Nebraska football: Riley beats Huskers to the punch on in-state target

Mike Riley and Oregon State swept in and offered a Lincoln kid right under the nose of the Nebraska football staff this weekend in Isaac Gifford.

Never let it be said that Mike Riley didn’t learn from his time with the Nebraska football team. Now back with Oregon State, Riley and company recently offered a class of 2020 recruit from Lincoln by the name of Isaac Gifford.

It turns out Oregon State was the first school to offer the Lincoln Southeast prospect. If that school sounds familiar, you might remember the saga of Bryson Williams.

In the 2018 class, Williams also played at Lincoln Southeast. For whatever reason, the Huskers were late to the game when it came to offering Williams and he signed with Wisconsin in December.

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When Scott Frost and his staff arrived in Lincoln, they made a big push to keep the in-state target, in-state.

Williams, being a man of his word visited with the coaches but honored his earlier commitment during the early signing period.

Now the shoe is on the other foot. Isaac already has ties to Nebraska in the form of his brother.

Luke Gifford is a linebacker on the Cornhuskers currently, but Nebraska has yet to offer Isaac.

One has to think that Riley is looking to have the last laugh when it comes to grabbing an in-state player out from under the Huskers.

Oregon State has to do things like offer talented players early in order to win them over. It’s unlikely that Gifford will pick the Beavers unless they show him plenty of love early.

Having said that, the Nebraska football team cannot get complacent. If the safety from Lincoln Southeast is worth an offer they need to get it going soon. Scott Frost won’t want a Bryson Williams situation on his hands with Isaac Gifford.