No. 1 OT Brandon Baker visits Nebraska

Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei four-star offensive tackle Brandon Baker spent this weekend on an unofficial visit to Nebraska. He was one of multiple blue-chip recruits seeing the Cornhuskers, including Phoenix (Ariz.) Pinnacle Five-Star Plus+ quarterback Dylan Raiola and Lee’s Summit (Mo.) Lee’s Summit North five-star defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri.

Baker is the No. 25 overall prospect and No. 1 offensive tackle in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 2 player in California.

GBR what y’all think? I’m liking this one! pic.twitter.com/6vGgQ3RO5t

— Brandon Baker (@BrandonBaker73) March 26, 2023

“Just the environment, coach (Matt) Rhule, he’s definitely brought a very strategic, I would say, very intentional staff around him,” Baker told Steven Sipple and Sean Callahan of Husker Online on the Nebraska Football Recruit Spotlight. “(They’re) just wanting to develop young men. That’s definitely something unique about him. Obviously coming from the National Football League, (that’s) something you don’t see in that. I really like how he emphasizes on (how) they’re not here to just develop us as football players, but as well, as men.”

“I would say this staff gels really well, honestly, one of the best I’ve seen thus far,” he added. “I think a key part of that is coach Matt, he brings a lot of his ex-players in. He said about 16 of them are on staff, so they have good chemistry just off the bat. So that’s definitely something that’s really important.”

For more Nebraska recruiting intel, check out HuskerOnline.

Nebraska received Baker’s fourth visit of the month. He previously saw Miami (March 4), USC (March 17) and Ohio State (March 20).

According to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, Oregon has a commanding lead for Baker’s commitment at 83.3%. The 6-foot-4.5, 285-pound recruit is interested in returning to the Ducks.

“There’s definitely a couple schools I would love to get to in Georgia, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas, Oregon and really who knows, maybe come back to Nebraska,” Baker shared with Callahan and Sipple. “I was able to see the new facility, so really excited to get back, check that out.”

The Cornhuskers’ 2024 recruiting class currently contains one commit. Altair (Texas) Rice Consolidated four-star athlete Roger Gradney chose Nebraska on Feb. 20.

Baker later told Bryan Munson of Husker Online that his plan is to return to Lincoln at a later date.

“Definitely,” Baker said. “I wouldn’t even say that is a question. I don’t know if that will be an unofficial visit or an official visit yet.”