Nebraska makes big leap in On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings with latest commitment

Nebraska originally lost out on a commitment from Overland Park (Kan.) Blue Valley four-star EDGE Dawson Merritt this June, as the Kansas City metro prospect pledged to Alabama.

The Cornhuskers never wavered in their pursuit of the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder, however.

After keeping the foot on the gas and getting the blue-chipper back to Lincoln this fall, head coach Matt Rhule and the Nebraska staff flipped Merritt from the Crimson Tide on Thursday.

“I want to be a part of building something,” Merritt told On3’s Chad Simmons. “I think that Nebraska has a bright future and I think it’d be really cool to be a part of changing that program. Then, I have great relationships there… I’m close to more than 10 guys at Nebraska. I can’t match that. I feel loved and I love a lot of those guys.” 

Merritt, the No. 115 overall prospect and No. 14 EDGE in the On3 Industry Ranking, is now the top-ranked commit in Nebraska’s 2025 recruiting class. With the addition of Merritt, the Huskers jumped five spots in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings and now have the No. 19 class in the nation.

Nebraska continues to load up on top defensive prospects

The Huskers now have four blue-chip commits on the defensive side of the ball this cycle.

Merritt, who has also been considered a linebacker prospect throughout his recruitment, joins Omaha (Neb.) Westside four-star LB Christian Jones at the top of the class. Jones, who pledged in September, is a top-250 recruit and the No. 1 player in Nebraska this cycle. Jones is one of six in-state commits in the class.

Back in June, Galveston (Texas) Hitchcock four-star defensive lineman Malcolm Simpson committed, providing a jolt to the top of the class. A top defensive standout in the Lone Star State, Simpson is an outlier in the On300, checking in as a top-200 recruit and top-20 player at his position. Just over a month later, he was joined by West Fargo (N.D.) Cheyenne four-star DL Kade Pietrzak, another On300 outlier who checks in as the No. 1 player in North Dakota.

Merritt is the second defensive flip out of the Sunflower State for the Huskers this fall. On Oct. 20, Olathe (Kan.) South three-star DL Juju Marks flipped from in-state Kansas. Both Merritt and Marks are top-10 players in the state.

Offensive standouts include a blue-chip QB and WR

There is some firepower on the offensive side of the ball in Nebraska’s class, too. Back in May, Orange (Calif.) Lutheran four-star quarterback TJ Lateef made his commitment and is now the No. 25 QB in the class.

“Nebraska made me feel wanted,” Lateef told On3. “The communication was heavy with the coaches since they offered me and they were very consistent. My biggest thing was always to go where I was wanted, and before the official visit they made me feel wanted, then on the official visit, they checked all of the boxes.”

The top offensive commit in the class was also flipped, as Lee’s Summit (Mo.) North four-star wide receiver Isaiah Mozee joined the fold in early August, flipping from Oregon. Mozee’s father, Jamar, is now on the Nebraska coaching staff. Isaiah is a top-35 player at his position and the No. 3 player in the Show-Me State.

The summer also saw commitments from Murray (Ky.) three-star athlete Jeremiah Jones and Saint Louis Cardinal Ritter three-star running back Jamarion Parker. Both are top-10 recruits in their respective home states.