Husker Football Inks 22 on Signing Day

The class looked worrisome just a couple weeks ago, but coach Scott Frost knew his staff had to just keep plugging along.

“It was anxious,” said Frost. “It just kind of felt this year that a lot of kids we really were invested in and wanted in our program were making late decisions. I heard all the talk early on about how we were behind, and we were behind. We kind of knew that, but we were kind of betting on ourselves in recruiting and had a lot of really good targets out there and luckily we were able to land quite a few of them.”

Among those late decisions were three four-star products and one three-star. Four-star wide receiver Alante Brown, originally from Chicago but played his last year at a prep school in Connecticut, chose the Huskers live on the Big Ten Network.

“Just really felt like it would a good thing for me and my family in the future,” Brown told the BTN crew.

Four-star defensive back Jaiden Francois from Florida City, Florida, had a bit of a signing day saga. Francois was set to sign in a ceremony with South Dade classmates but left the gymnasium twice. Rumors could be seen on social media about the job future of defensive backs coach Travis Fischer, the main recruiter in Florida.

“I actually talked to Jaiden when he was off stage and then texted with him a bunch after he came back out,” said Frost. “He’s fired up. He’ll be on campus really soon as one of the early enrollees and I expect him to come in hungry and hopefully contribute right away.”

Francois ultimately chose the Huskers over the Hurricanes of Miami.

Frost talked about the rumors and misinformation that can take place during the recruiting process.

“I don’t want to say too much about details, but this process is tough on a lot of recruits,” said Frost. “It’s tough on 18-year-olds. I think sometimes they have to sort out rumors and truths and falsehoods and in some situations that can go right up to signing day when they put their name on the paper. That’s just kind of how recruiting goes. I’m just glad Coach Fisher’s going to be with us for a long time.”

Four-star wide receiver Marcus Fleming from South Miami, Florida, and three-star defensive end Pheldarious Payne out of Lackawanna Community College were also signing day additions.

In total, 22 scholarship additions were made Wednesday, including seven out of the state of Florida. Five Junior College players were signed, more than Frost plans to bring in in the future.

“We’re going to get to a point in this program where we’re not probably going to look to sign very many,” said Frost. “I think we’ll look to sign a junior college player if they’re a great player and if we have a need at the position. We kind of felt like we needed a little immediate help at certain spots, receiver being one and maybe pass rusher.”

One of those Juco receivers that should make an immediate impact is four-star Omar Manning out of Kilgore Community College in Texas.

“There wasn’t a better guy in the country, in my opinion, for what we were looking for than him,” said Frost. “He looks different than anybody I’ve ever coached and has tape to match. I’m really excited to get him. He’s got a little work to do yet before he gets to campus, but I think he has a chance to change our offense.”

Another standout for the class is four-star dual threat quarterback Logan Smothers. He passed for over 2,000 yards and 27 touchdowns and ran for over 800 yards and 13 touchdowns while leading his high school in Alabama to a 12-1 record his senior season.

“I said this a couple times already today, but he really impressed me with his toughness and what he did in the playoffs in Alabama,” said Frost. “He’s a guy we had to hold some people off on late that were trying to get back in on him. He’s an early enrollee too and I expect him to come in and compete right away.”

Always of interest for Husker fans is the walk-on class. This year it is highlighted by Lincoln Southeast three-star defensive back Isaac Gifford and Johnson-Brock’s Ty Hahn.

“Gosh, we are so excited to have (Gifford) on the team. Just as excited as we are for anyone else we got today,” said Frost. “He is going to be an early enrollee too, so he is going to make us better right away. I think also Ty Hahn from southeast Nebraska is a receiver that is as good as a lot of scholarship guys around the country, he just played 8-man football. But, guys like that are going to come in and help.

“I really like this walk-on class.”

247Sports ranks the 2020 class for Nebraska as 20th in the nation and 4th in the Big Ten Conference.

KLIN Sports Director Kaleb Henry and KLIN Contributor Cole Stukenholtz broke down the class after Frost’s press conference Wednesday. You can see the full class of scholarship signees and walk-ons as of the early afternoon below.