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Is The Pipeline Back At Nebraska?

by | May 6, 2024 | Uncategorized

“The Pipeline” means something to Husker nation. It’s not just a saying that is thrown around, but almost a connection to a longing for days when dominance on the field was prominent and lead by the big uglies up front. Men that without a doubt in your mind would get the job done. Men that would punish the defensive line until the point where they would give out in the fourth quarter. There is nothing more physically and emotionally draining than being a D-lineman and having a team run the ball straight down your throat for an entire game knowing that there is nothing you can do to stop it. “The Pipeline” is a daunting force, and could Rhule recruiting it back into existence?

A great way to judge the future is to take a look at the past. Coach Rhule has already recruited some very talented offensive lineman at Nebraska. From Grant Brix to Gibson Pyle, Rhule has shown a love for and ability to get hard nosed offensive lineman out of high school. In the 2025 recruiting class, that trend looks to stay steady. With two interior lineman eyeing Nebraska from the famed Bishop Gorman HS in Las Vegas (Alai Kalaniuvalu and SJ Alofaituli) and Houstin Kaahaaina-Torres out of St Louis, Rhule also seems to be utilizing the Riola’s connections and trying his hand in the Samoan Pipeline which has worked outstandingly for many teams already.

Not only is the Huskers recruiting staff focusing on big, powerful offensive lineman but on lineman whose frames are already filled out. Making for less work done when getting the players ready for Saturdays in the fall. Looking up and down the board at recruits that Nebraska has offered it is very hard to find a tackle under 6’5, and even harder to find an interior lineman under 270 pounds. Bringing in lineman who require less time building, means that they can spend more time adding muscle and focusing on the transition to the college level.

Most recently four star Offensive Tackle Broderick Shull boasted about his previous experience on his most recent visit to Nebraska saying “My visit was phenomenal. I like the coaches, the facilities are great and it was a great experience.” Shull will be back on campus this weekend for an official visit. Landing a prospect such as Shull would continue Rhule’s run of getting highly touted offensive linemen into Nebraska. With this current staff’s ability to develop young talent Nebraskas’ line is starting to look better and better each day.

 

Spring Game 2024 Review

by | Apr 29, 2024 | Uncategorized

This offseason offered up a ton of questions, and Saturday’s spring game hosted just as many answers. The only inquiry left is on the defensive side of the ball. The Huskers sat out multiple starters on defense to keep them healthy and prevent injury. Even with multiple key players sitting out the defense still looked above average, and when those key pieces are turned loose this defense could look fantastic. With the injury to Blye Hill’s knee we are left with a spot in the defensive backfield since Blye was projected to be a starter. With plenty of young talent or the transfer portal that may be remedied rather quickly. Being very difficult to scrimmage as a defensive player, the tampering of emotions and the want to keep your teammates safe tend to have a large effect on slowing down the defense. That being said the defense still looked on par with what we were expecting and is something to be excited about.

Offensively, The Huskers have looked better than I can remember in recent history. Dylan Raiola looked exactly as advertised. A strong presence in the pocket and an arm that is beyond his age, Dylan is definitely well on his way to becoming a standout quarterback in the Big 10. Raiola’s footwork was also impressive, from stepping up in the pocket to rolling out to extend the play he seemed very poised and under control. The other two quarterbacks that got the most playing time were Daniel Kaelin and Heinrich Haarberg. Kaelin looked adequate at the quarterback spot for a freshman and is definitely a solid back-up option at this time. With some experience he seemingly could grow into a starter. Haarberg has matured as a passer, which is a testament to the coaching staff and his work ethic. His throwing motion could still use a bit of work but his accuracy has gone up and his decision making ability has increased as well.

The running back room is looking like a Husker running back room. With multiple backs who could start, Donte Dowdell got a lot of action in the spring game and could very well be named the starter before the first game. Dowdell looked smooth but powerful. At 6’2, 215lbs Dowdell impressed me with his versatility. Reminding me of former Georgia running back Nick Chubb. Dowdell is not afraid of contact but has a good enough vision to avoid it. In this conference teams need multiple serviceable running backs to compete due to the wear and tear it takes on the body. It looks like the 2024 Huskers will have just that.

Nebraska’s wide receiver room is loaded with talent. Although we did not see much of Jahmal Banks who is projected to lead the team in receiving this year, the receiving core looked strong. With Jahmal Banks, Alex Bullock and Isaiah Neyor along with a stacked tight ends room giving quarterbacks the ability to throw across the middle it will undoubtedly open Raiola and company up for some deeper balls just as we saw on Saturday. Jaylen Lloyd, Malachi Coleman and Jacory Barney Jr will be able to take the top off defenses which in return will benefit the run game immensely by not allowing defenders to back the box.

