A busy recruiting weekend has produced a flurry of commitments for Nebraska baseball.
The Huskers hosted a group of junior college prospects to start November and have landed five commits since, boosting the total number of known members of the 2025 class to 20. NU also landed 2026 prep outfielder Colton Petersmith. The speedy defender from Rolla, Missouri, chose NU over TCU and had interest from multiple SEC programs.
The juco migration extends to another recruiting cycle what has been a theme for a Nebraska coaching staff with deep roots at that college level. NU took 10 such players in the 2022 class. It took nine in 2023 — most popped right away last season, including weekend starter Mason McConnaughey, multiple lineup regulars and relievers. Six more are already on campus from the 2024 haul with at least half enjoying strong falls.
Nebraska now has six junior college players who will arrive on campus next year — all have committed since Halloween as Iowa Western left-hander Braxton Stewart joined to end October.
People are also reading…
“All of us recruits were chatting about it that were there for the UCLA football game,” utility player Miken Miller said. “We all got each other’s information — might have already found some roommates.”
Here’s a look at Nebraska’s half dozen new commits:
Miken Miller, catcher/outfielder, Johnson County C.C.
Nebraska recently offered the Otsego, Minnesota, standout following a strong fall — the left-handed hitter batted .405 with a .520 on-base percentage in 42 at-bats — after a freshman spring in which he hit .380 with five home runs and struck out just 22 times in 57 games. He can play virtually anywhere on the field.
“My primary spot is catcher,” the 5-foot-11 Miller said, “but wherever my bat takes me is the position I’ll play.”
Miller very nearly became a college hockey player — he quit baseball as a prep sophomore to pursue the sport before a late injury prompted him to reconsider. A postgraduate fall baseball season in Minnesota and a gap year training in Texas make him one of the oldest additions to the class. He’ll have two years of eligibility in Lincoln after turning down offers from Utah, Louisiana Tech and Austin Peay.
Brooks Jones, left-handed pitcher, Hutchinson (Kansas) C.C.
Jones had been a Tulane commit before changing his mind in August 2023 before his prep senior year. The late switch left him with limited four-year options and the Lawrence, Kansas, native pivoted to Hutch, where he will compete for one season before joining the Huskers with three left to play.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder misses bats with a lively low-90s fastball, slider and changeup. Houston and Wichita State were his other finalists before Nebraska sold him during his recent visit. His college role remains unclear — he’s open to starting or relieving next spring at Hutch and beyond.
“I’ll be a better player than I was,” Jones said. “I can’t wait to work with (NU pitching coach) Rob Childress.”
Preston Freeman, infielder, Cisco (Texas) College
Similar path and talent as current Huskers third baseman Joshua Overbeek — a fellow Cisco product — as a versatile and driven athlete who can play across the infield. NU pursued the left-handed hitter after a strong fall and a summer in which he hit .385 in 21 games in the Pacific Empire League.
Freeman — from the San Antonio metro area — redshirted at Texas-San Antonio in the spring of 2023 before transferring to Cisco, where he appeared in 14 games as a second-year freshman. He’ll have two seasons at Nebraska.
“They stand for grit and hard work with a blue-collar vibe,” Freeman said of the Huskers. “Coming from a juco that stands out to me a lot.”
Trey Fikes, catcher, Three Rivers C.C.
His recruitment came together quickly as NU looked to add another veteran backstop. He held just a few walk-on juco offers out of Steele, Missouri, and turned down Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky this time in favor of Nebraska.
The righty hit .359 with just 16 strikeouts in 47 games as a freshman and followed with a .295 average and .364 OBP during a summer in the Northwoods League.
“I think they think I’m a solid player,” Fikes said. “I’ve always caught well and I keep hitting better as age goes on. They saw that in me.”
Cash Kuiper, right-handed pitcher, Murray State College
Kuiper picked Nebraska over Oklahoma State and Arkansas State and arrives as another high-upside talent looking to further unlock his command.
The Choctaw, Oklahoma, native has the frame (6-4, 195 pounds) and tools to grow into an impact arm. He throws a mid-90s fastball along with at least three secondary offerings. He struck out 65 batters in 61 1/3 innings as a starter at MSC last spring but also walked 31 while posting an earned-run average of 6.02.
Kuiper will have two seasons of eligibility with the Huskers.
Colton Petersmith, outfielder, Rolla (Mo.) High School
Speed is the headliner for the 6-foot-1, 170-pound left-hander who becomes the ninth member and among the most touted of NU’s 2026 class. He visited in early September and has boosted his recruiting profile through involvement with the USA Baseball program — he will be one of 72 athletes taking part in the National Team Development Program next summer.
Petersmith chose Nebraska over finalist TCU. He had other offers from Missouri and Missouri State and interest from Kentucky.
“Nebraska likes how fast-paced I am and that I have a little bit of an edge to me,” Petersmith said. “I won’t take the easy way with anything.”
