You’ve heard it before, but it’s worth repeating, June is a huge month for Nebraska recruiting. With the list of visitors increasing each week and Nebraska continuing to make offers, June becomes increasingly important. As of now, from June 5th to the 19th the Huskers will receive 34 official visits. Thoughts are Nebraska will sit close to 20 commits by the 4th of July weekend. Sitting at eleven commits, that means a lot must happen between now and then.
Recruiting has been hot with the addition of three Georgia offensive linemen, KD Jones, Timi Ailu, and Jordon Agbanoma. They were joined earlier by commit, OT Matt Erickson. What adds even more intrigue is that Nebraska isn’t finished with their pursuit of O-linemen. There are three more visitors scheduled to visit. Starting with 5-Star IOL Albert Simien who will make his official visit June 5th, joining Jones, Agbanoma, and Aliu. The following week 4- Star IOL Kyler Kuhn and 3-Star IOL Barret Kittrell will take their official visits June 12th.
While I’d be a little surprised to see Nebraska take seven offensive linemen, five is expected and six believable. However, with six and especially seven, one would have to say offensive line coach Geep Wade is looking to turn over his room by bringing that many bodies in. I say that because Nebraska currently has 21 offensive linemen on the roster.
Everyone wants to ignore the 105-man roster limit like it isn’t anything to worry about. But with the limit, those numbers mean somebody will need to move on. That often isn’t the new blood just brought in, unless it’s suddenly recognized they aren’t a good fit.
While Nebraska is expected to add somewhere around nine more players for 2027, the four positions that are directly affected due to the 105 roster rules will be the offensive line, defensive line, wide receiver, and defensive back. If the NCAA decided to go to 5-for-5 in eligibility, that too would dictate how things are handled moving forward.
Offensive Line
The current offensive line roster:
Freshmen (3): Claude Mopuma, Rex Waterman, Hayden Ainsworth
Red Shirt Freshmen (2): Shawn Hammerbeck, Juju Marks
Sophomores (6): Grant Brix, Jake Peters, Gibson Pyle, Preston Tamua, Nolan Fennesey, Ashton Murphy
Juniors (6): Gunnar Gottula, Brock Knutson, Sam Sledge, Jacob Brandl, Tree Babalade, Paul Mubenga
Seniors (4): Justin Evans, Elijah Pritchett, Tyler Knaak, Bredan Black
If 5-for-5 were to happen and players like Black, Babalade and Mubenga decided to stick around another year with the addition of 5 to 6 new 2027 O-linemen then there would need to be some attrition to meet the roster limit.
Defensive Line
The Huskers currently have one commit, Jayden Travers, but are looking to add three to four players in all. Listed as defensive linemen for official visits the Huskers have 3-Star Zai’Vion Meads, 3-Star Errol Demontagnac, and 3-Star Nehemiah Ombati taking official visits on June 9th. 3-Star Zahmar Tookes will visit June12th and commit Jayden Travers will visit on the 19th.
Also visiting and listed as Edge players, are 3-Star Ma’aote Moe and 3-Star Grayson Kazmouz. Moe will visit on June 12th, Kazmouz on the 19th.
The current roster indicates there are 21 defensive linemen, 12 interior linemen and 9 edge players. The roster appears as follows:
Interior
Freshmen (1): Dylan Berymon
Red Shirt Freshmen (2); Malcolm Simpson, Tyson Terry
Sophomores (3): Landen Davidson, Jahsear Whittington, David Hoffken
Juniors (4): Gabe Moore, Riley Van Poppel, Sua Lefotu, Mason Goldman
Seniors (2) Dylan Parrot, Owen Stoudmire
Edge
Freshmen (0)
Red Shirt Freshmen (0)
Sophomores (5): Willimas Nwaneri, Kade Pietrazak, Jordan Ochoa, Ethan Duda, Willis McGahee IV
Juniors (2); Mac Markway, Conor Connealy
Seniors (2): Anthony Jones, Cameron Lenhardt
Again, the addition of 3 to 4 players plus the current 21 on the roster suggests the need for roster reduction.
