>>> AS THE HUSKERS GET READY TO >>> AS THE HUSKERS GET READY TO GO BOWLING, WE HAVE COACHING CHANGES, AND IT'S TIME TO INTRODUCE YOU TO NEBRASKA SIGNEES AS A RECAP OF THE EARLY SIGNING PERIOD.

A NEW QB, A STACK OF NEW RECEIVERS, AND SOME BIG-TIME DEFENDERS COMING TO LINCOLN.

WE'LL FILL YOU IN, AND PREVIEW THE MATCHUP AGAINST BOSTON COLLEGE.

IT IS ALL COMING UP NEXT ON "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

♪ >>> HI, EVERYONE.

I AM MIKE'L SEVERE WITH FORMER HUSKER JAY MOORE AND RECRUITING EXPERT SEAN CALLAHAN.

WE'VE GOT SOME EARLY NEWS THOUGH.

ESPN'S PETE THAMEL REPORTED THAT JOHN BUTLER HHAS BEEN PROMOTED TO DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, WHICH OF COURSE, OBVIOUSLY IS BIG NEWS, BUT IT'S KINDA WHAT YOU FELT, RIGHT?

BECAUSE YOU HEARD COACH RHULE SAY HE WANTS TO KEEP THE SYSTEM THE SAME.

>> YES, I AGREE.

IN OTHER PLACES HE'S BEEN, HE'S ALWAYS KINDA BROUGHT -- HIRED FROM WITHIN.

AND THIS HIRE WAS MADE KIND OF UNEXPECTEDLY IN THE SUMMER, BECAUSE OF THE DEPARTURE OF EVAN COOPER.

YOU THOUGHT THIS WAS A POTENTIAL REPLACEMENT FOR TONY WHITE, IF AND WHEN HE FINALLY TOOK THAT HEAD COACHING JOB THAT WE THOUGHT.

NOW, WE DID NOT EXPECT HIM TO GO TAKE A JOB AT AND GO TO FOREST STATE, A MORE LATERAL MOVE.

BUT WE THOUGHT, "OKAY, THE STARS ARE KIND OF ALIGNING HERE WITH IT," AND, LISTEN, I -- I UNDERSTAND IT, YOU WANT A GUY -- COACH RHULE WANTS A GUY THAT HAS A 3-3-5 EXPERIENCE.

HE HAS THAT HERE WITH NEBRASKA, SO NOT SURPRISED BY THIS HIRE.

AND THEY NEED TO GET THIS HIRE UP QUICKLY BECAUSE WITH RECRUITING, TRANSFER PORTAL STUFF, GUYS WANT TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF SYSTEM THEY'RE GOING TO BE PLAYING IN.

>> YEAH, EVEN THE BILLS RAN A SLIGHT 3-3-5 AS WELL.

SO IT'S NOT -- IT'S NOT A SURPRISE, RIGHT?

>> NO, AND IT'S NOW OFFICIAL, NEBRASKA ANNOUNCED THE HIRE ABOUT 30 MINUTES AGO WITH JOHN BUTLER, THAT IS OFFICIAL.

AND LOOK, I THINK IF HE WOULD'VE BEEN PASSED OVER HERE -- YOU KNOW, HE LEFT THE BILLS 'CAUSE HE WAS PASSED OVER.

SO I THINK IF YOU ARE TRYING TO KEEP THE CONTINUITY, THE DEFENSE WAS REALLY NOT THE PROBLEM.

IT WAS THE STRENGTH OF THIS TEAM.

YOU'VE GOT A GOOD CORE.

AND NOW YOU BRING IN PHIL SNOW, WHO WAS THE GUY I THINK MATT RHULE ALWAYS WANTED HERE FROM THE GET-GO TO BE KIND OF WITH HIS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR.

>> WE HAVE THAT TO COVER AND MORE TONIGHT.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU, OF COURSE.

WE HAVE THE PHONE STANDING BY.

IF YOU'RE READY TO CALL, YOU CAN CALL.

YOU CAN ALSO TEXT AND EMAIL US YOUR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS TO BIGRED@NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG.

WE ARE ALSO MONITORING OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS TONIGHT AS WELL.

