In what has been a whirlwind of transfer portal additions and subtractions, there was one area that Nebraska still desperately needed to address— the offensive line, and specifically, the Left Tackle position.
The Huskers got exactly what they needed in the former 5-Star, Alabama starter, Elijah Pritchett.
Coming out of high school, Pritchett was ranked as a Top-5 Tackle in his class and a consensus Top-30 prospect, but this past season for the Crimson Tide, Pritchett struggled to protect the Quarterback. According to PFF, Pritchett was the lowest graded starter on Alabama’s offensive line.
It’s a fair point to make coming after the news of his commitment to Nebraska, but his struggles this past year shouldn’t overshadow his potential. It was only his first year as a starter, and there is still plenty of time for development. To undersell the importance of Pritchett coming to Lincoln would be to neglect the fact that the moment he steps foot on campus, he is the most talented linemen on the Nebraska roster. Don’t get me wrong, there will be competition, but the competition is now a heck of a lot more competitive.
There’s probably no one more ecstatic about the commitment of Pritchett than Quarterback Dylan Raiola. Raiola, more likely than not, has his protector on the blind side.
After the signing of Pritchett, Nebraska now leads the Big Ten in the transfer portal rankings. Matt Rhule is making it clear that the Huskers plan to be real contenders in 2025, and while it’s a hot start in terms of recruiting, don’t stop looking now, there’s likely more to come.