The 2017 Nebraska football recruiting class is officially wrapped up. As we thought, there were some surprises and some bummers, but overall, a quality class. It’s time to see what the Husker Corner crew feels about the haul.
Who is your favorite recruit?
Brandon Cavanaugh: Wow. Tough question. I’m going to cheat a bit and have an offensive and defensive favorite. On offense, I have to go with wide receiver Tyjon Lindsey. He’s a fantastic athlete and clearly has a severe competitive streak that should take him far.
Making It Official: Nebraska's 2017 Recruiting Class
On defense, I love-love-love linebacker Avery Roberts. He’s a guy that should fit like a glove in Bob Diaco’s 3-4 defense as an interior linebacker. He’s got the swag of old school Blackshirt linebackers to boot.
Evan Hummel: I’d have to go with Tyjon Lindsey for my favorite. He’s a big name, but I think he’s a special talent who’s extremely versatile.
Sean Martin: Wide recever Tyjon Lindsey, Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas – Blessed with plenty of speed, Lindsey can be used multiple ways, most likely from the slot, and also can contribute on special teams.
Played at — and was a star at — arguably the top high school program in the country. Securing high profile recruits like Lindsey and others in this class can help future recruiting in years to come. Scoring a player of his caliber who de-committed from Ohio State has to be a boost to the morale of the program.
Matt Koeppe: I am going to have to go with Tyjon Lindsey. The receiver may have been a late addition to the class, but once he committed he was all “N”.
He immediately showed lots of love to the university and coaches. He also started to peer recruit for the Huskers right away. How can you not like a guy who is trying to get other highly-ranked recruits to come to NU?
It also helps that he is an electric play-maker. I must admit, I’m a sucker for a guy who knows what to do with the ball in his hands.
Frank Soukop: Jaylin Bradley. Nebraska needed to find a running back after Terrell Newby’s graduation. Bradley is a homegrown player who went largely unrecognized by other schools due to concerns about his academic status.
He has the size and speed to be a big-time player for Nebraska. He rushed for 249 yards and five touchdowns in the Nebraska Class A state championship game alone.
Who do you think will be the sleeper of this class?
Brandon: I’ll take outside linebacker Willie Hampton. He really flew under the radar after committing so early. I had a number of conversations where people flat out forgot he was part of the class. This is another guy I think Diaco will have fun scheming with.
Evan: Austin Allen is my sleeper. Someone needs to step up to replace Cethan Carter, and he might be the guy.
Sean: Offensive tackle Brenden Jaimes, Lake Travis, Tex. Turned down a late offer from Texas, which makes him an immediate favorite of mine. Started three years on the offensive line for one of the top programs in the state.
Brings a winning attitude and could blossom after a year in the weight room following what looks like a redshirt season in 2017.
Matt: I believe Jaylin Bradley is a sleeper. The homegrown running back may be the lowest-rated recruit in the class, but check out his game film. The kid can ball.
He is shifty, quick, and keeps his legs churning at the end of runs. Give him a few years and he could take over as the premier back at Nebraska.
Frank: Chris Walker. The Huskers have done quite well for themselves finding under the radar offensive linemen from in-state. Dylan Utter, Cole Conrad, Samuel Hahn all played a pivotal role on the offensive line for Nebraska this year, and they were all walk-ons.
If the current coaching staff believes that Walker is talented enough to warrant a scholarship, then I tend to believe that he’s going to play a big part in rebuilding The Pipeline.
Who do you think sees the field immediately from this class?
Brandon: Again, it’s hard to deny Tyjon, but I’ll also throw out the potential for another wide receiver in Jaevon McQuitty. I think cornerback Elijah Blades gets a chance to show what he can do if he can jam with wide receivers properly. Linebacker Avery Roberts is a personal favorite of mine.
Sean: Lindsey. He’s a difference-maker and makes plays. Now, it is up to offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf to maximize his potential.
Matt: There are actually quite a few guys who could see the field right away in this class. Let’s start with the receivers. Any, if not all, could see playing time next season. With all of the departing seniors from the year before, do not be surprised if Tyjon Lindsey, Jaevon McQuitty or Keyshawn Johnson Jr. see the field.
I also believe cornerback Elijah Blades could work is way into some playing time. The secondary has quite a few guys returning, but Blades is talented enough to work his way into the mix.
Damion Daniels should have a pretty good shot at clogging up the middle of new defensive coordinator Bob Diaco’s 3-4 defense. Finally, the Huskers will be looking to replace tight ends Cethan Carter, Sam Cotton and Trey Foster. Austin Allen and Kurt Rafdal should both be given a look to fill up a spot.
Frank: Damion Daniels. If there was one massive need for Riley and staff to fill in this class, it was at defensive tackle. When you look at Daniels’ frame, he really fits the size of a prototypical nose guard in a 3-4 defense.
He has the size and agility to be a big gap stuffer while still maintaining the ability to get pressure on the quarterback. If he hits the weight room during the summer and adds some more good mass, he could easily see the field as a true freshman.
What grade do you give this class?
Brandon: I’m glad you asked.
Evan: I’d give the class a B+. The loss of Jamire Calvin was a surprise, so it diminishes it a bit, but it’s a position where they can afford to lose a recruit. This was a receiver-heavy class. Overall, I think it has potential to be a really good class.
Sean: B+. The Huskers get big help in key areas like at the wide receiver position, on the offensive line and on the defensive front. Nabbing Avery Roberts early and away from Penn State was a nice get.
The biggest story this year is the number of top recruits from Texas, Florida, and California (now known affectionately as “Calibraska”) – including cornerback Elijah Blades and former Calabasas teammates Gebbia and Johnson Jr.
If the Big Red is ever going to entertain hopes of becoming a player on the national stage on a consistent basis, the program needs to keep increasing its profile in these fertile areas.
Matt: I would give this class a B+. I think the coaches are moving in the right direction for recruiting. There are some definite playmakers in the class and a few guys who could be under-rated. However, it would have been nice to see the staff grab a few more guys at the end.
Don’t get me wrong, I will take quality over quantity any day. I expect the momentum to carry over into next year. The Huskers should make the final lists for some top-notch players again next season. However, I think they will secure a few more of them this time around.
Frank: Overall, I would give this class a solid B. The big problem was that Nebraska wasn’t able to sign the full 22-23 players that they were anticipating. The coaching staff got some very high-quality talent and filled many positions of need due to prior depth chart mismanagement.
Nebraska football fans shouldn’t want to see Riley and company stop shooting for the moon, but they need to do a better job at judging the recruits that are waiting to announce until National Signing Day so that the Huskers can fill their classes out.