SEND US YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE "BIG RED WRAP-UP" FACEBOOK PAGE OR X ACCOUNT, AND WE'LL ANSWER AS MANY OF THE QUESTIONS AS WE CAN.

TIME FOR OUR SIDELINE SURVEY.

LAST WEEK WE ASKED YOU, "WHAT BOWL WOULD YOU PREFER TO SEE NEBRASKA BE IN?"

WELL, YOU WANTED TO GO TO PHOENIX, YOU WANTED TO GO TO NASHVILLE?

SORRY, YOU'RE GOING TO NEW YORK.

BAD BOY MOWERS PINSTRIPE BOWL ONLY GOT 9% OF THE VOTE, BUT THAT'S WHERE NEBRASKA IS HEADED.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION, "HOW DO YOU SEE THE BAD BOY MOWERS PINSTRIPE BOWL TURNING OUT?"

NEBRASKA BLOWOUT OF BOSTON COLLEGE, CLOSE HUSKER WIN, BOSTON COLLEGE BLOWS OUT NEBRASKA, CLOSE BOSTON COLLEGE WIN, OVERTIME WIN, OVERTIME LOSS.

RIGHT NOW 71% OF THE PEOPLE SAY CLOSE HUSKER WIN.

I THINK WE ALL KIND OF -- WELL, NOT ALL OF US -- MOST OF US FEEL THAT WAY.

BIGGEST RECRUITING WIN YET THOUGH MAY BE KEEPING EMMETT JOHNSON OUT OF THE PORTAL AND BRINGING HIM BACK TO LINCOLN.

WAS THIS WORK OF 1890?

WAS THIS N.I.L.?

HOW DID THAT END UP CHANGING?

HE NEVER REALLY OFFICIAL WENT IN THE PORTAL, BECAUSE IT DIDN'T START 'TIL MONDAY, BUT HE DID START THE PROCESS.

>> IT WAS TWO THINGS, BUT DANA HOLGORSEN WAS THE MAIN PIECE.

DANA HOLGORSEN WAS ON THE PHONE WITH HIM, I KNOW SUNDAY.

AND AFTER A CONVERSATION SUNDAY, YOU KNOW, HE -- THE DECISION WAS MADE HE WAS GOING TO STAY, AND THEN HE MADE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT PROBABLY ABOUT AN HOUR OR TWO LATER.

AND, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY 1890 IS GOING TO PLAY A KEY PIECE.

AND, LOOK, EMMETT JOHNSON WAS GOING TO GET PAID N.I.L.

MONEY NO MATTER WHERE HE WENT.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND I THINK FOR NEBRASKA, HE WANTED TO BE HERE, AND I THINK HE FELT COMFORTABLE NOW MOVING FORWARD.

AND IT WAS THE TRUST.

I MEAN, HE WAS IN A POSITION LAST YEAR WHERE HE FELT LIKE HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE STARTER THIS YEAR.

AND HE DIDN'T START THE YEAR OFF AS THE STARTER.

AND I THINK THIS -- I THINK HE NOW FEELS A LOT BETTER ABOUT WHERE HE FITS UNDER DANA HOLGORSEN.

>> HE'S SUCH A GREAT AN ALL-PURPOSE GUY.

YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

HE HAS THE ABILITY TO CATCH OUT OF THE BACK FIELD, WE'VE SEEN THAT NUMEROUS TIMES, PUT HIS FOOT IN THERE AND GET VERTICAL.

BUT ALSO STEP UP IN A THIRD-DOWN SITUATION, AND PICK A BLITZ PICKUP.

HE DID THAT NUMEROUS TIMES, ESPECIALLY IN THIS IOWA GAME, HAD A COUPLE GOOD PICKUPS.

SO HE IS AN ALL -- HE IS A THREE-DOWN BACK.

SO HE IS A GUY THAT -- IT -- THAT'S A HUGE KEY.

AND I GET IT.

SOME OF THESE KIDS IN THIS SITUATIONS, YOU WANT TO PUT YOUR NAME OUT THERE JUST TO KIND OF TEST THE WATERS, SEE WHAT MAYBE ELSE YOU CAN GET.

BUT FOR HOLGORSEN TO KEEP HIM HERE, AND KEEP HIM WITHIN THIS OFFENSE HEADING OBVIOUSLY INTO THE BOWL GAME AND INTO 2025, A VERY BIG WIN FOR THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S JUMP INTO THIS RECRUITING CLASS.

