Neil Smith shares how he handled recruitment of son, Keelan

Neil Smith would have been happy to watch his son Keelan play college football anywhere, but the fact that he committed to Nebraska makes it even more special. A former Cornhuskers defensive end who later won two Super Bowls in the NFL, Neil Smith is excited to see Keelan follow in his footsteps.

A three-star athlete in the 2024 class, Keelan Smith chose Nebraska over offers from Iowa, Missouri and UCLA. His father ultimately left the decision entirely up to him, but added that he is happy his son will get to stay close to home as he played high school football at Liberty North in Missouri.

“I really put it in the hands of Keelan,” Neil Smith told HuskersOnline in a recent interview. “He wanted it and he wanted to be close around home where his family can get to him. Brothers and sisters. I just said, ‘Keelan, whatever you decide, I’m not mad at it. I’m happy for you and I’m happy for the whole situation where people can still come and see you.’ That’s where he wanted to go. He said, ‘I’m all in. This is where I want to be at. I’m happy about it. I’m excited about it.'”

Keelan Smith ranks as the No. 886 overall player and No. 50 athlete in the 2024 class according to the On3 Industry Rating, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. It’s still unclear what position the 6-foot-3, 205 pound Smith will play once he arrives in Lincoln, but he has plenty of time to figure that out.

Neil Smith emphasized that his son still has a year of high school football to play, adding that getting a college degree is just as important to him as any accomplishments on the field.

“It’s a lot of work still to be done,” he said. “He still has to get through his senior year of school. And I told him, ‘you could be the first one of your generation to finish college.’ I want him to finish school. I want him to get his degree. If he can put it in on the football field, he can definitely do it on the classwork. So it’s just the beginning.”

Keelan Smith on his dad’s involvement in his recruitment to Nebraska

Shortly after his commitment to the Cornhuskers, Smith opened up to HuskersOnline‘s Bryan Munson about the impact his father had on his decision.

“My dad has been pushing me to go to Nebraska this whole time,” he said. “He told me he wasn’t trying to be biased, and he did want me to decide for myself. When I told him I was committing to Nebraska, he said he was all in with it. He’s happy for me. I want to work to surpass my dad’s legacy. That is the ultimate goal, and Nebraska is the best place to do it.”

Smith will have big shoes to fill, as his father was an All-American in 1987 as Nebraska finished 10-2. The Huskers have not had a winning season since 2016, but there is hope for a quick turnaround under first-year coach Matt Rhule. Smith will have the chance to be part of that when he arrives on campus next season.