The Huskers looked very well rounded on Saturday. This looks like a well coached, well developed young team. A team that not only has the potential to make a run at the Big Ten title in the future, but one that could shake things up in 2024. The more I see this team, the more I believe that a ten win season in 2024 isn’t out of the question.

 

Huskers Tranfer Portal Targets

by | Apr 22, 2024 | Uncategorized

The transfer portal is looked at by Huskers Head Coach Matt Rhule as more of a tool for opportunity rather than a tool of key significance. Rhule has received plenty of heat for not going all in on the transfer portal, but stands strong in his conviction. The Huskers are wanting to build a family, and a group that trusts each other. A group that when down in the fourth quarter, when talent is equal and when the players are exhausted they will want to truly fight for the man next to them. This cannot be achieved with one and two year transfer players. Looking at Nebraska versus a school such as Colorado, Nebraska is focused on bringing in the best athletes in the country and developing them into NFL quality talent. Meanwhile a school such as Colorado wants to bring in new NFL level talent every year and hope they fit into the system. With one you get a family, with the other you get chaos as we saw later in the year for Colorado.

Rhule and staff are not looking to add much this transfer window, but what they do add they are doing so in a way that they can make an immediate impact. Look at it this way, you need to pick up groceries so you go to your favorite store. You think you got everything you needed while there, and on your drive home realize that you forgot to pick up milk. You swing by the gas station to grab a gallon and now you have everything checked off your list. You wouldn’t get all of your groceries there do to it’s limitations but it is handy when you need to grab one more item to complete your list. I believe that is the way Rhule is looking at the transfer portal. Picking up items that are needed or that will advance the team, but not relying on it for the entirety of the haul.

That being said there are a couple of pick-ups the Cornhuskers are eyeing this transfer period. The first is always a key position in Offensive line. Jason Zandamela is a Guard out of USC and has at least three years of eligibility left. He is the number one offensive lineman in the portal and was ranked as the number one guard in the country coming out of high school in 2023. The Huskers need depth at that position and this would be a fantastic pickup. The other schools currently in the running for Zandamela are notable institutions such as Georgia, Auburn and Florida. If Nebraska can continue pulling top targets like Zandamela away from the Georgias of the college football world then they will be in a good position.

Rhule is also hoping to add depth to the defensive back room with Tre’shon Devones from Rice and Bryan Massey out of SMU. Devones showed his love for the big stage when he started 2023 with a career high 6 tackles against a very good Texas team from the safety position. He also led the Rice Owls being the highest graded defensive back in 2023, bringing experience to the Husker secondary and adding depth in a position that may need it as the season grows. Massey out of SMU is another one of those more experienced defensive backs having signed with SMU in 2020. Having shown consistency, recording 23 solo tackles in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he will most likely be used as a rotational player but one in which could play himself into a starting roll.

Adding to a much improved room Rhule is also going after wide receiver target and former Top 100 recruit Tyler Williams. Williams played for Georgia in 2023 and is currently being targeted by the Huskers along with other top schools such as Michigan and Florida State. Being a class of 2023 recruit, Williams is only in his second year of college. Rhule loves developing players especially when they have the attributes this wideout has.

Assuming Nebraska picks up one or two of these top targets, it will help the Huskers 2024 roster immensely. I do not think any of these players are a need, but will help with the overall depth. Zandamela is the transfer who could come in and make an immediate impact starting at the left guard spot.

 

Nebraska’s All Big 10 Talent in 2024

by | Apr 15, 2024 | Uncategorized

All Big Ten are words that havent been spoken much in Lincoln over the last decade. And in a new look Big Ten where if you receive all conference honors you will most likely be receiving All American votes, do the Cornhuskers have anyone on the watchlist? From receivers to linebackers there is a very good possibility Nebraska lands at least one player on that list.

Starting out on offense, the Wake Forest transfer and current standout in spring camp Jahmal Banks is someone who Nebraska’s quarterback room could lean on heavily as a safety blanket. Standing at 6 ‘4 and already receiving All ACC honors, Banks is the first player that comes to mind on offense when it comes to accolades in 2024. With his experience and his already proven abilities on the field Banks could very well find himself in conversation for that coveted All Conference conversation. Not to mention, if we do go with the presumed starter at Quarterback in freshman Dylan Riola he will be looking for leaders on the outside with reliable hands to consistently get the ball to. 

