Steven M. Sipple: Frost faces uphill battle for top in-state prospects; and Roby’s rise in NBA | Column

He also noted the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Jackson wants to play outside linebacker, while Nebraska may want him to play inside. What’s more, Jackson’s parents both were athletes at Illinois. 

“He’s just not a ‘Husker kid,'” Callahan said. “Deshawn Woods, same deal. He didn’t grow up watching Nebraska football.” 

Nebraska’s recent struggles as a program — five losing seasons in the past six years — are bound to impact recruiting. It’s just common sense. Thing is, this conversation could change quickly if the Huskers turn the tide in a big way in 2021. 

As for the third- and fourth-ranked players in the state’s class of 2022, Bellevue West tight ends Micah Riley-Ducker and Kaden Helms, they happen to enter the scene on the heels of a Nebraska class of 2021 that featured three tight ends, including Thomas Fidone of Council Bluffs, Iowa — the nation’s top tight end prospect in his class. 

Riley-Ducker is another example of an in-state prospect who didn’t grow up following Nebraska football, Callahan said. 

Of the top four, Nebraska’s best chance could be with Helms, whose list of scholarship offers includes Arizona State, Florida State, Iowa, Michigan and Miami, among others. Yeah, a bunch of heavies. 

Nebraska is squarely in the hunt for outside linebacker Ernest Hausmann of Columbus, the state’s fifth-ranked player, according to Rivals.com. Callahan regards Hausmann as a “must-get” prospect for the Huskers, especially in the context of where they stand with the top four in-state players.