The elements driving Nebraska football’s offensive overhaul

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Hometown: Buford, Ga.

The specs: Quarterback, 6-3, 230 pounds.

Takeaway: Raiola is as polished of a quarterback prospect as they come. His arm strength is a noticeable asset on many throws, and big-play potential is always a possibility when Raiola is on the field. Agility within the pocket is a necessary trait for quarterbacks to have, and Raiola understands that well. His ability to extend plays, throw on the run and make smart decisions under pressure is also a telltale sign of a high-level quarterback prospect.

For a program like Nebraska, which is still in the building phase under second-year head coach Matt Rhule, landing a player like Raiola can change everything. The Huskers have already recruited aggressively under Rhule, so would more high-level talent want to join Raiola in Lincoln? And from a performance standpoint, there’s no doubting Raiola could become one of the nation’s most accomplished quarterbacks. Nebraska coaches will be tasked with getting that level of production out of him.

* — All star rankings are based on Composite

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High school: Ainsworth.

The specs: Tight end, 6-4, 205 pounds.

Takeaway: Nelson’s talent is undeniable. His ability to catch, run for and even throw touchdowns all while playing defense is an incredible representation of Nelson’s all-around athleticism. As a talented track and field athlete with strong measurables, Nelson’s explosiveness has been trained by several years of high jumping. He’s also quick and elusive in the open field, and has the steady hands that are expected out of a tight end.

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Hometown: Logan, Iowa.

The specs: Offensive lineman, 6-5½, 280 pounds.

Takeaway: As one of the best tackle prospects in the Class of 2024, Brix’s tape is fittingly impressive. He knows how to use his big frame and strength to overpower opposing defenders, and shows good footwork in pass blocking situations. More importantly, Brix moves quickly off the line of scrimmage and laterally, something that’ll be key in Nebraska’s offensive scheme. Brix knows how to play quickly while remaining composed, another valuable trait that will work in his favor.

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Hometown: DeSoto, Texas.

The specs: Cornerback, 5-11, 165 pounds.

Takeaway: The majority of Buford’s Hudl highlight film shows him as an off-the-ball corner, playing ten yards back and accelerating toward a receiver when the ball is thrown. Buford makes the transition from backpedal to pursuit quite well, and, as his 12 pass breakups suggest, has a nice habit of dislodging the ball when he arrives. He’s got the aggression to play press corner, too, but his skillset reminds of the Bootle brothers, Dicaprio and Dwight.

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High school: Bellevue West.

The specs: Wide receiver, 6-1, 180 pounds.

Takeaway: Hall is smooth route runner who can blow by opposing corners and draw attention from safeties. He’s not quite former Bellevue West receiver Zavier Betts — who may be the most talented prep receiver to come out of Nebraska in decades — but he compares favorably to every receiver NU signed in the 2023 class. He’s as skilled as any of them, and perhaps the most polished.

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Hometown: Garwood, Texas.

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

Takeaway: Gradney was NU’s first commit in the 2024 class and describes himself as a “utility” player who loves special teams and plays both receiver and defensive back. He’s expected to start his Husker career at corner or safety.

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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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High school: Bellevue West.

The specs: Wide receiver, 6-0, 170 pounds.

Takeaway: McMorris’ path to NU was a slow burn, spending his first two years of high school at Millard North. After leaving a run-heavy offense where his skillset was under-utilized, McMorris fit Bellevue West’s spread style like a glove. The proof of that was his incredible 97-catch, 1,300-yard season that resulted in Power Five offers from around the country. McMorris is a slot wide receiver who excels at out-maneuvering defenders on screens and other quick passes. He shifts his body weight extremely well on the fly, resulting in a speed that’s difficult to match.

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Hometown: Miami.

The specs: Linebacker, 6-1, 205 pounds.