TJ LATEEF OUT OF ORANGE COUNTY, I LOVE THE KID.

I THINK HE'S GOT A QUICK RELEASE, REMINDS ME A LITTLE BIT OF C.J.

STROUD WHEN HE WAS AT OHIO STATE.

THOUGHTS ON BRINGING HIM IN AS THE NEXT QUARTERBACK?

>> YEAH, I THINK FOR NEBRASKA, IT WAS A HARD SELL TO GET A QUARTERBACK INITIALLY, 'CAUSE YOU HAVE DYLAN RAIOLA, AND AT THAT TIME YOU HAD DANIEL KAELIN.

SO TO GET ANOTHER QUALITY HIGH SCHOOL QUARTERBACK WAS NOT EASY.

TJ LATEEF, A FOUR STAR, PLAYS AGAINST SOME OF THE HIGHEST COMPETITION IN THE COUNTRY, AND OBVIOUSLY WITHIN CALIFORNIA, SO HE IS PRESSED AND PUSHED AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.

AND LOOK -- >> MAKE EVERY THROW.

>> HE'S GOING TO BE WALKING INTO AN OPPORTUNE SITUATION AT NEBRASKA, BECAUSE OF THE QUARTERBACK ROOM.

HEINRICH HAARBERG IS NOW PLAYING TIGHT END, AND DANIEL KAELIN HAS LEFT THE PROGRAM.

>> YEP, NO DOUBT.

LET'S JUMP INTO OUR RUNNING BACKS, BECAUSE ONE OF THE MOST DECORATED RUNNING BACKS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, CONOR BOOTH.

OF COURSE WE KNOW WHAT HE DID AT BISHOP NEUMANN, ALMOST 3,000 YARDS.

6,000 YARDS FOR HIS CAREER.

DO YOU THINK OF HIM AS DEVELOPMENTAL BACKS?

THE KID'S GOT A A BIG, TOUGH, STRONG LOWER BODY.

>> YEAH, 2,900 PLUS YARDS RUSHING.

WAS RECENTLY NAMED THE NEBRASKA GATORADE HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE YEAR, WHICH, THAT WAS A TOUGH AWARD, THERE WERE A LOT OF ACCOMPLISHED PEOPLE THAT COULD'VE GOT IT.

BUT HE'S PROVEN.

HE'S BEEN A TWO-YEAR COMMIT TO NEBRASKA NOW, WANTED TO BE HERE.

HE'S GONNA TRY TO PLAY BASEBALL AS WELL.

I JUST -- YEAH, WHERE DOES HE FIT NOW?

WHAT WILL HIS FRESHMAN YEAR LOOK LIKE?

OBVIOUSLY HE'LL BE HERE READY TO ROLL, AND, YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN COMMITTED FOR A LONG TIME.

>> REMINDS ME A LOT OF ARIAN FOSTER, WHO I WATCHED PLAY IN HIGH SCHOOL IN ALBUQUERQUE.

SAME KIND OF LOWER BODY, VERY SHIFTY GUY.

MORE SPEED, THOUGH.

JAMARION PARKER, THIS WAS A GOOD GET, AT CARDINAL RITTER, ONE OF THE BEST HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY.

>> AND GIVE KEITH WILLIAMS A LOT OF CREDIT.

ST. LOUIS, WITH HIS CONNECTION.

THEY GOT HIM ON CAMPUS IN THE SPRING, BACK IN MARCH.

AND I THINK THAT WAS PIVOTAL TO BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP.

HE HAD A REALLY, REALLY GOOD SEASON, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT HE DID -- 1,564 YARDS, 18 TOUCHDOWNS THIS PAST SEASON IN ST. LOUIS.

AND LOOK, YOU KNOW WITH RUNNING BACKS, IF THEY'RE GOOD, THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO PLAY RIGHT AWAY.

>> YEAH.

YOU WANT TO BRING THESE GUYS IN, BECAUSE MUCH TALENT AS YOU CAN AROUND YOUR NOW SOPHOMORE QUARTERBACK.

>> YEAH, YOU WANT TO -- NEBRASKA NEEDS TO GET MORE CLOSE OF AN OFFENSE.

