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Husker Extra live chat: Brian Christopherson, 1/31/17
Talk all things Husker football with Brian Christohperson during his weekly chat, every Tuesday.
3rd & 7 37yd
3rd & 7 37yd
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@Ballgame1: Just to let people know what you're talking about: Calvin's Twitter account is now being analyzed by those who think it shows the receiver might not be as solid on NU as the old Friday commitment seemed. I hate to go by tweets, but it's part of the deal now, and I'll admit it doesn't exactly sound the greatest when, days after committing, a recruit tweets out, "Signing day is the only day that matters." Considering the way the last month has been for him, I say don't count anything until that fax is in.
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@Druch: Another unknown. Calvin and Thomas are the two commits to watch tomorrow in my book. I've tried to reach him, the last few weeks but have failed in the attempt. That doesn't necessarily mean anything. For those that think his recent visits to Pitt and Louisville mean he's definitely out the door, I'll give you a glass half-full take and remind that Quayshon Alexander was a recruit who had similar late interest from other schools, seemed to enjoy that interest, but also quietly faxed in to Nebraska on Signing Day and is here now. This prediction is not made in my strongest voice, but I think he still ends up in Lincoln.
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@rrs: Very well might be. I just interviewed him four days ago about committing here, so you'd like to think that story hasn't changed. Always important to not jump to conclusions the last day. And while sometimes recruits do give clues on social media, sometimes you're just taking a wild ride if you try to overanalyze it. My only advice: Don't tweet at recruits. It's a bad look for anyone who does it.
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@GBRDesigns: I'm predicting Blades/Daniels/Onyemaobi and then am putting my Carnac hat down and just taking it all in. If Lenoir joins that party, some recruitniks out there will no doubt pitch in to bump up Donte' Williams salary another 100K. I think Blades and Daniels, mostly because fans have been told by media covering it that the Huskers have a good shot, are the two big keys in whether fans people will view it as a Signing Day of celebration or one with some grumbling.
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@Penney1188: I haven't talked to recruits in interviews to much about it. Some recruits really like it. For instance, Lamar Jackson mentioned last year he loved all the Husker fans tweeting at him. But I think it is over the top sometimes and I think fans, in certain cases, hurt their team as much as help it. I just don't see any reason why a grown-up would want to do that. Hopefully most recruits realize whatever tweets they are getting are from a very small faction of any fan base, and also understand there are some idiots on there who like to pose as a fan of a certain team to make that program look bad.
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Good afternoon, Brian. I've got a recruiting question, of course. Only this one is about the recruiting of coaches.
Which B1G team do you think made the best move in hiring a new coordinator – Nebraska hiring Bob Diaco for DC, tOSU getting Keven Wilson as OC or Rutgers luring Jerry Kill out of retirement as their new OC? I'm thinking Rutgers wins this one, provided Jerry's health holds up. -
@Benchwarmer: Hmmm.... good question. That's a pretty powerful list of names there. I guess I'd put Kevin Wilson at the top just because I've always thought he was a great offensive mind, and now you put him with all that talent, and geez. Ya know, Diaco is right up there though. The more I look at that hire, the more I love what Nebraska did, and how they did it, putting up the $$$ and giving him the authority to bring in a whole different scheme. I think in many ways it's the boldest of the three hires, and I like bold, especially if it feels like you're maybe running in place. As for Jerry Kill, I'll deflect the question a bit and say one of the reasons I'm not completely sold on Fleck at Minnesota is I think Kill/Claeys brought a rugged toughness to that program that I think helped them compete against programs who were slightly out-recruiting them. I think some people sell short how tough that team was under them and we'll see if Fleck can keep that mindset going or not.
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@GregLopes: I think it's sustainable, yes. I think you have to be smart about it and not just pay a guy to pay a guy. But the financial dedication they made to not just Diaco, but Donte Williams, should tell all. I mean, they almost doubled Williams' salary. And Diaco's 1.7 million over two years I believe rates third among coordinators in the Big Ten now? That's showing commitment on that end.
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Hi Brian! I'm not hearing or reading anything about Brendan Radley-Hiles although we are the crystal ball prediction on 247 and he's not committed. Sipp thinks we have a good shot at getting him. Do you know anything more about his recruitment and the possibility of getting him?
