2024 athlete Keelan Smith commits to Nebraska

Liberty (Mo.) North three-star athlete Keelan Smith has committed to play football at Nebraska.

He chose the Huskers over an offer from Missouri, along with interest from Arkansas, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa and a few others.

Smith is the No. 871 overall prospect in the 2024 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He ranks as the nation’s No. 50 athlete and the No. 13 recruit in Missouri.

On3 is slightly higher on him than other recruiting services, tabbing him as the nation’s No. 43 athlete in the most recent On300 rankings.

Smith was offered by Nebraska’s previous staff last fall and kept in contact with the new one under Matt Rhule.

“I was definitely very excited,” Smith told HuskerOnline of his offer. “Just knowing that all of the work I’ve put into football has finally paid off in a way. And even thought I have an offer I’m not satisfied with having just one offer.”

As a junior last season playing a hybrid wide receiver/tight end role, Smith caught 50 passes for 850 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging nearly 17 yards per reception.

Smith joins a top-25 class for Nebraska

The commitment of Smith is the Huskers’ sixth in the 2024 cycle. Nebraska already has pledges from three-star interior offensive lineman Gibson Pyle, three-star defensive lineman Ashton Murphy, four-star safety Roger Gradney, and three-stars Willis McGahee IV and Ian Flynt.

The Cornhuskers’ 2024 recruiting class sits currently at No. 25 in the 2024 On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.