Huskers Recruiting: Losing Nebraska Legacies Reason For Worry

While Huskers recruiting started out amazingly well this cycle, the pace has slowed. That isn’t most concerning thing that’s happened when it comes to filling the 2015 class this week.

C.J. Johnson, son of former Nebraska wingback Clester Johnson, committed to new Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl on July 3. That should be what causes the audible “what?”

Johnson is arguably one of, if not the most talented in-state recruits Nebraska was eyeballing, yet he had no Husker offer. I’m not a mind-reader (I just play one on the Internet), but I’m going to guess that he’ll stay with the Cowboys even if Nebraska offers.

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Why?

Bohl, a former Nebraska assistant and North Dakota State head coach has proven he can do the most important thing a football coach can do: Win.

He went 104–32 at his previous gig while giving Bison faithful three consecutive national championship seasons in a division with a playoff.

Oh, and he brought the College GameDay set to Fargo.

Is Johnson going to be a part of any FBS national championship teams or even play in the College Football Playoff? Probably not, but he may very well be a part of multiple Mountain West Conference championship teams. With proper development, heck, who knows how far he could go in his career?

Still, this isn’t only about Johnson.

Let’s talk Joe Burrow. Does that name sound familiar? His father is Jimmy Burrow, an assistant under Frank Solich at Ohio who previously coached with Solich at Nebraska and even played for the Cornhuskers. If there were any more family ties, Michael J. Fox would be involved.

Despite having Kevin Dillman as a commit, the Huskers are recruiting another quarterback. Burrow never got a scholarship offer from Nebraska, eventually committed to Ohio state this past May.

Yes, the No. 12 dual-threat quarterback and No. 17 prospect (according to the 247Sports Composite Index) in one of the most talent-rich states in the union didn’t get an offer.

I’m pretty sure there’s a picture somewhere of him in a Big Red onesie.

I’ll go back to my previous question: Why?

The Big Red punches Colorado in the gut and steals the state’s best recruits, it snags one of the best running backs out of New Orleans, LA and claims two quality prospects out of SEC country.

Somehow, some way, a kid in Nebraska’s backyard (one of the best, pardon me) and another with bloodlines so pure, he could have a transfusion with any team member past or present don’t get offered.

Here are three things I know:

– Craig Bohl knows a winner

– Urban Meyer knows a winner

– Nebraska’s 2015 class is looking good for now, but would look better with Johnson and Burrow.

The Huskers’ recruiting needs to involve keeping recruits like offensive guard Michael Decker and defensive lineman Daishon Neal, both current commits, in-state.

Every. Single. Year.

It’s not just about Frank Solich and Ohio as a threat anymore. Sure, Nebraska’s former head coach has won his share of postseason hardware coaching the Bobcats, but Bohl could be the true menace.

If we can take anything away from Johnson and Burrow’s departures, it’s that recruiting has changed for the Big Red yet again.

The next major question is if the Huskers can’t rest assured that the best in their state will wait for an offer or that legacies aren’t cherishing the scarlet N as much as they used to, what now?

Or, a better question: Why?

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