THEY HAVE -- THEY'VE HAD LITTLE PIECES HERE AND THERE, THEY'VE HAD BIGGER BODIES.

FRESHMAN NEED TO GET MORE EXPLOSIVE, SO GUYS THAT YOU GET THE BALL IN SPACE, AND GO DO YOUR THING, RIGHT?

AND THAT'S THE KIND OF THE PIECE OF HIS -- BARNEY KIND OF HAD THAT ELEMENT TO IT.

EMMETT JOHNSON KIND OF BROUGHT THAT ELEMENT TO IT.

BUT YOU NEED SOME GUYS THAT IT'S LIKE, "HERE YOU GO, DO YOUR THING.

MAKE A COUPLE GUYS MISS, AND, YOU KNOW, GO HIT YOUR HEAD ON THE GOALPOST."

>> YEAH.

AND THESE TWO GUYS COULD EASILY BE THUNDER AND LIGHTNING AS WE GO ALONG.

BY THE WAY, I LIKE JOE McKNIGHT FOR A COMP FOR HIM.

LET'S GET TO WIDE RECEIVERS.

CORTEZ MILLS, GOOD GET FOR NEBRASKA, HIGHEST RATED OF THE WIDE RECEIVERS.

>> NO DOUBT.

AND TO USE AN NFL ANALOGY, YOU KIND OF HAVE A DRAFT BUDGET, A DRAFT CLASS.

THIS IS PROBABLY YOUR FIRST ROUND PICK WHEN YOU KIND OF LOOK HOW NEBRASKA HAD TO ALLOCATE HOW THEY WENT WITH THEIR N.I.L.

I MEAN, THEY WENT ALL IN TO FLIP CORTEZ MILLS FROM OKLAHOMA.

AND THAT WAS NOT EASY, 'CAUSE OKLAHOMA WAS NOT GOING TO LET HIM GO.

BUT I THINK THE KEY PIECE WAS JACORY BARNEY AND HIM ARE VERY CLOSE.

DYLAN RAIOLA WAS KEY IN THIS.

AND OBVIOUSLY NEBRASKA HAD THE N.I.L.

TO MAKE ALL THIS HAPPEN, BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT, IF HE STAYS HEALTHY, HE'S A DAY ONE GUY THAT WILL PLAY IMMEDIATELY FOR THE HUSKERS.

>> WATCH HIM HIGH POINT THE BALL.

D.J.

MOORE IS MY COMP FOR HIM.

I LIKE HIM A LOT.

ISAIAH MOZEE, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FLIP.

KANSAS CITY AREA.

MORE ATHLETIC A LITTLE BIT, MORE OF A SHIFTIER BACK PLAYING INSIDE.

I LIKE HIM AS KIND OF A STEVE SMITH SR. LOOK, 'CAUSE HE'S TOUGH.

>> YEAH, HE'S AN INSIDE GUY.

HE, YOU KNOW, PLAYED RUNNING BACK A LITTLE BIT.

>> A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

>> HIS FATHER, JAMAR, CAME ON STAFF AT NEBRASKA.

SO KIND OF A TWO FOR ONE MOVE HERE BY MATT RHULE TO GET HIS FATHER ON STAFF, THEN YOU GET HIS SON WHO'S A FOUR-STAR.

THEY FLIPPED HIM, MIKE'L, FROM OREGON.

HE WAS A LONGTIME COMMIT FROM OREGON, BUT NOW THEY'RE IN IN KANSAS CITY.

WILLIAMS NWANERI, THE FORMER FIVE-STAR THAT WAS AT MISSOURI IN THE PORTAL, WELL, GUESS WHO HE PLAYED FOR IN HIGH SCHOOL?

JAMAR MOZEE.

SO WATCH THAT ONE CLOSELY.

>> WATCH THAT ONE.

LET'S GET JEREMIAH JONES, BECAUSE I PUT A.J.

BROWN FOR HIM, AND I KNOW THAT IS AN AGGRESSIVE COMP, BUT THIS KID IS A BIG PHYSICAL FREAK.

>> YEAH, THIS MIGHT BE YOUR SECOND ROUND PICK IN THE CLASS.

