How Nebraska football is attracting top talent as walk-ons

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Hometown: Miami.

The specs: Athlete, 6-0, 160 pounds.

Takeaway: While Barney isn’t the top-rated prospect in the class – that’s Ainsworth tight end Carter Nelson – offers to Miami and Texas A&M usually win out over what a Midwestern Big Ten school provides. This is not a guarantee of Barney’s success – NU’s Miami-area haul in 2020 didn’t pan out – but it underlines Rhule’s ability to get Nebraska in a recruiting battle and beat teams that have geographical advantages to landing the prospect. Much like Willis McGahee IV, Barney’s commit is a head-turner to other talent in the Miami area and additional proof that receivers coach Garret McGuire can land blue-chip players. In terms of his wideout abilities, he’s good in traffic, and that translates to what he does after the catch, too. Barney is a slippery receiver out of the slot, and fits nicely into Nebraska’s plans.

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Hometown: Tucson, Ariz.

The specs: Defensive lineman, 6-5, 240 pounds.

Takeaway: The Huskers offered Wilhite in May, but he first landed at Arizona before flipping to Washington in the fall.

Had head coach Kalen DeBoer stayed at Washington, Wilhite would’ve never ended up at Nebraska. But with DeBoer departing to Alabama long after Wilhite signed his national letter of intent, he was granted a release weeks before February’s Signing Day.

It was for good reason that schools made Wilhite a priority target during the last few weeks. Prolific pass-rushing recruits are rare at any stage in the process, let alone the tail end of it.

In Wilhite, it’s easy to see a potential “Jack” linebacker capable of making a name for himself in the Nebraska defense or even a role on the line of scrimmage. Physically, he has the traits NU coaches always look for in a pass rusher — long arms, an explosive base and a physicality to his play that shows up in all aspects of the game.

Given the many freshmen who made an impact up front for Nebraska last season, it’s possible Wilhite could show his pass rush skills sooner rather than later.

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High school: Omaha Westside.

The specs: Athlete, 5-10½, 183 pounds.

Takeaway: Benning— who has primarily been recruited for safety, but could play receiver — has had a sparkling start to the season for the top-ranked Warriors, catching three touchdown passes, returning a kickoff for a score and intercepting two passes. 

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Hometown: Miami, Fla.

The specs: Linebacker, 6-1, 225 pounds.

Takeaway: A pass rusher moving back one level of the defense: McGahee, the son of the former Hurricanes and NFL running back, spent a good chunk of his time at Miami Palmetto High School as a smaller edge rusher taking on larger tackles in Florida Class 6A. At Columbus High School, he’ll move to linebacker, where the job will involve shedding blocks and find ballcarriers. McGahee plays with an impressive aggression and should help NU in its 3-3-5 defense. Like current Husker Cam Lenhardt, it remains to be seen if he fits more at the first level of the defense or the second one.

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Hometown: Houston, Texas.

The specs: Offensive lineman, 6-4½, 285 pounds.

Takeaway: At Klein Cain, he plays tackle, but he likely projects to an interior line spot. His excellent junior tape shows a lineman with good upper body strength to turn and bury defenders, decent mobility on pulling plays and a nastiness that plays up to — and just past — the whistle. On film, he doesn’t appear to carry much bad weight, either. He may stay a sturdy three-star prospect, but Nebraska offensive line coach Donovan Raiola likely loves what he got.

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High school: Bellevue West.

The specs: Quarterback, 6-2, 200 pounds.

Takeaway: Kaelin has been working on his quarterback skills for a long time – and it shows. He threw 36 touchdowns for a reason. Kaelin has terrific footwork for a prep quarterback, firing as he hits his back foot. He’s good in a dropback, or a half-rollout, or in stepping into pressure and up in the pocket. He drives balls up the seam and consistently hits on deep corner routes. He can step to his left and create room to throw deep back to the right. Kaelin in general knows how to put space between himself and a pass rusher in a way that reduces the violence of the hit. He will arrive as Nebraska’s most complete high school passer in some time.

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Hometown: Katy, Texas.

The specs: Tight end, 6-4, 245 pounds.

Takeaway: Nebraska OC Marcus Satterfield loves tight ends for their versatility and the matchup problems they pose for defenses. He sees roles for bigger, thicker guys who can play in-line tight end, shorter guys who can serve as fullback and taller, leaner guys who can work in the slot. Consider Flynt in that first category. He caught 10 passes last season and flashed the ability to block almost like a tackle would, mauling smaller linebackers. Flynt, like current NU tight end Chase Androff and former tight end Travis Vokolek, is a better athlete than stats would suggest. There’s a reason he had offers from teams as diverse as Washington State, Purdue and Kansas.

