McClellan indicated he was still coming. However, with the recent commitment of Daniel Kaelin, it was only going to happen if Nebraska football suddenly decided to take two quarterbacks in 2024.

Anything is possible but the visit has now been canceled according to Sean Callahan of Husker Online. I think McClellan will wind up at Clemson or another team scrambling for a QB. Nebraska football was in that position and the kid is talented, but Kaelin, who is heading to the Elite 11, is a much better get.

Daniel Kaelin will visit Nebraska football again

Speaking of Kaelin, it wasn’t lip service when he said he wants to be around when any recruit comes to visit. The quarterback will take his official visit the same weekend as Carter Nelson.

But he’s now on the list for an unofficial visit this weekend. There are a couple of wideouts expected to visit. Jacory Barney is one and the Huskers lead for the three-star wideout via the On3 prediction machine. He’s ranked 459th overall out of Miami, Florida.

Williams Nettles is also visiting but he could be a cornerback or receiver. Caleb Pyfrom is a three-star in-state tackle also visiting and Kaelin being on campus could help push him toward a commitment, which seems to be where things are trending according to recent crystal balls.

It’s just clear that Kaelin is serious about doing what he can for this class, no matter how many times he needs to come to campus.

Another Carter Nelson visit

Add Penn State to the list of teams to worry about in the Carter Nelson sweepstakes. He’s going to visit the Nittany Lions on June 16th, which will be his fourth scheduled official visit.

Nelson is going to visit Georgia this weekend, followed by Notre Dame next weekend. The Huskers just got a Futurecast projection from Greg Smith of Rivals to land Carter, the top-ranked recruit in the state in 2024 and things seem to be trending in the right direction.

My thought is that Nelson is likely going to take these visits and make a decision sometime this summer, maybe in July or August. That’s just a guess. I don’t see this recruitment bleeding into the season and Nebraska football has put more effort in than any other program.

That doesn’t mean anything on its own. But Carter just took a visit to Nebraska along with Kaelin and that connection seems to be helping. Nelson hasn’t talked about his recruitment a ton, so it’s hard to get a read, but the tea leaves are pointing in Nebraska’s direction.

We’ll see if that’s still true after the next three weekends.

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