Nebraska football is starting to look more towards 2020 and beyond and that continued Thursday with an offer to fast-rising DE prospect Aaron Lewis.
With National Signing Day right around the corner, the Nebraska football team is just about finished with the 2019 recruiting class, outside of maybe a graduate transfer.
So it makes sense that the Huskers would turn their attention to 2020 and even 2021. This weekend’s junior day will be a big step in that direction as Nebraska football will welcome a number of targets to Lincoln.
However, Nebraska is already extending and has extended a bunch of offers to 2020 targets and the latest is to 2020 defensive end Aaron Lewis, a 6-foot-6 defensive end prospect from the state of New Jersey.
Right now, Lewis is listed only as a three-star in the 247 composite rankings and is the No. 636 player overall, as well as 33rd at his position of strong-side defensive end. However, Lewis has been getting offers left and right. He has 11 total including a number of Big-Ten offers.
Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Nebraska ⚪️🛑 pic.twitter.com/6dnYb8D3m9
— aaron.lewis (@aaron_lewis71) January 31, 2019
Wisconsin, Penn State, Ohio State and Rutgers have all offered Lewis and the 18th-ranked player in New Jersey out of the 2020 class has already taken an unofficial visit to Penn State. Additionally, Pittsburgh, Boston College, West Virginia, Baylor and Temple have also made offers.
The offer from Ohio State came Wednesday and Wisconsin just offered him a scholarship last month, so it definitely seems like his stock is on the rise. And from a Huskers perspective, it’s time to get to work on 2020 because as of right now, they have just one commit and that’s from dual-threat quarterback Logan Smothers.
Adding defensive ends and/or outside linebackers that can serve as edge rushers has been a priority for the Huskers and remains one in 2019. Lewis, who is 235 pounds, could be an ideal guy to move to outside linebacker in the Huskers odd front. He’s long and that’s exactly the kind of body you want.
Not only can he bend and get around the corner, but with his long arms, it will make it easier for Lewis to set the edge in the run game. That’s another reason why the Huskers are going after so many prospects that have that kind of length. On top of that, if he bulked up, he could eventually fit into a role as a five-technique.
While there are guys Nebraska football still wants to add with its four or so scholarships left in 2019, Lewis appears to be rising fast in 2020 class and it’s a good thing the Huskers are getting in on him because he seems like a great fit for Erik Chinander’s defensive front.