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Hometown: Philadelphia.

The specs: Safety, 6-1, 190 pounds.

Takeaway: A former Wisconsin commit, Prescott has been on NU’s radar since December 2022 and visited Lincoln last April.

Rather than signing with the Badgers during the December early signing period, Prescott instead reopened his recruitment and will join Nebraska as a preferred walk-on.

Nebraska signed eight defensive backs in December, and Prescott’s potential still stands out among the group. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound prospect covers ground quickly in the secondary and could be a future fit for Nebraska’s rover position group.

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Hometown: Waxhaw, N.C.

The specs: Athlete, 6-3, 180 pounds.

Takeaway: Also a talented wide receiver for his high school team, the door may be open for a future position change if needed. Nebraska coaches moved several players to new positions during spring camp, while other recruits such as Mason Goldman and Jason Maciejczak arrived on campus with a dual offensive/defensive line distinction. That won’t be the case for Taylor, who is expected to fit into the secondary. But with speed and experience at wideout, who knows what the future will hold for him.

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Hometown: Las Vegas.

The specs: Offensive tackle, 6-6, 285 pounds.

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Hometown: Bozeman, Mont.

The specs: Wide receiver, 6-5, 190 pounds. 

Takeaway: A few crisp, well-run routes at a Matt Rhule football camp was all it took for Clark to earn a Nebraska offer. Clark’s performance in front of NU coaches at a June 11 camp showed the potential he has to offer as a lanky outside wide receiver.

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High school: Omaha North.

The specs: Athlete, 6-1, 185 pounds.

Takeaway: To those who doubt the effectiveness of June football camps, look no further than Jones. Heading into the summer, the uncommitted senior was still searching for his first Division I offer. Jones participated in the Lindenwood (Mo.) University mega camp in the first week of June, where he earned FCS offers from Lindenwood and South Dakota State. Things were even sweeter when both Wyoming and Nebraska extended offers after NU’s Friday Night Lights camp. Players who flash athleticism, speed and potential tend to stand out at these summer camps — and Jones’ success is the proof.

Jones fits the mold of what Nebraska is looking for in a defensive back recruit. The senior is dynamic and versatile enough to play any spot in the secondary, something he’s already done for Omaha North. Working mostly as a safety, Jones came down with two interceptions and defended seven passes during his junior year. Physically, he seems like a fit at free safety, though cornerback could also be Jones’ future position.

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Hometown: Littleton, Colo.

The specs: Safety, 6-1, 200 pounds.

Takeaway: Nebraska has prioritized adding versatile athletes who are capable of playing multiple spots, especially in the secondary. Guthrie has the skills and physical makeup of a safety, though his ideal position would likely be as a nickel or rover. Plus, speed doesn’t hurt when Nebraska is evaluating recruits — and Guthrie ran a 100-meter dash in 11.01 seconds this spring. Those traits add up to another athletic defensive back whose in-person skills landed him on NU’s radar.

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Hometown: Cedar Falls, Iowa.

The specs: Offensive lineman, 6-3, 265 pounds.

Takeaway: Peters looks fantastic on his Hudl highlight film for Cedar Falls, which advanced to the second round of the Iowa 5A state football playoffs. He shows a dominant drive-blocking style, climbs with ease to the second and third levels of a defense and moves more — much more — like a 270-pound tight end. Height and girth may be important in college football, but Peters’ athleticism — he’s also a standout basketball player — is a major plus. Nebraska shouldn’t have too much problem putting 20 pounds on his frame. If he maintains the quickness, NU got a steal.

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Hometown: Westminster, Md.

The specs: Punter, 6-3, 195 pounds.

Takeaway: The Nebraska football team has found its punter of the future — and he’s well-aware of what it means to be a Husker. Koch, the son of former Husker Sam Koch, had sent film and game tape over to Nebraska special teams coordinator Ed Foley in previous months, leading to an invite to one of Matt Rhule’s football camps. Naturally, Koch learned a thing or two from working out and training with his dad. He also credits Kirk Maggio, his trainer, for helping him develop consistency within his kicks. Nebraska coaches saw that strong technique and execution and were impressed enough to extend a scholarship — a coveted prize for a specialist.