The Huskers lost the commitment of four-star Carlon Jones – one of the most highly regarded players in their class – in late November and didn’t have time to make up for the loss. There just weren’t many uncommitted players of his caliber available that late in the cycle.
With a healthy defensive line room in place, the Nebraska football staff transitioned to other targets and were satisfied with the class they signed during December’s early signing period.
Head coach Matt Rhule has often said he won’t turn down a good offensive or defensive lineman on the recruiting trail. True to his word, when Tucson (Ariz.) Salpointe Catholic standout Keona Wilhite was suddenly back on the market, the Huskers wasted little time throwing their hat into the ring.
The 6-foot-5, 240-pound Wilhite had been committed to Washington since Oct. 23 and signed with the Huskies during the early signing period.
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On Jan. 12, Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer left to take the Alabama job. Two days later – the same day the school announced Jedd Fisch as its new head coach – Wilhite asked for – and was granted – a release from his National Letter of Intent. Ironically, Wilhite had once been committed to the hometown Arizona Wildcats – coached by Fisch – from June 19 to Oct. 2.
With less than three weeks before the traditional signing day, Wilhite received immediate attention from a number of schools that had been recruiting him all cycle. Nebraska was also one of the first teams to contact him.
Wilhite quickly narrowed his focus to Michigan State, Nebraska and UCLA. He had an existing relationship with the new Spartan staff from their time at Oregon State. He’d taken an official visit to Corvallis June 2-4, and the Beavers had been one of his finalists when he committed to Washington in October. Officially back on the market, Wilhite’s first move was to reconnect with Jonathan Smith, visiting East Lansing the weekend of Jan. 19-21.
He left on Sunday and flew directly to Lincoln to brave snow and single-digit temperatures during a visit with the Huskers. Wilhite was hosted by Ty Robinson and also spent a lot of time around Kai Wallin. Keona and his family hit it off immediately with Matt Rhule, while D-line coach Terrance Knighton also made a big impression.
Wilhite stayed in Lincoln until Tuesday, Jan. 23, and pivoted toward in-home visits when he got back home to Arizona.
UCLA sent newly promoted defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe and recently hired DL/OLB coach Tony Washington Jr. to visit Keona and his family on Jan. 24. The Bruins were also one of his finalists prior to his commitment to the Huskies. Wilhite had taken an official visit to UCLA May 26-28, so he didn’t need to see the campus again with such a truncated timeline.
Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White was in Arizona on Jan. 25 and left an impression when he arrived early for his scheduled visit so that he could attend the basketball game of Keona’s brother, Brandon.
Texas and Washington also attempted to get their foot in the door during this time, with the Huskies trying – and failing – to get Wilhite back on campus for an official visit the weekend of Jan. 26.
By that time, Wilhite had narrowed his choices to UCLA and Nebraska. He hosted Chip Kelly for an in-home visit on Jan. 29, and came out of it leaning hard toward UCLA. Matt Rhule, Tony White and Terrance Knighton were scheduled to make an in-home visit on Feb. 2, but Wilhite canceled because he intended to sign with the Bruins.
Then, less than a week before signing day, it was reported Chip Kelly was looking to leave UCLA. He interviewed twice for the Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator opening that eventually went to Luke Getsy. He was also in consideration for the Washington Commanders OC position before they hired Kliff Kingsbury. On signing day, he was actually interviewing for the OC job with the Seattle Seahawks.
Wilhite had already been blindsided once by the sudden departure of a head coach. Once it became apparent Kelly had one foot out the door, Wilhite pivoted to the Huskers and the stability Nebraska offered. He announced his commitment to Nebraska on 247Sports’ YouTube channel on signing day, Feb. 7.
Turns out he was smart to trust his instincts. Two days after Wilhite signed with the Huskers, Kelly stepped down at UCLA so that he could replace Bill O’Brien as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator after O’Brien left to take the head job at Boston College after just three weeks of being in Columbus.
A Rivals four-star prospect, Wilhite earned first-team all-conference and honorable-mention all-state honors from the Arizona Republic as a senior after finishing with 60 tackles, 18½ tackles for loss and eight sacks for Salpointe Catholic, which advanced to the Arizona 6A state semifinals.
With an 80.5″ wingspan, Wilhite has great length and a frame that should allow him to bulk up to the 265-range without losing any of his quickness or athleticism. Athletically, he compares favorably to 2023 signee Princewill Umanmielen. Wilhite was timed at 18.72 mph this season on the Catapult GPS, and you can see that stride on film. He made several plays downfield thanks to his motor and hustle.
Wilhite has really good technique and uses his hands well, but he probably isn’t the natural pass rusher that Umanmielen is. He’s probably best suited, initially, to play more of the 5-tech D-end spot that Jimari Butler generally plays, but his skill set and growth potential suggest he should be an ideal Big Ten bookend who sets the edge and holds up well against the run, while still providing a threat getting after the quarterback. I think he’ll eventually settle at the 4i end position that Ty Robinson currently plays.
Nebraska is bringing in only two D-linemen in this class, but the Huskers didn’t need a large haul. Early returns show they absolutely crushed it with their 2023 additions. Cameron Lenhardt, Princewill Umanmielen, Riley Van Poppel, Kai Wallin, James Williams, Vincent Carroll-Jackson and Sua Lefotu are foundational pieces in a D-line room that has experienced one of the most dramatic facelifts on the roster since Rhule arrived.
With the return of Ty Robinson, Nash Hutmacher and Jimari Butler, Nebraska could have its best D-line since 2014, when the unit featured NFL players Randy Gregory, Maliek Collins and Vincent Valentine.
Rhule has talked of building his defensive front to the point where he can “play two hockey lines, if not three, to keep guys fresh.” Terrance Knighton’s room might already be at that point.
We saw last year this staff isn’t afraid to throw a freshman out there if he’s physically ready to hold up. Wilhite should be. He has a ton of upside and is someone the previous Husky staff was really high on. Wilhite should be afforded a four-game redshirt with an eye toward a bigger role in 2025.
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