Another skill player that if he finally puts it all together could easily be in this conversation would be Tight End Thomas Fidone. Fidone is only a junior but has all of the attributes to be considered the best TE in the Big Ten. At 6’6, 250lbs Fidone can not only block with his massive frame but looks very comfortable catching the ball across the middle of the field. If Nebraska can target Fidone 8-10 times a game, he could surely be an impact player that defenses will have to scheme for on third down. 

On defense, when I really set back and decipher who can make that jump in 2024 to an All Conference level player, three defenders stand out and one potential darkhorse comes to mind. Nash Hutmacher, a fan favorite, is well on his way to becoming a defining talent for Nebraska this year. There are even rumblings of coaches holding Nash out of plays to keep him fresh causing arguments between Nash and coaches due to his love for the sport and competitive nature. Nash will compete a bit leaner this year than last, giving him an edge. As well as a year of growth in the weight room and the time spent with the wrestling team definitely didn’t hurt. Nash is Nebraska’s best shot at this time for an All Conference level player. 

Two others that definitely deserve to be mentioned are defensive back Tommi Hill and linebacker Issac Gifford. According to coaches Hill has made strides over the off season and could provide lockdown coverage for Nebraska in 2024. Gifford lead Nebraska in tackles in 2023 with 86 which was 35 more than anyone else on the team. His leadership is outstanding and his drive to do better every day shows on the field. Gifford has one of those intangibles that you can not measure and that is heart. My player to watch in 2024 is Cam Lenhardt, with Nash and Robinson drawing attention away. Lenhardt could easily use his pass rushing ability to impress not only Husker fans but draw attention Nationally. 

With so many players that have more potential than we have seen in a while and Matt Rhule’s ability to develop talent it is hard to find clear standouts this early in the year. From a loaded running backs and receivers room to a much improved O-Line Nebraska is looking good early on. Will we have the standout talent to bring home individual accolades or not? Either way, this years Husker team is shaping up into something that will be fun to watch!

 

by | Apr 8, 2024 | Uncategorized

Spring is here and all eyes are on practice and the upcoming Spring Game. Commotion and hype drawing our attention to the current roster has not stopped this Rhule led coaching staff from keeping one eye on next years’ recruiting class. Rhule and company are aiming to bring in a Top 10 recruiting class in 2025, which is something the Huskers have not been able to accomplish since 2007 and before that you will need to go back to the 90’s to find a top ten class calling the Cornhusker State home.

Signing a major recruit early on in the process is of utmost importance. It can be a domino effect that leads to more high caliber players feeling comfortable signing with a school that is in Nebraska’s current situation. Football is highly tied to momentum both on and off the field and recruiting is no deviation here. A trend setter signing with Nebraska early on in this upcoming recruiting cycle would be huge for Nebraska to help lure in some players who are considering Nebraska but have not fully bought in yet. Keep in mind that Matt Rhule is known for developing 1 star recruits into NFL caliber talent, that being said this is the first situation where he may be able to regularly bring in 4 and 5 star recruits and develop them into the type of talent Husker fans have been longing to see on the field.

Even when focusing only on players that have already taken visits to Nebraska, the recruiting class is looking very promising. Ten players with four star rankings who are leaning heavily towards Nebraska have already made a visit to campus or are set to make a visit this month. With an average of 330 four star rankings given out each year, Nebraska is looking to take home its share in 2025. From in-state recruits to heavily targeting Texas and other key pipeline states, this staff is doing their job on the recruiting trail.

Over the weekend Rhule and company hosted a rather large group of recruits led by Nebraska native Chase Loftin, a 4 star recruit from Millard South. Three star’s Jackson Carpenter out of Lincoln Southwest, Tyson Terry from Omaha North, Caden VerMaas from Millard North, Conor Booth from Bishop Neumann and Malachi Goodman from New Jersey.

This week Nebraska will be hosting 4 star recruit Adonyss Currie and 3 star offensive lineman John Mills. Currie, a 6’2” 160 pound cornerback out of California is leaning heavily towards Nebraska. While Texas is edging the Huskers out with offensive lineman John Mills, a 6’5” prospect also hailing from the Golden State.

With a seemingly great start to the 2025 recruiting cycle, the Nebraska Cornhuskers are attracting attention to themselves for not only what is happening on the practice field in Lincoln, but also for the work that has been put in on the recruiting trail. Even with a pickup of just the recruits who are leaning Huskers at this moment, Nebraska would be able to secure its first top 10 recruiting class in over a decade.