Takeaway: Shavers has plenty of experience as a pass rusher and could be deployed as a “Jack” linebacker in the Nebraska defense. However, he could grow into another linebacker role thanks to his ability to cover ground and bring down ball-carriers. If Shavers can develop his pass coverage as well, he could become a stellar all-around linebacker prospect.

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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: 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: Liberty, Mo.

The specs: Tight end, 6-3, 205 pounds.

Takeaway: This is no common Smith family. Keelan Smith’s father, Neil Smith, is a former Husker who put together a 13-year NFL career that included over 100 sacks. That familial relationship may have gotten Keelan Smith on Nebraska’s radar — but his athleticism is what secured Smith’s spot in Nebraska’s 2024 class. Smith’s high school offense at Liberty North showcased his talents in a way few high schools can. The mostly spread-style offense led to the big, dynamic pass-catching target getting his fair share of opportunities. Playing as more of a wide receiver than a tight end, Smith hauled in 50 catches for 850 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior — routinely torching opposing coverage.

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Hometown: Miami.

The specs: Defensive back, 6-2, 175 pounds.

Takeaway: Sanders primarily played cornerback in high school, but his size, physical tackling and quick hands make him a fit for a different role in the Nebraska defense. The Huskers could likely deploy the 6-2 Sanders closer to the line of scrimmage, in an advanced position similar to DeShon Singleton. With added development, Sanders could be a similar hard-hitting secondary option.

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Hometown: Miami.

The specs: Defensive back, 5-11, 165 pounds.

Takeaway: Tarver is a fast, athletic track star that amounts to everything Nebraska wants in a prospect. His explosiveness will help him in quick bursts at cornerback, and so will his defensive instincts. From interceptions to pass breakups, Tarver’s senior film is full of excellent plays in coverage. He has potential as a kick returner, too.

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High school: Elkhorn South.

The specs: Offensive tackle/defensive lineman, 6-5, 240 pounds.

Takeaway: If Nebraska cleaned up with in-state offensive linemen last year, Murphy, recruited by NU defensive line coach Terrance Knighton, will play on the other side of the ball. It’s more evidence that Nebraska’s new coaching staff believes, strongly, that it can recruit local guys to play on the line of scrimmage. History tells us that’s true on offense and relatively true on defense. Evidence includes the recent career of Garrett Nelson and Colton Feist, or even a guy like Ross Dzuris, who was NU’s best pass rusher in 2016. 

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Hometown: Pearland, Texas.

The specs: Linebacker, 6-4, 190 pounds.

Takeaway: NU coach Matt Rhule believes in development and in recruiting Texas, and Prude’s commit combines the two ideas. Prude has a great frame for safety, linebacker or rover, and he’s clearly an under-the-radar prospect who showed up as a Houston Christian University satellite camp, impressed Husker defensive backs coach Evan Cooper, got an offer, took a visit, and is now in the class. He has only a handful of stats and highlights from his previous school, Missouri City (Texas) Fort Bend Hightower, so Nebraska’s comfortable making a projection.

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Hometown: Broomfield, Colo.

The specs: Offensive lineman, 6-4, 310 pounds.

Takeaway: Nebraska offensive line coach Donovan Raiola likes to train his linemen for multiple positions, and Davidson is a player who will be well-suited for that training regimen. At 6-foot-4 and just over 300 pounds, Davidson appears set for a future at guard. His physical, large frame will be a strong fit for Nebraska’s rushing attack, and playing along the interior will help him increase mobility in pass protection. Depending on how quickly he develops, Davidson could perhaps move to tackle in the future. For now, though, he appears set to be a powerful member of NU’s interior offensive line in years to come.

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High school: Papillion-La Vista.

The specs: Tight end, 6-7, 235 pounds.

Takeaway: Ingwerson has positional flexibility that could indicate a move to offensive tackle in the future, though his existing skills at tight end are hard to ignore. He joins Ainsworth’s Carter Nelson and Ian Flynt as members of the Nebraska class, signaling that NU’s future tight end room is in good hands.