Nebraska hopes to keep recruiting momentum with key junior day

After a somewhat disappointing 2022 recruiting class and a staff shakeup that brought a lot of new faces to Lincoln, the Nebraska Cornhuskers have gained some traction with the 2023 recruiting class. The Big Red already has five quality commitments and hopes to continue the recruiting momentum with a key junior day this weekend.

The Huskers plan to host more than 30 recruits in the 2023, 2025 and 2025 classes and prospects from all over the country are set to see the campus on Saturday. Here’s a look at some of the top prospects expected in Lincoln.

4-stars highlight Nebraska junior day

The headliner on the list is On3 Consensus four-star linebacker Andrew Harris out of Altamonte Springs (Fla.) Lake Brantley. The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine says the Huskers are right in the thick of things for Harris, along with Florida. The Cornhuskers and Gators are both listed as the leaders at 32.8%.

Another key four-star expected on campus is coveted local star Malachi Coleman of Lincoln (Neb.) East. To put it simply, Coleman — the No. 1 recruit in Nebraska’s 2023 class and a top 210 prospect nationally — is a must-get for the Huskers. He plans to wait for quite a while to make his decision, but the Big Red are clearly in the driver’s seat and can solidify its standing this weekend.

Key line targets expected at Nebraska

While adding top-skill talent has been a priority for Scott Frost, he knows B1G battles are won upfront on the offensive and defensive lines. That’s why he’s made it a priority to get some top targets on campus this weekend for junior day visits.

The Huskers have been targeting Logan Reichert of Raytown (Mo.) High for weeks now, and he’ll be on campus for the junior day. Currently, Missouri is believed to be the team to beat for the three-star offensive tackle, according to the On3 RPM. But the Huskers have been pushing hard for him. This weekend could be big in his decision-making process.

Another line target to watch is three-star offensive tackle Calvin Clements of Lawrence (Kan.) Free State. Kansas State, Kansas and Iowa State are believed to be in the top spots for him at this point. But should the Huskers offer this weekend, it could shake up his recruitment.

Three-star interior offensive lineman Paris Patterson of East St. Louis, Ill., is also coming to campus this weekend, and he does have a Husker offer. The Big Red is listed in the top spot along with Tennessee, according to the On3 RPM.

Riley Van Poppel of Argyle, Texas, is somebody Husker fans have been tracking for weeks. Van Poppel is the son of former MLB pitcher Todd Van Poppel, and the Huskers have offered early on. The three-star offensive tackle doesn’t seem to be in a huge hurry to make a decision. But this weekend’s trip could be important for the Huskers to keep momentum with him.

To help with the Huskers’ recruiting efforts with the other line prospects, early local offensive line commits Sam Sledge and Gunnar Gottula are also slated to be there for the junior day.

Other names to watch for Huskers

• Three-star cornerback Shawn Battle is scheduled to be at Nebraska this weekend. The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine lists Penn State and Rutgers as Battle’s top teams.
• This weekend could be key for Elkhorn (Neb.) South pass rusher Maverick Noonan. Noonan, whose father Danny Noonan was a Husker defensive lineman, has 10 offers including Nebraska, Iowa, Iowa State, Michigan State, Minnesota, Stanford and more. While Noonan is an in-state Husker legacy with a Nebraska offer, he didn’t grow up a die-hard Husker fan and is looking for a school that fits him the best.
• St. Louis (Mo.) St. Louis University School three-star tight end Zach Ortwerth is one of the fastest-rising prospects in the country, and the Huskers were in on him early on. That early attention has put Nebraska in a prime spot for him, and he’s somebody to keep a real close eye on this weekend.
• The Huskers have yet to offer Wichita (Kan.) Collegiate School three-star athlete Wesley Fair. But his stock is shooting through the roof and he’s a coveted target for Iowa State, Kansas and Kansas State. There’s a sense that Nebraska could get in this race right away with an offer, too.

Two elite 2024 targets visiting Nebraska

Bellevue (Neb.) West receiver Dae’vonn Hall is one of the top wide receiver recruits in the area and is considered one of the best 2024 recruits in the entire country. Hall has offers from Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas State and Iowa. However, Nebraska is going to be awfully tough to beat. That’s especially true after he told HuskersOnline recently that he views new Nebraska receivers coach Mickey Joseph as an idol.

Kansas City (Mo.) St. Pius X EDGE Jayshawn Ross said he’s excited about his visit to Nebraska this weekend. The visit to Nebraska is one of only two visits he’s lined up this spring, and it’s a sign the Huskers are right in the thick of things for the coveted 2024 target.

There’s even a top 2025 defensive line target Tyson Terry of Omaha (Neb.) North expected this weekend. Terry has offers from Iowa State, Kansas, Minnesota and Nebraska. He said he talks to Husker coaches often.