Nebraska Football Recruiting Early Signing Period: 3 Thoughts

If you know me personally, I’m obviously a huge Nebraska Football fan.

Ever since I was 5 years old, I’ve been locked into a tv for 3 hours every Saturday in the fall. Wether it’s on ABC, FOX, BTN more recently, or the old ESPN College Gameplan package on the Dish, Husker football has both been a source of extreme peaks and incredibly low valleys. That may actually be a little dramatic since if Nebraska failing to reach a bowl for the third straight season is considered a low point in my life, things elsewhere a pretty good.

But with any real knowledge of the college football landscape, one would have to acknowledge a season, some would say just as important as the games played during the fall; recruiting. And even more specifically the early signing period which happens between December 18-20.

Who can come in and contribute immediately? Who was the biggest win on the recruiting trail? Who was the biggest sleeper in this year’s class?

Here’s how I think this year’s class shook out when all was said and done:

1. Most likely to contribute in 2020: 

Omar Manning, to me, was Scott Frost’s biggest recruiting win of the cycle at a position of massive need. A former Army All American and TCU bounce-back, Manning was considered by 247 Sports and Rivals, the #1 JUCO prospect in the country. From KIlgore, TX, Manning is the prototypical, “big_bodied WR Nebraska’s offense was desperate for this season. Manning should be able to come in this January as an early enrollee and battle for a starting role immediately, alongside Senior JD Spielman and Freshman All-American Wandale Robinson. Manning’s size and productivity at the JUCO level should add another immediate dangerous weapon for the offense this fall.

2. Biggest recruiting trail win:

I think this one goes without saying. Keyshawn Greene from Crawfordville, FL was easily the most unlikely of targets on Nebraska’s radar that ended up signing on Wednesday. A one time Florida State commit, Greene was a guythat was offered early in the 2019 cycle with the hope of somehow pulling him away from the usual suspects, local schools like Miami, FSU, and Florida. But they were able to do just that. After decomitting from FSU following Willie Taggert’s eventual firing as head coach, the Husker staff went in-home with Keyshawn to gage their chances at getting him to campus before signing day. It seemed like a total longshot, but Keyshawn, and his mom, took a visit and fell in love with Lincoln. He committed shortly after giving them their 6th linebacker for the class.

Green provides elite athleticism at another position of need for the Huskers with a verified 4.4 40, which is totally ridiculous for a kid that’s 6-3, nearing 210. Greene should be primed to push for early playing time as their linebacking core is razor thin, and to be honest, not al that explosive. Green changes that room immediately.

3. Biggest sleeper of this year’s class:

Hard to believe that a kid who was one of the best player in the state of Alabama (14th in the state, 314th in the nation) would be considered a sleeper, but people forget about Smothers since he has been committed to this staff since before they coached their first game at Memorial Stadium. A freak athlete, who also has verified track speed as he pushed for state titles in the Alabama state 100 and 200 meters, Smothers comes into an already stable QB room on Lincoln. I think that says alot about the confidence and toughness this kid has as he expects to come in and challenge this winter. Frost’s version of the Oregon offense relies heavily on a playmaking QB that can both beat with his legs and his arm, and Smothers may be the guy. He’ll have to outperform starter Adrian Martinez after his less than stellar Sophomore season and Redshirt Freshman Luke McCaffrey who’s the youngest son of literal football royalty.