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@Colby: I think Nebraska has a really good shot at him. Talk about a guy who loves Donte Williams. He's definitely in that camp and there are enough California connections coming aboard in this class that it certainly isn't going to feel foreign to him to come here. Anyone who was at the third Friday Night Lights camp knows how big of a recruit he is. One of the more impressive DB prospects I've seen in person. Also has the type of personality that would make him a great peer recruiting for whatever program he links up with.
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Let's be honest, this ship is sinking. Sadly, the quicker Frost is back at HC, Parella is the DC and Rimington is the AD we will continue to be mediocre, and get beat by the Purdue's Illinois and Iowas on our schedule. . .Stop painting this pig.. . . .ITS A PIG. thanks
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@Ben: The name I'd pick out on that list is Avery Anderson. I thought he had a really strong offseason in the practices we saw. I think he'll benefit from a new set of eyes running the D. Smart player. And he seems to seek out contact. Now, there's a lot of dudes on that back end who want to make their case starting in a month, but he'd be one I'll really be watching closely.
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@rrs: I think those three, and keeping what's already there, would put NU just inside the top 20. The Blades' signing is the one that would knock Nebraska up a few pegs. I mean, he's actually rated higher than Tyjon Lindsey by 247Sports, and Lindsey is one of the highest rated prospects NU has signed in some time.
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@Huskerwi: That's the beauty of him. He has that hybrid body type where I think if wanted, he could put on the bulk and be a D-end pass-rushing option. Now, can he be an outside backer who not only can rush but cover guys? We'll see. Right now it'd be wrong to put any of those young linebackers' names above the others because we don't know exactly what Diaco will like, or who will be the quickest among those guys to pick up what he's asking. But other young backers besides Alexander that I think about include Pernell Jefferson (scout team MVP this past fall), Greg Simmons, Ferguson and Barry.
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@31BVETGBR: I'm not going to say that yet, but I'm also not going to pretend like a commitment like that is in the bag after what we've watched the last three or four weeks. That's one of those where you take it all in, and just accept that you don't know what's going to happen until some school reports having received his fax. (Do they still fax? We need to get to the bottom of this tomorrow.)
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@lredeugene: Well, that's a big statement, but I'll tell you I'm not overlooking him. Nobody could stop that dude in high school, even when they gave him extra attention. I like Nebraska recruiting that state of Missouri, too. Got to keep picking out talents like him out of there, especially with the Tigers laboring post Pinkel.
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How impt. do you think it is for NU's recruiting future for them to get over the hump (get to the CC game, win at least 10 games, and no more blow-outs)? I think that might be the single biggest hurdle for NU, the perception of being OK...but not one of the big boys anymore
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@BojiHusker: Winning championships sells more than any fancy social media presentation, or even slick facilities. I think it's everything, yes. Imagine going after recruits if your program had just beat Ohio State or Penn State or Michigan in the Big Ten Championship. They'd probably listen real close to what you had to say, wouldn't they?
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@NewportRed: I'll say a class of 22. Blades/Daniels/Onyemaobi ... and maybe one added on, while maybe subtracting one, though that part just becomes more guesswork for me. If going by Rivals, Nebraska is currently ranked 21st. If going under the prediction Blades jumps in, I think that knocks NU up a couple pegs. Also the added quantity will help NU in some of the rankings. So ... how about I say they finish 18th. Yeah. Sounds good. If Calvin doesn't sign with NU, though, that could hurt the ranking some because he does have the star power by his name.
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Is the overall talent grab this year all that different than the past 7 years? NU has always had talent - Suh, Ameer, Burkhead, Westerkamp, Gerry, etc. They just haven't had enough good players and quality depth. Is anything really changing that dramatically in this class?
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@Jerry: Well, you said the key word depth. NU needs to build it up, and especially in the trenches. That's why, above all else, I'd say two things need to happen from these most recruiting classes: 1) NU needs a lot of hits from the eight O-linemen Cavanaugh has brought in, which I think are good groups on paper. 2) They have to find that difference-making QB. And I count Tanner Lee as a transfer sort of in this recruiting game.Whether it's Lee/O'Brien/Gebbia, that can change so much if the guy manning that position has the goods. It's why I'd consider Gebbia as important as any recruit in this class, because I think he does hold a large role for this program, and also because I think guys like him also attract good receivers to sign up. Lindsey/Keyshawn Jr./McQuitty all know Gebbia can wing it. They wouldn't come here if NU weren't recruiting guys they thought could get them the ball.
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