Nebraska staff locked in on in-state talent in 2023 and beyond

Ed Foley has been settling in at Nebraska. He’s recruited around Omaha and gotten to know Lincoln.

The new Huskers special teams coordinator said his priorities have been, in order, find the best talent, then find the best restaurants.

“I’m not going to come here and go recruiting and go to Chili’s,” Foley said during an interview with the Huskers Radio Network on Wednesday. “Nothing wrong with Chili’s — it’s good — but I’m trying to get the local flavors. Great players and great food in that first week.”

Foley said Omaha Westside kicker Tristan Alvano was a key part of that approach. The staff watched Alvano’s “wow” film and agreed they couldn’t let him get away. Not only was Alvano showing high-end leg strength and making kicks, but he was hitting consistently in pressure situations.

Said Foley: “There’s some people out there that think he’s definitely one of the top two or three kickers in the entire country, and he’s right here in our backyard.”

Alvano’s process is part of a larger trend that Foley said will be taking hold as the Huskers look to reestablish their borders and keep top local players in-state. Nebraska began the day with seven scholarship pledges in the fold — the most since the 2002 cycle — and the state has equally strong crops of talent coming up in 2024 and beyond.

NU coaches will be in the local high schools as much as possible, Foley said. They will be building relationships. The best Nebraska high schoolers will be Nebraska Huskers.

“There’s players in this state and we’re getting them — they’re coming to Nebraska,” Foley said. “There have been some other schools that have gotten in here and made some headway recruiting Nebraska. That’s over. We’re coming in now.”