With the dead period officially here, Nebraska can’t host any more visits for a while, but commitments could still pour in as prospects like Monday’s pledge from Barrett Kitrell become public. Kitrell’s Monday morning announcement gives offensive line coach Geep Wade another big-time win, especially since the in-state lineman was seriously considering next-door rival Iowa.
The 6-foot-4, 275-pound IOL chose the Cornhuskers over Iowa and Tennessee. However, the race really seemed to be between the Hawkeyes and Huskers as he got closer to his commitment announcement. Tennessee was holding out hope, but without a visit before his pledge, it seemed unlikely he was headed to Rocky Top.
Barrett Kitrell picks Nebraska football over Iowa and Tennessee
The newest Nebraska commit, ranked No. 627 nationally, No. 41 at IOL, and No. 4 in Nebraska in the 247Sports Composite Ratings, has forged a standout career at Ashland-Greenwood. It’s a safe bet the smaller school has quite a bit to do with why he’s only a 3-star prospect. The lineman is also a great track-and-field athlete. As a junior, recorded several discus reps beyond 170 feet, including a throw of 181-11, in Spring 2026. Also posted a 53-4 shot put rep, per MileSplit. Those kinds of performances earned him several honors, including Athlete of the Week for the state.
Kitrell was also the Nebraska Class B discus silver medalist (172-2) as a sophomore, while finishing fourth at state in the shot put (54-1.25). The massive offensive lineman also logged a 54-6 indoor shot put rep in Spring 2025. His abilities in track and field were evident from an early age, as he posted freshman season-best throws of 47-7.5 in the shot put and 145-1 in the discus in Spring 2024.
On the football side of things, Kitrell has been a priority target for offensive line coach Geep Wade since first offering. The 3-star visited Nebraska four times since Wade extended the offer, while his position spent a day with Kitrell and his family in Ashland during the spring evaluation period.
Wade’s time with the family, as well as head coach Matt Rhule and Wade answering questions from Kitrell on his official visit, was enough to convince the in-state legacy prospect that Nebraska was the place he belonged: “They were really good about answering those [questions] and I definitely got some of my concerns cleared up,” the newest Husker commit told Rivals. “The longer you build the relationship, the deeper you can talk with the coaches about things you’re thinking about, I think those prior visits and Geep coming to our house built that relationship.”
Add us as a preferred source on Google