One of Nebraska’s biggest current transfer portal targets will be on campus for an official visit at the Red-White Spring Game next weekend.
TCU edge rusher Ochaun Mathis said via social media that he’s going to be making the trip as he tries to decide where he’ll continue his college career.
Mathis, listed at 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds, took an official visit to Texas earlier this spring and also has USC, Penn State and Mississippi in his top five.
Heading out to Lincoln Nebraska for an official next week! Definitely looking forward to it!
#Huskers
— Ochaun Mathis (@OchaunDevon) March 30, 2022
The Athletic currently has Mathis listed as the best player available in the transfer portal, and Nebraska is looking for help on the edge and on the defensive front line in general.
Mathis started 34 games for the Horned Frogs over his career there. In 2021, he had 45 tackles (seven for loss) and four sacks. In 2020, he led TCU with nine sacks and 14 TFLs, making him one of the most productive defensive players available in the transfer portal.
Mathis is a Manor, Texas, native. That, combined with the fact that his former coach, Gary Patterson, is now on the staff at UT, makes the Longhorns a perceived favorite. Now the Huskers will get a chance to make their case for his services in front of a large crowd at Memorial Stadium.
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Elsewhere on the transfer portal front, Nebraska on Tuesday evening extended an offer to LSU linebacker transfer Josh White. The former four-star prospect also quickly earned offers from USC, Texas, Colorado and others after entering the portal on Monday.
Blessed to receive an offer from Nebraska University pic.twitter.com/udV9AaXFHu
— Josh (@JRWhite_10) March 29, 2022
NU has experience returning at inside linebacker but saw Will Honas transfer out and Chris Kolarevic move to nickel. The Huskers are also short this spring as Luke Reimer and Garrett Snodgrass are rehabbing from injuries.
Competition will be hot for White, though Nebraska does have a natural connection with wide receivers coach Mickey Joseph and special teams coordinator Bill Busch — both were on the LSU staff while he was there.
A Houston native, White will technically have four years of eligibility remaining after he appeared in 10 games in 2020 and then didn’t play in 2021 due to injury.
Unofficials continue: In addition to two junior days and what is sure to be a major recruiting weekend for the spring game, NU has also hosted a steady stream of unofficial visitors on practice days over the course of the spring.
It’s a way for the staff to be able to pay more attention to priority recruits and gives players the ability to see a practice while they’re in town.
On Monday, the Huskers had four-star 2023 defensive lineman Kendrick Gilbert (Indianapolis) in town. The 6-5, 250-pounder told the Journal Star, “It went great. (I) got to look around at facilities and meet and talk with coaches.”
In the past week-plus, the Huskers have also hosted, among others, four-star Lincoln East wide receiver Malachi Coleman, four-star offensive lineman Cayden Green (Lee’s Summit, Missouri) and three-star wide receiver Andre Davis (Overland Park, Kansas) in the 2023 class and in-state 2024 defensive back Caleb Benning (Omaha Westside).
Coleman recently picked up a scholarship offer from Georgia and is considered the top player in the state of Nebraska for the 2023 cycle. He’s currently ranked the No. 139 player overall in the country by 247Sports.
Green (6-5 and 310) is viewed as one of the best offensive linemen in the Midwest for the class and is the No. 29 overall player nationally per Rivals and No. 103 per 247Sports. He has the Huskers in his top five along with Oklahoma, Michigan, Miami and Mizzou.
Huskers in final group for DB: Nebraska on Tuesday also cracked the top five for three-star defensive back Shawn Battle. The Philadelphia native also included Penn State, Boston College, Cincinnati and Virginia among his finalists and said he’s planning on making his decision June 4.
Battle (5-11, 180) visited NU earlier this spring for a junior day.
Keeping up with the transfer portal. Here’s who the Huskers have coming to Lincoln
Casey Thompson, QB
Previous school: Texas
Remaining eligibility: Two years
Of note: Thompson is the most notable transfer Nebraska has added so far because of the position he plays. He started 10 games for the Longhorns last year and led the Big 12 in touchdown passes with 24. He’ll be considered the favorite to win NU’s starting quarterback job under new offensive coordinator Mark Whipple. He’ll be on campus for this semester.
Chubba Purdy, QB
Previous school: Florida State
Remaining eligibility: Four years
Of note:
Purdy started one game in 2020 and appeared in three overall, completing 27-of-53 passes for 219 yards, a pair of touchdowns and an interception. He appeared just once in 2021 — Purdy completed all five of his passes for 98 yards and two scores.
Trey Palmer, WR/Returner
Previous school: LSU
Remaining eligibility: Two years plus a redshirt
Of note: Palmer was a blue-chip recruit out of high school and saw his role steadily grow over his three years in Baton Rouge. Now, he’ll rejoin Mickey Joseph in Lincoln. Palmer can really run — he was timed at 10.42 in the 100 meters and 21.11 seconds in the 200 — and he’s also a dangerous return man. He profiles well in the spot vacated by Samori Toure and will be on campus this semester.
Hunter Anthony, OL
Previous school: Oklahoma State
Remaining eligibility: Two years
Of note: The Oklahoma native entered 2020 as OSU’s starting right tackle, but an injury cost him most of the season. Then he served as a backup this fall. In Lincoln, the 6-foot-6, 330-pounder will be a candidate both at right tackle and at either guard spot. He’s on campus this semester.
Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda, WR
Previous school: New Mexico State
Remaining eligibility: Two years plus a redshirt
Of note: Garcia-Castaneda had a productive season at NMSU, catching 37 passes for 578 yards and four touchdowns. He was coveted as soon as he hit the transfer portal, but NU visited him in California and got him on campus for a visit in December. At 6-foot and 190 pounds, Garcia-Castaneda is a candidate for any spot in the Husker receiver rotation under Mickey Joseph.
Clark Grell
Brian Buschini, P
Previous school: Montana
Remaining eligibility: Three years
Of note: Buschini was named the FCS punter of the year after averaging better than 47 yards per punt and more than 44 net yards per attempt. He was considered perhaps the best punter available on the transfer market this winter and will be counted on right away in Lincoln. He’s on campus this semester.
Timmy Bleekrode, K
Previous school: Furman
Remaining eligibility: Three years
Of note: Bleekrode immediately becomes the favorite to handle place-kicking duties after he was recruited from Furman by new special teams coordinator Bill Busch. The Atlanta native made 15-of-18 field goals in 2021 with a long of 51 yards and is 21-of-25 over the past two seasons.
Kevin Williams, OL
Previous school: Northern Colorado
Remaining eligibility: Two years
Of note: Williams, an Omaha North graduate, is a multi-year starter at the FCS level and began the 2021 season as the Bears’ starting left tackle. He’s got positional versatility and could be a candidate at tackle or guard for the Huskers in 2022. In a young room overall, he adds a veteran presence.
Tommy Hill, DB
Previous school: Arizona State
Remaining eligibility: Three years plus a redshirt
Of note: Nebraska loved Hill out of high school in Orlando in the 2021 class, but he ended up at ASU and earned playing time right away. The Huskers jumped on him as soon as he entered the portal, and now he’ll compete for playing time in a secondary that must replace three starters. He’s on campus this semester.
Contact the writer at pgabriel@journalstar.com or 402-473-7439. On Twitter @HuskerExtraPG.
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