A couple of quick recruiting facts, of the top 300 recruits in the 2026 cycle, only 30 are not committed. Of all the recruits Nebraska brought in during the month of June, only one player has yet to commit. That is defensive lineman Valdin Sone, who Nebraska is working feverishly to get.
The word desperate has been used when talking about the Huskers and their need for defensive linemen in the 2026 cycle. If Rhule and company miss out on Sone, then look for them to target players who have already committed to other schools. Right now, Georgia is favored to land Sone, and with 5-star defensive lineman JJ Johnson flipping from Georgia to Texas yesterday it may imply Sone has made a silent commitment to the Dogs.
Don’t look now but the flipping season has started.
Matt Rhule never says anything that doesn’t have meaning. When he broaches a subject it’s with a purpose. With that said, Rhule just hired Anthony Johnson from Michigan. A former defensive lineman, Johnson was a member of Michigan’s recruiting department over the last three months and assisted defensive line coach Lou Esposito in recruiting.
It’s hard to believe Rhule hired Johnson simply as a recruiting coordinator, and it’s easy to imagine a greater purpose behind the hire. One thing is certain, Rhule likes to give young ambitious coaches opportunities and develop them. Wherever the connection with Johnson came from, he did enough to impress Rhule into hiring him.
We do know Johnson was a part of some big recruiting wins in his short time at Michigan. He helped bring in 2026 four- and five-star defensive linemen Titan Davis, McHale Blade, and Carter Meadows. All three are currently committed to the Wolverines.
If you have followed Husker recruiting, then you will recognize the name Titan Davis. Nebraska was one of the first to offer Davis and went after him hard from the start. They were all in on getting him to Lincoln. But with former D-Line coach Terrance Knighton leaving and replacement Terry Bradden getting a late start, along with being out of college recruiting for the last eight years, Nebraska saw a setback with Davis and was unable to get him to take an official visit. Nebraska also pursued and offered McHale Blade.
No matter what anyone says, don’t make the mistake of thinking there isn’t a direct correlation between hiring Johnson and flipping some defensive line targets. Johnson could be a valuable first contact person in getting some in-season visits, especially if Nebraska is on the winning side of things early on. It wouldn’t be the first time a coaching hire had a direct effect on a player flipping. Look at Isiah Mozee and Cortez Mills last season. They both flipped to Nebraska after the hiring of Jamar Mozee and Phil Simpson. If you are a player on the fence, the relationship with staff members can be the difference.
It will be interesting to see how things go from here. Even if a defensive lineman doesn’t flip from Michigan, you must believe Johnson has other connections. Rhule brought him to Nebraska for a reason, and it wasn’t just for his ability to recruit in the future. It’s the ability he brings right now.
The flipping season hasn’t only started. It’s in full swing.
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