The_Fan_Man

1 hour ago, GretnaHusker14 said:

Bonner ran a 4.38 at an Arkansas Camp in high school, Not sure if he still has that kind of speed but awesome to see him being willing to make a huge position switch to FB to help the team and stick with it the past few years!

I'm going to preface this by saying that I am a fan of Janiran Bonner as a football player but the only way that he realistically hit 4.38 is if they were running the 37-yard dash.

He's probably not going to be a Husker, which is the most disappointing recruiting miss since Corn Elder from a pure fit perspective.

47 minutes ago, BigRedBuster said:

Yeah...I have no clue about how On3 does any of that.  If that's the case, This could change a lot as the recruitment goes on.

On3 does a lot of stupid stuff with bad algorithms mascaraing as insight.

On 1/29/2024 at 3:35 PM, Husker in WI said:

 

Probably some combination of clicks, potential lack of mobility, and an effort to not let a high initial ranking (which is always a projection that includes growth that hasn't happened yet) continue to dictate the final rankings once they have the full high school career to look at. They specifically call out his -92 rushing yards as a senior in high school being incredibly low, even for a "pocket passer."On the last point, I do think there's some merit there. Some guys are freaks as underclassmen so they get ranked initially, and if they were maxed out and don't get any better as a junior/senior they probably shouldn't maintain that ranking.

 

But realistically all prospects are risky, and being low on a 5 star QB going to school that has never had one is probably smart. If he is a stud, Nebraska fans will let them know about it for a really long time but that's it - it's not like they have him outside the top 100. And if Nebraska can't develop him effectively and he stalls out as a decent college player, it's a feather in their cap showing they know more than everyone else. Recruiting sites figured out quite a while ago that it is smart to factor in where a kid is going (or at least who has offered him) on the OL where very few people are equipped to talk about good versus great prospects. Just don't usually see it at other positions like QB, but I think it is likely one of the factors.

I agree with everything you wrote but it also speaks to evaluators using a finer toothed comb with him compared to other top QB prospects. Raiola does take a lot of hits for a high school player. For example, his last two plays of the season were taking sacks on 3rd and 4th down. The big question is whether it's lack of feel in the pocket or if he is trying to get the ball downfield but afraid to throw into coverage. Physically, he's very strong and doesn't play with panic in the pocket. I think that it is an issue of just teaching Raiola about his options for escaping pressure or dump off passes.

But if you're going to criticize Raiola in that way you have to apply that to the other QBs as well. Julian Sayin has a small build and bails on his pocket if there is even the hint of pressure to throw balls underneath. Is he going to respond well to guys that cut off his escapes with ease or is he going to eat sacks and force balls into coverage? DJ Lagway stares directly at his target every play, generally throwing posts to his slot receiver that are much tougher completions in college. In high school these tendencies work because it shows off Sayin's ability to delivers darts to his 2nd or 3rd read and Lagway's ability to deliver bullets downfield into coverage. Similarly, if you just watched highlights, Raiola's tendency to hang in the pocket makes it look like he is standing up to a pass rush to complete tough passes. 

Simply put, as an incoming freshman, Raiola has the ability to put the ball anywhere he wants on the field and has the physical profile to compete in the highest levels of college football. The next part is the tough one, where he needs to learn where and when to use that talent to get the ball where it needs to go. He's been successful everywhere that he's played so it seems like the sort of thing that he will improve on.

18 minutes ago, Huskerfollower4life said:

Kinda reminds me of a slower Adrian Peterson.  Hate to ask but was Mike Rozier a bruiser or a combination of both power and speed?  I ask bc he reminds me of him as well.

Mike Rozier was fast and could break tackles.

I bet he runs a handheld 4.65 watching his film but I like the way he runs with strength, balance, and knows when to be aggressive and when to be patient.

Here's his senior tape which is fun to watch if you like fast guys doing cool stuff.

4 minutes ago, Husker in WI said:

247 has him listed at 389 lbs - good lord. 

And he's only the 2nd biggest lineman on the team.

Booth is having an insane year at Wahoo Bishop Newman. I’m their first eight games he has 1695 yards rushing and 30 TDs on 148 carries and 184 yards receiving and four TDs on seven receptions. 

16 minutes ago, Decked said:

That’s some pretty bad production 

Six touchdowns in five games on 150 all purpose ypg is the sort of bad production we could use. Hutchinson CC blows out teams and doesn’t pass much as a philosophy.

Cantwell is the most physically impressive offensive lineman I have ever seen at his age. That size, quickness, balance, strength combination comes around once a decade. He needs to learn to sit down on his blocks and doesn’t have much technical skills with his hands but that is teachable.

The floor for Cantwell is Lydon Murtha. However, if he’s got that natural fluidity and the right disposition for the position then he can be be very, very special.

Highlights from Prude’s first three games. He looks like he improved a whole bunch this offseason. Really fluid and good in coverage. 

Last week Barta had two catches for 145 yards and two touchdowns. He also appears to be playing CB instead of safety.

26 minutes ago, MyBloodIsRed16 said:

I was  laser timed in college and I was a SS that played a lot in the box hence my comment.  Did not attend a D1 school tho.  Guess I should have camped at Nebraska looks like they have taken a lot of slow guys over the years lol.  

Ok...this is Alabama's list. They only have one safety that broke 4.5 in the past 25 years. Donovan Jones running a 4.65 as a high schooler before going into a strength & conditioning program is fast enough. 

12 hours ago, Scofrosghost said:

We have a really good chance of landing the top 6 prospects in the state. Does anybody know if that’s ever been done before?

