Nebraska hopes to kick start 2023 class with star-studded junior day

Nebraska hopes to regain recruiting momentum this weekend with its first major junior day event after a somewhat lackluster 2022 recruiting class and a staff shakeup that brought a lot of new faces to Lincoln.

The Huskers are set for two junior days this spring, but the first one on Saturday could go a long way toward setting the tone for Nebraska heading into the spring official visit season.

The Big Red are expecting more than 20 top 2023 and 2024 players on campus Saturday for the event. The list includes around 10 players that have already been offered by the Huskers and early three-star OT commitment Gunnar Gottula of Lincoln (Neb.) Southeast.

4-stars highlight Nebraska junior day

The headliner on the list is On3 Consensus four-star interior offensive lineman Amir Herring out of Michigan. The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine is leaning heavily toward Michigan, but the Huskers will get a chance to make a big impression this weekend.

Another big name on the visit list is Lee’s Summit (Mo.) High four-star receiver Joshua Manning. The 6-foto-3, 190-pound Manning is quickly emerging as one of the top playmakers in the Midlands, and the Huskers are pushing hard to make a big impression on the visit.

“I talked to their new receiver coach (Mickey Joseph) last week, and I’m excited about getting up there for the visit,” said Manning, who ranks as the No. 8 player in a loaded 2023 class in Missouri.

On3 Consensus four-star offensive tackle Jerome Williams is also set to be in Lincoln for the junior day. Williams, the No. 2 player in Minnesota, is developing into a big-time Midwest recruiting battle between Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa State and Missouri.

Nebraska looks to impress offered targets

Waverly, Iowa, three-star linebacker Asa Newsom is the younger brother of current Husker Mosai Newsom. The 6-foot-4, 205-pounder is currently trending toward Iowa and Missouri, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. But that could change after this weekend’s visit to Lincoln.

Three-star Colorado linebacker Blake Purchase is heading to Lincoln for the junior day shortly after landing an offer. Purchase does have a long list of national suitors. So, again the Big Red has some work to do this weekend to land the second-ranked junior in Colorado.

Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Washington safety Watts McBride picked up an offer from Nebraska after an impressive camp performance this summer. This weekend will be a return visit to Lincoln for him. Iowa is considered the leader, according to the RPM. But a strong push from Nebraska could sway momentum in the Huskers’ direction.

Could new offers emerge for Huskers?

Lincoln (Neb.) High athlete Beni Ngoyi has been on the Huskers’ radar for quite some time. But he has yet to receive an offer from Nebraska. He has offers already from Pittsburgh, Kansas, South Dakota and Northern Iowa. But you have to think if the Big Red offers, it would be one he’d quickly accept.

Also watch out for what happens with William Watson III, who is making the visit from Springfield (Mass.) Central. The 6-foot-1, 177-pound quarterback was offered by Husker offensive coordinator Mark Whipple when he was at Pittsburgh. Intel indicates Nebraska could quickly move into the driver’s seat with an offer.

The same is true with Aycen Stevens, a sought-after athlete/quarterback from Indianapolis (Ind.) Decatur Central. He already has a long list of offers from Iowa State, Tennessee, West Virginia, Marshall and Indiana. But he’s made it clear that a Nebraska offer would mean a lot to him.

Some other out-of-state names to keep an eye on this weekend include three-star Texas cornerback Cayden Fortson, fast-rising Ohio athlete Malik Hartford and Oklahoma running back Erik McCarty. All three are becoming hot targets nationally. That’s especially true as coaches have been able to hit the recruiting trail during the January contact period.

Top 2024 RB set to visit

While he’s still a few years away from signing, 2024 running back prospect Titus Cram of Bondurant (Iowa) Bondurant-farrar is an important junior day visitor.

After putting up monster numbers as a sophomore, Cram become one of the most coveted 2024 prospects in the Midwest.

Iowa was the first school to notice him when they offered him a scholarship on Sept. 18. That was then followed up by offers from Iowa State and then Nebraska. Others will come, too, but Iowa is considered the team to beat by a longshot early on in his recruitment.

But the Huskers have a chance to flip the script this weekend.