Nebraska Football: Mikai Gbayor fits Nebraska defense nicely

Nebraska football picked up a commitment on Friday.

After Keyshawn Greene entered the transfer portal earlier in the day, Nebraska football picked up a commitment from inside linebacker Mikai Gbayor.

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Gbayor is the 30th overall inside linebacker in the 2021 class, and the 16th overall player in his class from the state of New Jersey per the 247Sports Composite Rankings. In addition to Nebraska, he was also offered by Rutgers, Syracuse, Virginia, and Alabama. On the Nebraska front, he was recruited by linebackers coach Barrett Ruud and defensive line coach Mike Dawson.

I mentioned earlier in the week about how this would be a big commitment for the Nebraska football program. Measuring in at six-foot-two, 220 pounds, Gbayor reacts quickly to the football, and can tackle solidly. He is able to wrap up and make a tackle in the backfield as well as chase a receiver in the flats and lay the big hit.

In today’s game of football, where offense rules the day, you need defensive players that can take proper pursuit angles and react quickly. Gbayor does all of those things. It’s interesting to watch him play the game, as he is almost a hybrid of two positions. He is almost like a safety, in the way he reacts. He will definitely be able to fit the Nebraska football defense, and I’m interested to see where he will fit and how he will fit.

https://twitter.com/MGbayor/status/1302040377462009857?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

With this commitment, the 2021 Nebraska football recruiting class is solid. Currently, they rank 22nd overall nationally and sixth in the Big Ten per the 247Sports Team Rankings. This is a class that has a little bit of everything on both sides of the ball. This will only help Nebraska football moving forward. For the second year in a row, Scott Frost and the Nebraska football coaching staff have put together a talented class.

I am interested to see who else Nebraska take in this class. After a slow start, this class has picked up momentum considerably, particularly in the summer months. Gbayor is a great addition for a program that is looking to get better defensively. Last year, they had some struggles on that side the ball. Hopefully that will change when football resumes.

I will be interested to see how he will be used in Nebraska’s scheme, and what type of role he will play. His body type allows him to play multiple roles on the field.  As for now, here’s to hoping we see him in Lincoln for years to come.