Nebraska Football: Team in the running for 2021 physical running back

Nebraska football continues to make running back a priority position.

As recruits begin to pull for the 2021 cycle, Nebraska football is very much in the mix for some of these names. Friday, Nebraska football landed in the top group for 2021 three-star running back Malik Newton.

Newton is the 35th overall running back in his class, and the 14th overall player in his class from the state of Georgia per the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is set to announce his commitment on November 30. In addition to Nebraska, he also has offers from Temple, West Virginia, Charlotte, and Clemson.

Most recently, he took in an official visit to Temple on February 1. He was a bit busier during 2019. He took unofficial visits to Penn State on October 19 and North Carolina on October 26. He was offered by Louisville on October 10.

In his top group are the likes of Pittsburgh, Penn State, Temple, Virginia Tech, Clemson, South Carolina, and Maryland. Nebraska certainly has many good schools to contend with for Newton’s recruitment.

What could he bring to the Nebraska football program? When I watch his highlights, I see someone that is very precise when he runs the football. He is not the fastest running back in the country, but he does take his time and lets the play develop. Once he is able to figure out where he is running to, he  can explode in the open field. He is a very patient runner.

He sort of reminds me of Dedrick Mills in that aspect. Mills is not the fastest, but he runs with power. Newton plays the same way. He is not the fastest running back, but he makes no hesitation once he sees the open field. He runs downhill, and is careful with the football. He would bring a Mills-like play style to the program.

Currently, Nebraska’s 2021 recruiting class ranks 17th nationally and his sixth overall in the Big Ten per the 247Sports team rankings. Adding Newton what undoubtedly help strengthen the offense in the class. They have already managed to address the offensive line, adding Teddy Prochazaka and Henry Lutovsky to the class. Having a running back like Newton to run through a stout offensive line is certainly ideal.

Hopefully, Nebraska football will be able to seal the deal for Newton. They definitely have proven that they can recruit running backs well. Landing Newton would just be an affirmation of that sentiment. Furthermore, it would continue the pipeline of strong running backs.