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Nebraska football defensive line target is closing in on new school

Unfortunately, when Keona Wilhite pulls the trigger of his commitment, it doesn't appear Nebraska football will be the choice.

By Oliver Vandervoort

Aug 28, 2021; Pasadena, California, USA; Detailed view of Coach Donahue decal in the memory of
Aug 28, 2021; Pasadena, California, USA; Detailed view of Coach Donahue decal in the memory of / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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Since Keona Wilhite was let out of his national letter of intent from the University of Washington, the Nebraska football team has been working overtime to try and scoop him up. Unfortunately, it’s possible all that work was for naught. 

The defensive lineman is expected to be making his new choice any day now. After all, the final national signing period for his 2024 class is just over a week away. When he does make the call, it’s expected he’ll decide between the Nebraska football program, UCLA, and Michigan State. 

At this point, if some of the top recruiting analysts in the country are right, Wilhite’s announcement will be anticlimactic. On Tuesday, Greg Biggins, Blair Angulo, Brandon Huffman, and Steve Wiltfong all put in Crystal Balls for the Bruins.

That of course isn’t a total shock. Wilhite hails from Tucson, Arizona and teams from the conference formerly known as the Pac-12 were always recruiting him the hardest. Nebraska football swept in when Washington fell off because the Huskies are going to be in the Big Ten, but it appears clear he’d still like to stay closer to home.

It’s just an added “bonus” that if Wilhite does end up going to UCLA, he’ll now be playing for a different Nebraska football rival.

Nebraska football defensive line target is closing in on new school

If one wants to hold out hope that the Huskers can still make a push before he signs on the dotted line, then what he told the Omaha World-Herald should lend some optimism to the situation.

“I like their defense,” Wilhite told the paper. “Their coaches design it based on the opponent. Each week, it changes, so it keeps the offense on its toes and to the defense’s advantage. I really like that part.”

It’s possible having guys on the Nebraska football staff like Tony White and Terrance Knighton could win him over. However, Wilhite has also said that his family will have a big say in where he goes. 

It’s not hard to imagine they’d like the big defensive lineman physically closer to home, even if he’ll be playing on the other side of the country more plenty.

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