HuskerDreamer

My gf's daughter dated a kid who was being looked at by NU before his senior year (within the last 3 years) at a local HS in Omaha. He ended up getting a preferred walk-on invite, but chose to go small college and have it paid for. He had a big all-state year as a junior and was getting interest from several smaller tier D1 schools (Iowa State, Colorado State and Wyoming) but then hurt his shoulder as a senior and the scholarship possibilities at NU went away. Before he got hurt he had been told by some coaches (not NU coaches mind you) that NU was weighing on an offer to him based on if he had offers from other D1 schools. The reasoning was this: They would liked to have tried to get him to come as a preferred walk-on if possible and could end up offering if he got other D1 offers so that in-state folks wouldn't be upset over NU passing on good in-state talent. The kid got hurt and fell off of the radar, but it is a story that certainly outlines what CM is referring to. I don't get upset at stuff like that, you need to trust coaches to evaluate talent. But the concern is somewhat justified. Look at some of the local talent that has done well without a scholarship offer to NU. Trevor Roach and Andy Janovich are just a couple of the guys that NU did get as walk-ons who did well for themselves. Matt Longacre from Millard West played at NW Mo St and now plays for the LA Rams. There's always gonna be guys like that, and there's always gonna be guys who let that hit a nerve that NU didn't get them. And, I wasn't rough.

Jesus. You're a bit rough bro, remind me never to ask you to be my wing man Mav. The recruiting game is just that, a game. While most of the players at the top of those charts can be considered legit, there are quite a few whose star ratings are manufactured. Parents and coaches make accounts for their kids in the 7th grade and some of them develop star ratings that are influenced by the fact that recruiting analysts get name recognition. Proof? None. Just from years and years of being around high school coaches and hearing stories about it. Anecdotal? Yup. But I do believe it. Because of that, I often play close attention to the players who "explode onto the recruiting scene" late in the process. These are players who often outperform their star ratings (Nate Gerry was a 2 star, Quincy Enunwa was a classic case of blowing up as a senior and JJ Watt was a two star for goodness sakes). I often wonder how many of them just developed late and how many of them just came late to the recruiting game and didn't go to any camps. I think it's a system that can be manipulated and there is probably a little truth in just about everyone's opinion (some more than others). And guys, just about everyone here is bringing opinions to the table. When I hit "Post" I don't expect to be published in a recruiting journal.

I have watched this kid a lot in person over the last two years (probably 18 games or more) and his future is on offense in my opinion. He can play a great slot receiver or at RB if he gains some size. As a DB he is so so. He could develop but at this point his hips need to get better. On offense he has all the hip shuffle figured out, it comes as second nature to him. However, his hip turn as a DB is mediocre. Far too many players get open against him at the high school level. Players get separation from him at the hip turn and get open. Good coverage is all about getting your hips turned fluidly when breaking on a deep route to the receiver and also breaking on a pass. My own guess as to why this is with him is that he's been such a good offensive player as a 9th and 10th grader that he never played defense (very rarely anyway) and that affected his development and hurt the refinement of his technique. He makes up for it often at the high school level due to his athleticism and speed, but at the next level it is way harder to recover once a college athlete has separation. My two cents. Either way, I'd love for him to be a Husker. I'd just like to see him on offense. Also, I think the most underrated player in the state is Elkhorn South's QB Braden Wright. Mark my words, I expect this kid to have a stellar college career, no matter where he goes. Very cool customer and very athletic. I look for big things from him.