- The recruiting window for the NCAA ends on Sunday, and there will be definitely be visitors for the Nebraska staff this weekend. One thing to remember is that, unlike game weeks, during down times for team activities players can visit any time for their 48 hour OV. That means someone can be coming in on a Wednesday and leaving Friday when the next folks are heading to town.
Nebraska is doing that right now, hosting a JUCO official visitor right now in Blinn College safety Corrion Ballard.
It sounds like Ballard’s recruitment is trending upward, with Oklahoma State and Texas among the schools interested in him. Ballard went to JUCO right out of HS, and would have 3 years to play 2 at the next level.
After Ballard splits town, a couple other OV’s are on the way.
Holmes is a guy that decommitted from Iowa, and is getting some good exposure. One has to think, however, that Holmes would be a guy Nebraska would only really want if they miss on a Jamire Calvin or such. Not saying that Holmes is a good player, but Nebraska has some major irons in the fire with other kids.
Saturday will bring the biggest visitor of all in Aledo offensive tackle Chuck Filaga. He’s taking his last OV to Lincoln Saturday, after his team plays in the Texas UIL 5A Division II semifinals in Frisco. It seems like Michigan leads here for Filaga, who will be picking his school at the US Army All-American game in January. With Foster Sarrell still in play for Nebraska, Filaga would make a nice and tidy bookend to both OT’s coming to Lincoln, but the path for Chuck is not easy here.
- Some folks have asked, with the hiring of Donte’ Williams, to do a quick hitter on who is trending up and down for Nebraska recently. Let’s take a look at this real quick.
Trending up:
Greg Johnson: The Williams hire basically put Nebraska in the lead and driver’s seat right here without much more happening. Along with the Joseph Lewis lean, Nebraska should be able to hit on this one.
Thomas Graham: Another kid that helped with the Williams hire to Nebraska. I’m not perfectly thinking that Nebraska is in the lead here, but they look a whole lot better now than they did. I do think it’s 50-50 for Graham with Nebraska vs. Notre Dame here, but it’s definitely better.
Isaiah Hodgins: Oregon State got his verbal, but with the news of Beavers WR coach Brent Brennan heading to San Jose State, one has to wonder if Nebraska is back in play. Ironically, Brennan was the only holdover to Gary Andersen from Mike Riley’s last staff in Beaverton.
Deommodore Lenoir: With the way that the Oregon coaching search went, Lenoir is back in play and looking to take an OV to Lincoln after the bowl game.
Could #GBR be the move @coachD_GBR
— DLeno (@Deommo_Lenoir) December 7, 2016
Nebraska could still needs corner/safety recruits this cycle, regardless of the talent currently in Lincoln. And Donte’ Williams has visited.
Great Home Visit with @coachD_GBR and @Deommo_Lenoir #GBR #Nebraska Team PASS!! pic.twitter.com/7qEzmmcOyG
— Scholarship Provider (@YUNG_GURU_) December 7, 2016
Damion Daniels: If you asked me who I thought would be the next Nebraska verbal, Daniels is the man. John Parrella has been hard on Daniels, visiting him during this recruiting period with Mike Riley. I simply think it’s a matter of time on Daniels to verbal.
Elijah Blades: It has seemed like Blades has been interested but just not enough to seem serious with Nebraska, but the Florida verbal now has the Huskers full attention with the Williams hire.
Trending Down:
Rahyme Johnson: Nebraska has seemed to cool on Johnson, and it’s not the worst thing, it’s probably better for both parties.
Chevin Calloway: The Iowa decommit is probably Arkansas bound, and with the way that Williams has reconnected with some guys above, that’s fine.
Quran Hafiz: If you’re in it with Blades, Lenoir and such, where does Quran fit? That’s a pretty good problem to have, but one has to think that the staff may move on from Hafiz and let him get to Iowa State.
Darnay Holmes: Ryan Tweedy will be upset, but I am starting to just want to separate Nebraska from Holmes. Too much odd stuff has happened with this recruitment for the Huskers to feel any type of solid here.