Nebraska’s List Of Visitors For This Weekend

Well, ice storm be damned, the Huskers are about to kick off their out of season official visits to Lincoln to try to get some talent back on the 2017 recruiting cycle.

Four kids are coming to Lincoln, with one the staff is looking to reaffirm it’s position with, while three others the Huskers are trying to get in, all three needed for different reasons.

Next weekend has the big fireworks, but for now, this weekend is what’s in front of the staff. Unlike the regular season, OV’s aren’t tied to just weekends, meaning a school can use their OV time during the middle of the week if that’s really necessary. So, you’ll see a couple of different starting days on these.

And, as I always say, this is a fluid list that can have folks either added or removed as the weekend goes.

Guy Thomas will be in town, and the Huskers are looking to reaffirm his commitment. Thomas took a well advertised OV to Maryland back in November, and from all accounts it sounded like Thomas wasn’t even thinking of Nebraska according to some writers. However, things have tapered down and it seems this trip is to solidify things with John Parrella. Plus, if a DC is hired, Thomas can discuss things and find out where he would stand in that aspect.

Chris Walker will make the trip across town to check out North Stadium and to listen to what Mike Riley and Mike Cavanaugh have to say about him. One has to think that he’s not even the highest ranked player Nebraska could target. That would be Brett Kitrell, from Ashland-Greenwood who just deco’ed from Minnesota. However, Walker just got an offer that Kitrell doesn’t have, and will be visiting. He’s not someone that would shock the world with a flip and commitment, but another local kid who you’d rather have in the stable than not.

Nebraska wanted Kurt Rafdal back earlier this fall, but his verbal to Indiana was thought to take him out of the picture. But, with Reese Leitao going to Texas and the offensive gutting at Indiana, Rafdal is back in the picture. Rafdal is 3 inches taller at 6’7, and a smidge higher ranked, so it would not be the worst swap out for the Huskers. Nebraska can sell playing road games near his home in Indiana, plus the open depth chart that was made by graduation.

More head coaching changes brings Jeremiah Hawkins back into the fray as well. Hawkins verbaled to Cal back in May, but with the firing of Sonny Dykes and the uncertainty of Jake Spavital staying with the Bears, Hawkins is checking out Lincoln and Keith Williams. Nebraska sees him as a WR, and the Huskers still have spots available no matter what happens with Jamire Calvin or Joseph Lewis.

UPDATE (1/14/17):

Per Nate Clouse of Rivals, it sounds like USC Wide Receiver Randal Grimes is visiting Lincoln today. Grimes, a USC verbal since April, got a Nebraska offer on November 1st.

For those of you wanting more height at WR for targets, Grimes is 6’4 and seems to be pretty dang good.