It had to happened a bunch in the old days. I think that 1998 recruiting class probably fit that with nine in-state recruits. Cory Eikmeier also graduated in that class but wasn't a big recruit.

15 hours ago, MyBloodIsRed16 said:

Well coming from someone who ran a 4.6 at 17-18. That's pretty slow for a DB lol.  He'll be a SS and play in the box 

Well, you were really fast. Depending on what sort of clock was used but for a guy that size, a laser timed 4.6 is about a 10.95-11.10 100m. I remember a big-time high school combine with a real electronic timer at the start and stop and amongst the dozen of future all-conference players in attendance only one guy broke 4.6, Percy Harvin with a 4.34.

Just for fun, here's every Husker safety's NFL combine results available.

I think that Brayden Prude speaks to where the staff sees where Nebraska is as a program in recruiting and what is needed to take the next step.

Brayden Prude is a truly exceptional athlete. His size and movement skills are rare. Physically, Prude looks and moves like Obi Melifonwu and Pat Watkins. Nebraska needs athletes like Prude and our staff feels like we need to be ahead of other teams in getting these guys because our program isn’t in a position to make up ground in recruiting yet. The staff felt is was important to get Prude before other schools get the chance to evaluate him.
 

If you watch his game against Westfield; you’ll see (#21) athleticism on special teams (opening kickoff), lack of form tackling leading to a big gain (1:00), and then losing his coverage responsibility and allowing an easy TD (1:21).
 

What you will also see is Prude making three plays in a row inside the 10 to force a field goal by laying the wood on a RB, using his speed to cut of the edge, and then using his agility to break up a pass (3:28). That is what we are trying to harness. He is an incredible athlete with an NFL ceiling if things click. That’s why 247 has him ranked as an 88.
 

It’s obviously a gamble and he’s more likely to be a Lester Ward than a Stanley Jean-Baptiste but that’s where our program is at right now.

This makes sense to me. I was underwhelmed by his junior film but watching his sophomore tape told me that he was playing out of position as a safety. He doesn’t have that sort of instinct to come down hill from 15 yards away and he seems uncomfortable accepting an offensive player in zone coverage. He’s a good high school safety but doesn’t have the traits for success in college.
 

On the other hand, at corner, Barta has the hips and speed to play cornerback at the next level. He can mirror his man really well and uses his feet and body to disrupt a route putting him with the advantage. His running 4.45 and 4.5 at 6’1” 175 lbs and being named MVP at the ESPN camp at CB gives me a little more hope.

On 6/2/2023 at 4:19 PM, Vince R. said:

I am going to get killed for this but here we go. This is a very overrated prospect. His track prowess does not carry over. He can only play in a straight line and he doesn't demonstrate burning ability in that. He lacks suddenness which is much more important. Fast guys on the field have spring like ability. He runs choppy and takes too long to get going. He has good size and could eventually develop into a good receiver but it won't be because of his track times. 

 

Considering that he's a two year to wait, I wouldn't even bother. 

I totally get where you're coming from, that he's more of a glider than that explosive change of direction like Tyreek Hill. Honestly, he reminds me a lot of Cordarrelle Patterson in the way that he plays the game but Bair is faster. Right now, he is so athletically superior to everybody on the field that often he just gets open and then has to wait on the ball. It's tough to be crisp when you're worrying about the ball being on target and don't have consistent velocity. He'll be able to be a pure split end/kick returner in college and he'll get schemed into advantageous one-on-ones.

I think a Devon Allen  or Anthony Schwartz like career is reasonable and would be a disappointment relative to a top 50 player. But that wouldn't be a wasted offer by any means.

19 hours ago, Mavric said:

Ran 10.94 to qualify 8th in the 100 meters at the state meet today.  Only sophomore in the finals.  And I would guess not many of the finalists are 200+ pounds.

It's not especially important, but he weighed in at 190 lbs at a camp in KC in April. Still incredibly fast for a young guy that shot puts 55'.

41 minutes ago, Cdog923 said:

 

If her were to come here, I'd throw 30 lbs on him and make him a LB.

That makes sense, I think he could be a good rover LB like Domann was for us but I think he's pretty skinny to be taking on the OL at the college level when he's so good at making plays in space downhill.

Campbell looks like a clone of Kansas State returner/receiver Brandon Banks. I'm usually warry of guys with such tiny frames but he is just so dangerous when he gets to play one-on-one. His experience at running back makes me a lot more confident in his abilities.

Teddy Rezac certainly fits the mold of what Notre Dame likes to do with their safeties. He plays really well between the hashes and can come down and make tackles. I don't know if our defense fits him quite as well.

Smith’s junior film is really, really good. I think that he’s a lot more athletic than a bunch of guys ranked above him. He’s a devastating blocker where a lot of guys get a plus for just being willing, great hands, tough after the catch, and uses speed and agility while running solid routes to get open rather than just speed. Neil Smith was a stud athlete in HS that filled out his frame so much during his college and NFL career.

It’s easy to imagine him similar to Quincy Enunwa at WR or Jonnu Smith at TE. Of course, plenty of guys lose a lot of flexibility as the put on weight and strength.

Kissayi is very interesting. His frame combined with spectacular movement skills and relentless pursuit of the ball carrier are exactly what you want out of an edge. He's a converted QB who played last year against smaller linemen, so he was able to just be the best athlete on the field a lot of the time so he doesn't really apply technique to his pass rush. He doesn't use his hands at all to gain an advantage. Very boom or bust sort of guy. You have to trust your coaching and S&C if he's going to contribute.