Amid all the fanfare and excitement surrounding the Nebraska debuts of both head coach Scott Frost and freshman quarterback Adrian Martinez, there will be plenty of on-the-field storylines to track Saturday night when the Huskers kick off against Akron.
Make no mistake about it, though, it’s also a key recruiting weekend for NU.
Sometimes the prime official visit weekends don’t arrive until marquee conference matchups and late-fall Saturdays, but Frost and his staff are wasting no time stacking up official visits in the nonconference this fall.
Headlining the first group of recruits to get to see Frost coach at Nebraska first hand is jack-of-all-trades offensive standout Wandale Robinson.
The Western Hills (Kentucky) High star is among at least five players set to see Lincoln, Memorial Stadium and the dawn of the Frost Era this weekend.
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“Really I’m just excited to see everything,†Robinson told the Journal Star this week. “Obviously I’ve never been out there. Seeing what a game atmosphere is like, I’ve heard it’s like no other out there.â€
The 5-foot-9, 185-pounder is one of the most decorated high school players in Kentucky and is off to a dynamic start to his senior year. Robinson has 584 all-purpose yards and eight touchdowns in Western Hills’ first two games, including 34 carries for 323 (9.5 per) and four catches for 196 (49 per) and three scores. He’s also got a punt return touchdown, 16 tackles, two sacks and an interception.
12 touches - 294 yards - 5 touchdowns
— Wandale Robinson (@robinson__era)
That fast start comes on the heels of back-to-back 2,000-plus yard rushing seasons since starting full-time work on varsity as a sophomore for the Frankfort school.
“Really just becoming a better receiver, that was a big thing going into my senior year,†Robinson said when asked how one goes about improving on those prolific numbers. “A lot of schools I’m being recruited by are recruiting me as a receiver. Everybody knows I can run the ball. Once I get the ball, I turn into a running back. Running back stuff has always come pretty easy because I’ve played running back since I was about five.
“So really working on my receiver skills and recognizing coverages and being able to get in and out of my breaks and stuff like that.â€
That’s attracted schools from around the country, though Robinson has cut his list to six. In addition to NU, he’s also considering Ohio State, Alabama and Kentucky and has already used official visits to Michigan and Purdue.
“He’s able to run consistently in the low 4.4-(second) range (in the 40-yard dash),†Western Hills coach Don Miller said. “His lateral speed is probably more impressive than anything. He can cut on a dime. The biggest thing in the recruiting process – when all these coaches come in – is on the outside you like to have the taller receivers that are 6-2 or 6-3 and have that type of linear speed (that Robinson has) running straight ahead, but they’re not able to make the moves and break away as much.
“With him, you get both types of speed.â€
Robinson has grown up, naturally given his skill set, liking players like former Oregon star D’Anthony Thomas. That’s not lost on Frost and running backs coach Ryan Held.
“That’s one of Coach Frost’s things, always one of the firs things he says to me is, ‘I know one of your favorite players growing up was D’Anthony Thomas and I had that guy. I see similarities in your game just like his and I want to do similar things with you,’†Robinson said, adding that he and Frost talk every week and he’s in contact with Held daily. “That obviously intrigues me with them is knowing ic an do similar things as him.â€
Robinson is tentatively slated to visit Alabama on Sept. 22 and said he’d likely use his final visit to either UK or OSU. He said he would like to make his decision in early October.
Robinson’s confident he’ll get a good education wherever he goes, and he knows how each school sees him fitting into their offense. So what’s left to learn?
“Honestly just where I feel the most comfortable and the place that I know will develop me into the best player and man,†he said.
Other confirmed official visitors this weekend include tackles Bryce Benhart (Lakeville, Minnesota) and Dohnovan West (Mission Hills, California), two-way lineman Brant Banks (Houston) and defensive back Tiawan Mullen.
Benhart, 6-7 and 285, is a four-star prospect by the 247Sports composite. 247Sports considers him the No. 63 player overall in the country, while Rivals considers him a three-star prospect. He has already used official visits to Wisconsin and Tennessee, per his 247Sports profile.
West (6-4 and 290) and Banks (6-7, 265) are consensus three-star prospects who are each using their first officials. West has an official visit set to Utah on Oct. 20. Banks has offers from Cal, Pitt, Mizzou and Houston among others.
I wil be in Lincoln, Nebraska this weekend on an official visit. 🔴🌽🔴
— Dohnovan West (@dtw_61)
Mullen (5-10, 160) is a three-star by the 247Sports composite and a four-star according to Rivals. He has already visited Pitt and has visits set after Lincoln to Indiana and Kansas State and also has Ole Miss and TCU among a list of finalists he put out in May.
Thanks To Nebraska 🌽🔴
— Tiawan Mullen (@Mullen_7era)
Nebraska currently has 15 verbal commits for its 2019 class.Â
The Huskers will also host several younger players on unofficial visits. Two coveted regional prospects who have already been to campus and will be back this weekend: 2020 tackle Turner Corcoran and running back Brison Cobbins.Â
Corcoran (6-6 and 280), a Lawrence, Kansas native, is among the most high-profile offensive linemen in the country for his class and has been on campus multiple times already. He is a consensus four-star prospect. Â
Cobbins (5-7, 170), a standout at Bishop Miege High in Kansas, was one of the fastest players the Huskers hosted in camp this summer. He does not yet hold a scholarship offer from NU.Â
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) | *** |