Nebraska Cornhuskers rise in On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings

Nebraska landed one of its biggest recruiting wins of the 2024 cycle on Thursday night when DeSoto (Texas) four-star cornerback Mario Buford announced his commitment to the Cornhuskers. His decision elevated Nebraska’s 2024 recruiting class to No. 21 in the 2024 On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

The Cornhuskers’ group, which is also No. 6 in the Big Ten, rose four spots from No. 25. Head coach Matt Rhule and his staff now have commitments from two four-stars and six three-stars.

Buford took an official visit to Nebraska last weekend, where his brother — Marques Buford — plays for the Cornhuskers. Marques started 11 games for Nebraska last season and finished with 59 tackles, two interceptions, three passes defended and a forced fumble. 

“This new staff has recruited me harder than any other school,” Buford told On3’s Sam Spiegelman on May 31. “They have definitely shown they’re interested in me and want to coach me. This coaching staff feels like they want to make an impact. When I went to practice, I watched them practice and the way they keep the pace up, keep their confidence levels up.”

Buford is the No. 314 overall prospect and No. 34 cornerback 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. 54 player in Texas. 

On3 rates Buford higher than other recruiting services, according to the Industry Comparison. Per the 2024 On300, he is the No. 144 overall prospect, No. 20 cornerback and the No. 29 player in Texas. 

For more Nebraska recruiting intel, check out HuskerOnline.

Buford is a big addition to Nebraska’s 2024 class

With Buford now headed to Lincoln, Rhule and Co. currently have commitments from four players from Texas. Altair (Texas) Rice Consolidated four-star safety Roger Gradney, Katy (Texas) Taylor three-star tight end Ian Flynt and Houston (Texas) Klein Cain three-star interior offensive lineman Gibson Pyle are the others.

Nebraska’s class also contains Miami (Fla.) Christopher Columbus three-star linebacker Willis McGahee IV, Bellevue (Neb.) Bellevue West three-star quarterback Daniel Kaelin, Liberty (Mo.) Liberty North three-star athlete Keelan Smith and Elkhorn (Neb.) Elkhorn South three-star defensive lineman Ashton Murphy.

“Nebraska has recruited Mario Buford incredibly well going back to getting the offer under Scott Frost through interim head coach Mickey Joseph, and now to Matt Rhule,” Bryan Munson of HuskerOnline said. “Ask Buford and he will tell you that Rhule and his staff have dialed it up a notch since they got to Lincoln compared to those other head coaches.”