Nebraska to host nearly 30 recruits for 2nd junior day

Last weekend Nebraska officially kicked off its 2023 recruiting efforts with a star-studded junior day that brought a quality list of four-star talent to Lincoln.

Now the Huskers hope to replicate that success with their second junior day of the 2023 cycle set for this weekend. While the level of talent might not be as highly touted as last weekend, there’s a good group of important prospects coming to campus.

Follow this link for a list of top targets visiting Nebraska for the junior day.

Nebraska gets chance to impress QB

Ignore the fact that he’s ranked as a three-star in the On3 Consensus. That’s because Ankeny, Iowa, quarterback JJ Kohl is one of the top targets on Nebraska’s 2023 recruiting board.

The Huskers have zeroed in Kohl and Kansas signal-caller Avery Johnson as their top two quarterback targets. That’s why Kohl’s visit to Lincoln is about as big as it gets.

Right now, the Huskers appear to be a little behind in-state Iowa and Iowa State, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. But a positive visit this weekend could quickly change that.

Kohl ranks as the No. 18 quarterback in the country, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Another high school quarterback also set to be on campus for the junior day is Jamison Patton of Des Moines Roosevelt. Patton, who holds an offer from the Huskers, is projected as an athlete or safety in college.

Iowa State, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska are listed as the top four teams, according to the On3 RPM. He was at Iowa and Iowa State last weekend for their junior days.

Texas 4-star RB coming to Lincoln

Manor, Texas, four-star running back Quinten Joyner doesn’t have a Nebraska offer at this point. But that is believed to be changing after this weekend. The Huskers are already projected as one of Joyner’s favorites, according to the On3 RPM. And that could climb even higher with a good trip that ends with Joyner heading home with an offer.

Penn State, Indiana, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt, Cincinnati, Rice, SMU and Marshall are the schools already on Joyner’s offer list.

The 5-foot-10 running back put together one of the best seasons across the state of Texas rushing for 2,120 yards and 27 touchdowns on 223 carries over 13 games for the Austin area program and ran a verified 10.99 100m during July of 2021.

Two other 2023 names to watch this weekend are Topeka (Kan.) Hayden three-star offensive tackle Joe Otting and Sandersville, Ga., running back Dontavius Braswell.

Nebraska, Kansas State, Missouri and Kansas are listed as four teams high on Otting’s list, per the On3 RPM. Otting is the type of regional player the Huskers need to land, but the competition will be tough between the Wildcats and Jayhawks.

Braswell is quickly becoming one of the hottest targets in the Southeast, so getting him on campus now is a big deal. Florida State, Minnesota and Georgia Tech have also offered him. This is his second trip to Nebraska, so that’s a good sign for the Big Red.

Also, keep an eye on what happens with Alabama DL JaQuize Buycks and Louisiana linebacker Kevon Freeman. Freeman has an offer from the Huskers and Buycks could be in line for one if he measures up.

Local talent also visiting Nebraska

There is a long, long list of Nebraska underclassmen set to visit this weekend. The most notable is Class of 2024 athlete Caleb Benning of Omaha Westside. If that name sounds familiar, it should. He is the son of Nebraska running back and two-time national champion Damon Benning.

Class of 2025 linebacker Christian Jones out of Omaha Burke is also visiting. The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder picked up an offer from Nebraska in late October. He was born and raised locally, so the Big Red is going to be hard to beat.

Class of 2023 WR Brock Murtaugh, LB Kade McIntyre and sophomore WR Dae’vonn Hall are a few other top local targets expected.

Also, don’t be surprised if Lee’s Summit (Mo.) North teammates Isaiah Mozee and Williams Nwaneri land an offer this weekend. Nwaneri is a four-star defensive lineman that has added major offers this week.

Mozee is a Class of 2025 do-it-all athlete. Mozee already has a solid early offer list from Iowa, Missouri, Miami (Ohio), Minnesota, Kansas, Illinois, Iowa State and Wisconsin. He will be in Nebraska this weekend and then at Oklahoma in early March.