Wide Receivers
In the 2027 class the Huskers have commitments from 2 wide receivers, Tay Ellis and Kaden Howard. Even though Howard is committed he’s still taking official visits elsewhere. And while the Huskers are looking to add two more wide receivers to the class, they are expecting official visits from 3 more. It isn’t unthinkable they might have to replace Howard if he decommits. The Huskers have official visits scheduled from 4-Star Khalil Taylor, 3-Star Isiah Alverez, and Kaden Howard on June 12th. Matthew Gregory, a 4-Star will visit June 19th with Tay Ellis. Expect 2027 QB commit Trae Taylor to be on hand during all the visits during the month of June. I’m sure he’ll spend plenty of time with all the recruits, but especially with the wide outs.
Right now, the Huskers list 18 wide receivers on the roster. The list appears as follows:
Freshmen (4): Jamari Brown, Larry Miles, Nalin Scott, Maurice Purify II
Red Shirt Freshmen (2): Jeremiah Jones, Jackson Carpenter
Sophomores (5): Quinn Clark, Keelan Smith, DJ Singelton, Cortez Milles, Conner Schutt
Juniors (5): Jacory Barney Jr, Demitrus Bell, Nyziah Hunter, Hayes Miller, Kwazi Gilmer
Senior (2): Janiran Bonner, Roman Mangini
Defensive Backs
Nebraska has 2 commitments from defensive backs thus far in the 2027 class. They are Tory Pittman and Corey Hadley, both safeties. The Huskers have 8 official visits planned for June, 3 cornerbacks and 5 safeties. On the 5th that includes 4-Star CB-Jailen Hill, 4-Star CB-Bryce Williams, and Corey Hadley. On June 12th 3-Star Safety-Henry Sakalas, 3-Star Safety-James Johnson, 3-Star Safety-Brennan Drummond, 3-Star CB-Kamauri Whitfield, and 4-Star Safety-Mekhi Williams are taking their official visits. Commit Tory Pittman and 4-Star S-Kennedy Green will take their official visits on June 19th.
Nebraska currently lists 21 defensive backs on their roster. The 12 cornerbacks are listed as follows:
Freshmen (1): Danny Odem
Red Shirt Freshmen (1): Bryson Webber
Sophomores (6): Donavan Jones, Kahmir Prescott, Amare Sanders, Larry Tarver, Mario Buford, Braylen Prude
Juniors (2); Blye Hill, Jeremiah Charles
Seniors (2); Andrew Marshall, Victor Evans III
The 9 safety positions are listed as follows:
Freshman (0):
Red Shirt Freshmen (1); Tanner Terch
Sophomores (4): Thomas D’Onofrio, Caleb Benning, Rex Guthrie, Rowdy Bauer
Juniors (2): Justyn Rhett, Jasin Shiggs
Seniors (2): Dwayne McDougle, Jamir Conn
With the players that are grandfathered in, Nebraska currently shows 116 players on the roster. 80 of those positions are offensive linemen, defensive linemen, wide receivers, and defensive backs. It appears they will be adding between 13 to 15 more players in 2027 at those positions. Meaning they will only be able to add between 5 to 7 players at the other positions, QB, RB, TE, and LB. As of now they have commitments from QB-Trae Taylor and RB-Amir Brown. They would like to add 3-Star tight end Joey Hunter, who is visiting on June 5th. At the linebacker position they have 3-Star Matthew Brady and 3-Star Kobe Rhymes also visiting on the 5th. However, it should be noted that a couple of the guys visiting and listed as safeties are considered hybrids who could also play linebacker. Henry Sakalas and James Johnson are two of those guys.
Whatever happens, the Huskers will attempt to sign around 20 players, meaning there will be a turnover on the roster at some point to meet the 105-man limit. Don’t feel bad Husker fans, because every time that happens, the roster improves.
GO BIG RED!! SIMPLE, FAST, VIOLENT!!
~Lyle Harmon
Information gathered from Rivals On3
Photo courtesy of the Falls City Journal Home – Falls City Journal – Falls City, NE
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