Nebraska football: Ru’Quan Buckley fills immediate pass-rushing need
This was a big commitment for Nebraska football.
On Saturday Nebraska football landed a commitment from 2021 three-star defensive tackle Ruquan Buckley. He made the decision at his school on Saturday.
In addition to Nebraska, he also was recruited by Michigan State, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Florida State, and Oregon. Nebraska was able to beat out all of those schools. They also filled a need.
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Measuring in at 6-foot-6, 270 pounds, he is extremely fast and can shed blocks with ease. When I watch some of his film, I see a player that is not afraid to rush the passer and make the tackle.
He is also very good in terms of defending the run. He can shed his block quickly and is able to find the ball carrier with ease. This is something that Nebraska football certainly needs. They have had trouble rushing the passer this year, and it’s been very noticeable.
Oftentimes, Nebraska has to rely on their secondary. While the secondary is talented, there definitely needs to be some form of a pass rush. Buckley provides that. He can come off the edge, as well as straight rush. That versatility is what is needed in a Nebraska football defense.
With this commitment, the Nebraska football 2021 class adds even more talent. They are ranked 20th nationally and fourth overall in the Big Ten per the 247Sports Team Rankings. Buckley was recruited by defensive coordinator Erik Chinander and defensive line coach Tony Tuioti.
As Buckley’s high school coach Brendan Kimball told 247Sports, Buckley’s relationship with Tuioti was a selling point. Buckley liked what Tuioti brought to the table, and he liked the vibe that Nebraska football brought as well.
"“I felt comfortable because I felt family and energy and a vibe when I got into Lincoln, Nebraska,” Buckley said. “Going there on a visit, I loved the coaches, the people, the team, everybody. And they recruited me for defensive end always. They said I would fit in by bringing energy to the group.”"
Hopefully, Nebraska football will be able to continue to fill the need for pass rushers. Buckley is a good start, and I was hoping the program would be able to land him ever since his recruitment began.
Next. Four key stars from win over Purdue. dark
I’ll be very interested to see if Nebraska goes after more pass rushers in the 2021 class, or if they continue to focus on the offensive side of the football. I can’t wait to see what Buckley does against the offensive lines of the Big Ten and college football in general.