With 2024 nearly wrapped up (still one or two we are looking at in the 2024 class) we need to take a look at what our programs needs are for 2025. Nebraska has 18 seniors according to On3’s scholarship distribution chart, but I think we will get to 20 for our 2025 class. With the #1 QB in the 2024 class on your team, capitalizing on that the following cycle can put us in a position to get recruits we may not otherwise have had a chance with.
One thing I think this staff “screwed up” on last year was offering some kids way too early at camps. While I understand the sentiment “i’ll trust this staff” by many fans, I think they weren’t aware of some of the talent they could get to Nebraska compared to places like Temple and even Baylor. Nebraska got in a spot where they got in a numbers crunch much too early with some big fish still interested. I expect that to be remedied this year, and they can capitalize on the Raiola momentum and get some great prospects.
And you saw that a little bit with the 2024 class where fans had no idea how we were still going after guys with certain people already committed. We eventually let some guys loose, brought a couple in on walk-on/NIL deals right away, etc. But i’m hoping we get a bit more selective this cycle. I trust this staff with evaluation and development, especially with what I saw from the OL and defense last year, but I still think we can and will upgrade talent brought in.
Let’s get into what I think our needs are…
Quarterback – 1
I’ve heard the theory that with Raiola now here as well as Kaelin, that we would bypass a 2025 high school QB and turn our focus to the 2026 class, and I don’t believe that to be the case. I think people started believing that due to our main 2025 target Alex Manske not visiting once we got the Raiola commitment, but Rhule is a firm believer in developing talent and we don’t want to get in a spot where we continue to go to the portal to add depth at this position. Nebraska has 3 scholarship QBs on the roster with Haarberg, Raiola, and Kaelin, but 4 is the optimal number and many times schools will have 5. And who knows what happens with Haarberg if Raiola wins the job whether that be a position switch or something else. Typically you want your starter, and then 2 or 3 guys developing and learning the system battling it out to take over once he is gone. Manske had a relationship with a staffer of ours that is now at A&M and they are in heavy pursuit. But the long and short of it is, even this staff knows they want someone in the 2025 class at this spot as we’ve since offered Matt Zollers out of Pennsylvania (January 15th). While I wouldn’t say this is a huge priority position, I think we need to at least get someone in for depth and to start learning the offense. The state also has a QB prospect starting to get some interest from FBS schools, so we will see what the spring brings for him in Sebastian Circo who is transferring to Millard North from Omaha North.
Runningback – 1 or 2 (1 commit)
Nebraska has 5 scholarship RBs on the roster for 2024 with Ives, Johnson, Ervin Jr, Johnson, and Oregon transfer Dante Dowdell. They lose Johnson for sure, and Ervin Jr could technically come back but if he suffers another injury who knows. It’s very important to get a RB in each class in my opinion, and Nebraska needs to continue to stockpile talent there. Kewan Lacy was a massive homerun commitment for our 2024 class, but he decommitted after blowing up his senior year. Nebraska already has one RB committed in their 2025 class in Conor Booth from Wahoo Neumann. I wouldn’t be surprised to see us go after one more here as Booth could also be a fullback, but with Booth already on board we have a great foundation for 2025’s class at this spot. If the staff believes Booth is a fullback for them, I expect one more. If he’s a RB in this class for them, they will definitely wait for the right person to come along to grab one more guy if he’s right. I fully expect 2 RBs in this class though.
Wide Receiver 3-4 (1 commit)
Nebraska has 9 first or second year players on their roster at this spot, so this isn’t an extremely high priority. I like it when we are in positions like that, as we can really be selective and not reach on players. Nebraska already has one WR in their class in CJ Simon out of Moore, Oklahoma and I would expect another couple additions to this group for the 2025 class. Nebraska also has an offer out to Lincoln Southwest WR and Husker legacy Jackson Carpenter who I believe will end up committing to Nebraska. With him and Simon on board eventually, I expect one to two more commitments after that. We are stockpiled with young talent at this spot, but with Raiola on campus the high profile guys are interested in coming and catching the ball from him. I think we will get closer to 4, and there will be at least one highly rated guy that comes on board.
Tightend – 1-2
Nebraska brought in 3 TEs in their 2024 class, but Nelson is kind of a swiss army knife, and Flynt/Ingwerson will start at TE an then may end up at tackle. But if there is any position that the state of Nebraska pushes out more Power 5 prospects than any other place, it’s the TE spot. 2025 is no different, Chase Loftin is ranked as the #2 prospect in Nebraska according to On3, and he is getting looks from places like Oklahoma. He was at Elkhorn North for the first 3 seasons of his career, and will transfer to Millard South for his senior season. Nebraska needs to lock up Loftin, and that would give them Nelson to go along with Fidone and their TE room is full of stars (according to the recruiting services). There is no shortage of high-profile TEs we want, as Rhule was recently in Goodland, Kansas looking at Linkon Cure who is every bit as good as Nelson. I won’t spend too much time on him as I think he is Kansas State bound, but we should be looking at 1-2 players at this spot. Lock up Loftin somehow, and then assess where you think you are after this 2024 season.
Offensive Line –
Nebraska has 22 scholarship OL according to On3 and that’s a massive amount. 11 of those are freshmen or redshirt freshmen, so we are grooming a good crop to take over once our veterans leave. There hasn’t been a ton of movement on offers from this staff to offensive linemen, and I think that boils down to what we talked about earlier in that this staff likes to get their eyes on kids before they offer. We do have a local kid that is getting some attention from Gretna named Kalvin Janssen. This room and offers will develop over the spring, but I expect 2-3 because you can’t go a year without getting a couple guys in. Not a ton to say here unfortunately.
Join us on Wednesday when we go over the defensive needs for this cycle!
