This year's Shrine Bowl will include at least one Husker scholarship recruit after all.
Lincoln East standout lineman Chris Walker will participate in the all-star game, and Bellevue West running back Jaylin Bradley was still considering the opportunity Friday evening.
Walker, Bradley and Austin Allen of Aurora — three in-state headliners who signed with Nebraska last week — originally declined invitations to play in the June 3 Shrine Bowl under the belief they were to report to the Husker program the day before.
So the Shrine Bowl filled its 35-man teams for the game, including four Husker walk-ons: Ethan Cox of Blair and Jordan Paup of Central City on the North team, and Hunter Miller of Cross County and Trent Hixson of Omaha Skutt on the South team.
The lack of the scholarship Huskers on the rosters garnered some attention on social media, and Shrine Bowl executive director Dave MacDonald spoke with Nebraska head coach Mike Riley on Friday morning.
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"We had a conversation with Coach Riley and we got permission for the players to participate if they wanted," MacDonald said.
An NU official confirmed the three players are free to play in the Shrine Bowl if they so choose, and were never told they could not.
All three players, who actually are to report to the Husker program June 4, were again offered the opportunity Friday to play in the game.
Walker's father, David, said his son has accepted that offer. Bellevue West coach Michael Huffman said Bradley was deciding what to do and would know by Saturday morning. Allen told MacDonald he didn't plan to participate, citing personal reasons.
"Coach Riley talked about his experience of playing in the Shrine Bowl in Oregon his senior year and then flying off to report at Alabama," MacDonald said. "He understands that it is a wonderful cause and a good experience. He said he didn't understand the miscommunication with the players."
South coach Matt Turman of Omaha Skutt will have Walker on his team. If Bradley chose to play, he would be on the North squad, coached by Mark Hudson of Boone Central/Newman Grove.
"Coach Hudson and Coach Turman are willing to do that," said MacDonald. "The good news is we were able to have a dialog with Coach Riley. He has no issues with it."