There was a time when Jabari Watkins was one of the crown jewels of Nebraska’s 2027 class. However, while committing to the Huskers in September of last year, he decommitted barely two months later. At the time, it was thought he simply jumped the gun before he was really ready to give his pledge to any team. However, according to the 4-star prospect, he backed off his commitment when the Husker coaches gave him the cold shoulder.
Watkins told the “wild” story of his decommitment almost immediately after it happened, but it went largely unnoticed in an offseason for NU that was plenty wild all on its own.
According to Watkins, the Nebraska coaches “just stopped texting me back.” Watkins was hurt by this and said that he felt, “that they are not interested anymore.” Previously, Watkins was one of seven commits to the Huskers and one of four 4-star recruits. So, of course, the question has to be asked: just why did NU seemingly break off contact?
It’s entirely possible that the offseason was just a little too wild for Matt Rhule and company. For the second straight year, NU made significant changes to its coaching staff, and once again, the defensive coordinator and the position players who worked under him saw the most movement. However, Daikiel Shorts is still very much working in Lincoln, so why would the 4-star receiver fall by the wayside?
Jabari Watkins’ Arkansas pledge adds another wrinkle to Nebraska football recruiting
Watkins getting left at the side of the road, if the receiver can be believed, is even stranger in the wake of some struggles recruiting other receivers in the 2027 class. Most recently, the Huskers believed they had all but closed the deal on one of the speedier wideouts in the class in Matthew Gregory. More than a few analysts put in official predictions for the 4-star prospect to commit to Nebraska. However, on Friday, he committed to the UCLA Bruins instead.
That recruiting loss means the Huskers still have just one commitment at the wide receiver position in Tay Ellis. While he’s plenty talented and has a great rapport with 2027 quarterback commit Trae Taylor, it’s clear that Shorts and the rest of the staff are looking for more than one player at the position.
Whatever the reason, Nebraska’s loss became Arkansas’s gain earlier this week. The prospect went back to the drawing board earlier this year before announcing a new slate of finalists in early April: Arkansas, Florida State, Kentucky, Louisville, Georgia Tech, and Wake Forest.
The rising senior was scheduled to take an official visit to Louisville next weekend, but called off the trip; he had previously canceled an OV to Florida State. He also moved his commitment date up from July 1 to Monday. He then named the Razorbacks as the winner of the sweepstakes.
Nebraska, too, has gone back to the drawing board after either losing Jabari Watkins or cutting him loose. It’s still hard to understand just why NU decided he wasn’t worth keeping in the class, considering he caught 55 passes for 847 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior, helping Thomas County Central High win the 5A state title.
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