Even Nebraska’s sizable recruiting weekend will have a Colorado feel to it.
The Huskers have put together a big group of official visitors for Saturday afternoon's nationally televised kickoff against an old conference foe in the University of Colorado. It's one that melds several players who have already verbally committed to the school’s 2019 recruiting class and several who are still considering their options.
Chief among the guys already on board: a pair of Colorado high school standouts in quarterback Luke McCaffrey and offensive lineman Michael Lynn.
“There’s a lot of buzz,†McCaffrey said this week. “It’ll be nice to come out for the game, especially when we’ve got most of the other commits coming out for the game. It’s always a special time.
“I’ve done my best to picture (what) it’s going to be like, but I’m excited to see it for real.â€
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McCaffrey is off to a 2-0 start with his Valor Christian team as a full-time quarterback for the first time in his career. He’s completed 70.6 percent of his passes for 328 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 120 more (7.5 per carry) and two more scores.
CU was actually McCaffrey’s first offer, but the Buffs recruited him as a wide receiver, while the Huskers covet him as a signal-caller.
Lynn told the Journal Star this summer that he and NU freshman defensive end Tate Wildeman bonded over the idea of playing for the Huskers instead of the home-state school.
"He related extremely well with me," Lynn said last month. "He didn't have (a Colorado) offer either, and I talked to him and he said, 'Them not offering me, I took that extremely personally.' I related with Tate on that and I feel like I could play for CU, but I'll play for their rival and I'll beat them.â€
Lynn and McCaffrey are ranked among the best prospects in the Centennial State for 2019. McCaffrey said he was among the first people Lynn called when he pledged to NU.
“We’ve actually played against each other on rival teams just about since I can remember,†McCaffrey said. “I played a week on a little league, all-Colorado team before basketball season started. So we played on that team together. He probably doesn’t even remember that; I don’t know how I do. But other than that, we’ve been rivals our whole life.â€
Soon they’ll be teammates, just at an old rival of their home state’s flagship school.
While the weekend will have a bit of extra meaning for the Colorado kids, there’s still plenty of business at hand. Mainly, to help the Huskers continue to add to the class.
The list of official visitors who are not already committed starts with Omaha Burke linebacker/tight end Chris Hickman, who is making the trip with teammate and Husker commit Nick Henrich.
Hickman is being recruited nationally and is the only one of five in-state 2019 prospects with an offer from Nebraska who is not verbally committed. Naturally, NU would love to make it a clean sweep given the versatility and athleticism the 6-foot-5 Hickman possesses.
Elsewhere, Javin Wright (Chandler, Arizona), the son of former Husker Toby Wright, and Jamel Starks (Decatur, Georgia) are expected to be on hand as well. Each fits the kind of mold secondary coach Travis Fisher looks for as players who can potentially play multiple spots in college.
“To be honest with you, if I was a kid, I’d be slobbering,†said Fisher, who cannot talk about specific recruits. “To come walk in the stadium and it’s full of red. And people that know them. Know them. Fans know them when they’re out on the town and fans are in restaurants and say their names.
“We’ve just got to get them here (on visits). … For the most part when they’ve done that, they’ve left here with a different perspective than when they came.â€
I will be in Lincoln this weekend 🌽🔴
— Jamel Starks (@jamel_starks)
Also expected in attendance: Four-star wide receiver Marcus Washington (St. Louis), who announced a final two of Ohio State and Missouri this summer but has since opened up his recruitment. He told Rivals recently he intends to visit NU this weekend and Texas next weekend.
2019 Husker football recruits
Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown (School) | Stars |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Matthew Anderson | OT | 6-7 | 250 | Leesville, La. | *** |
Brant Banks | DL | 6-8 | 285 | Houston (Westbury Christian) | *** |
Bryce Benhart | OT | 6-9 | 305 | Lakeville, Minn. (North) | **** |
Desmond Bland | OL | 6-4 | 300 | Flossmoor, Ill. (Arizona Western C.C.) | **** |
Darien Chase | WR | 6-1 | 175 | Vancouver, Wash. (Union) | **** |
Myles Farmer | DB | 6-3 | 180 | Atlanta (Westlake) | *** |
Jimmy Fritzsche | OL | 6-7 | 250 | Greenville, S.C. | *** |
Jamin Graham | OLB | 6-6 | 240 | Attalla, Ala. (Etowah) | *** |
Jackson Hannah | ILB | 6-3 | 220 | Nashville, Tenn. (Montgomery Bell) | **** |
Nick Henrich | ILB | 6-4 | 210 | Omaha (Burke) | **** |
Chris Hickman | TE | 6-5 | 220 | Omaha (Burke) | *** |
Rahmir Johnson | RB | 5-10 | 170 | Oradell, N.J. (Bergen Catholic) | **** |
Michael Lynn | OT | 6-7 | 300 | Englewood, Colo. (Cherry Creek) | *** |
Luke McCaffrey | QB | 6-3 | 185 | Littleton, Colo. (Valor Christian) | *** |
Dedrick Mills | RB | 5-10 | 227 | Waycross, Ga. (Garden City C.C.) | *** |
Jamie Nance | WR | 6-0 | 170 | Blanchard, Okla. | *** |
Garrett Nelson | OLB | 6-3 | 235 | Scottsbluff | *** |
Mosai Newsom | DE | 6-5 | 260 | Waverly, Iowa (Waverly-Shell Rock) | *** |
Quinton Newsome | DB | 6-2 | 180 | Suwanee, Ga. (North Gwinnett) | *** |
Ethan Piper | DL | 6-4 | 275 | Norfolk (Catholic) | *** |
Ty Robinson | DE | 6-6 | 285 | Gilbert, Ariz. (Higley) | **** |
Wandale Robinson | RB | 5-9 | 180 | Frankfort, Ky. (Western Hills) | **** |
Garrett Snodgrass | ATH | 6-3 | 225 | York | *** |
Ronald Thompkins | RB | 6-0 | 203 | Loganville, Ga. (Grayson) | *** |
Javin Wright | DB | 6-3 | 195 | Chandler, Ariz. (Hamilton) | *** |