>> EASILY, YEAH.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT HIM -- ON3, OUR RATINGS TEAM IS ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE WITH JEREMIAH JONES.

THEY HAVE HIM RANKED AS HIGH AS ANY OF THE RECRUITS IN THE CLASS.

AND WITH HIS SIZE AND, I MEAN -- YOU KNOW, EVERYONE WAS ALL IN ON MICHAEL TERRY.

THIS IS A SIMILAR TYPE OF GUY THAT CAN PLAY A LOT OF POSITIONS AND IT WAS A BATTLE.

MISSOURI AND A NUMBER OF OTHER TEAMS WERE TRYING TO FLIP HIM ON SIGNING DAY, AND AGAIN, IT TOOK NEBRASKA'S COLLECTIVE TO KIND OF CLOSE THE DEAL ON HIM LATE.

BUT WITH HIS ATHLETIC ABILITY, I AM REALLY INTRIGUED WHAT HE COULD BRING TO THE TABLE.

>> YEAH, ON3 SAYS NUMBER ONE PLAYER IN KENTUCKY, AND THE THIRD BEST ATHLETE IN THE GROUP.

LET'S GET TO ANOTHER GREAT ATHLETE, JACKSON CARPENTER, LOCATED OUT OF SOUTHWEST HIGH.

THIS IS LAZY BUT BRANDON REILLY IS WHO I COMPED HIM TO.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> BRANDON WAS FAST, BUT HE'S FASTER, I MEAN -- >> HE'S FASTER.

>> JACKSON HOLDS THE SCHOOL RECORD AT LINCOLN SOUTHWEST -- 38 INCH VERTICAL.

YOU KNOW, HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE.

YOU KNOW, HIS HIGH SCHOOL TEAM DID NOT WIN A LOT HIS JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEAR.

SO HE WASN'T REALLY FEATURED AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, BUT I THINK IF HE WAS ON A MILLARD SOUTH OR A WESTSIDE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE TOP PROGRAMS, HE WOULD REALLY HAVE DOMINATED AND PUT UP HUGE NUMBERS.

BUT YOU LOOK AT HIM, HE PLAYED THREE SPORTS -- FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, WAS A GREAT TRACK ATHLETE.

>> AND HE RAN 10-6-8 AS A JUNIOR IN THE 100.

LETS GO TO TANNER TEACH -- TERCH, EXCUSE ME, THE LAST OF THE WIDE RECEIVERS.

THIS IS THE -- ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS OUT OF COLORADO NEBRASKA'S BRINGING IN.

>> IT WAS KINDA ONE OF THOSE YEARS IN COLORADO WHERE THERE WASN'T A CONSENSUS NUMBER ONE.

SOME PEOPLE HAD HIM NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE.

BUT YEAH, HE'S A 10-8, 10-9 GUY THAT HAD A REALLY, REALLY GOOD YEAR AND WAS COMMITTED.

AND I THINK NEBRASKA WANTS TO CONTINUE TO GO INTO COLORADO AND LOCK UP THE TOP PLAYERS, AT LEAST GET ONE OR TWO EVERY YEAR.

>> YEAH, 10-9-3 AND 100 AS A SENIOR, REMINDS ME OF LUKE McCAFFREY ONCE HE GOT TO RICE AS A WIDE RECEIVER.

HE'S TOUGH, GO GETS THE BALL.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS WIDE RECEIVER CLASS?

>> IT'S REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU GET MILLS, THESE GUYS ARE GONNA BE COMING IN -- A LOT OF GUYS ARE GONNA HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY.

YOU KNOW, WITH LOSING MALACHI COLEMAN, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SOME SENIORS THAT ARE PLAYING AS WELL THAT ARE GONNA BE LEAVING, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO STEP FOOT ON CAMPUS DAY ONE AND CONTRIBUTE.

YOU GOTTA UNDERSTAND THE PLAY SYSTEM, GET IN WITH HOLGORSEN, GET -- DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH DYLAN RAIOLA, AND IT'S GONNA BE RIGHT THERE FOR THE TAKING.

AND IF YOU CAN MAKE PLAYS, AND IF YOU CAN BE EXPLOSIVE, YOU UNDERSTAND, AND YOU WORK HARD, IT'S GONNA BE RIGHT THERE FOR THE TAKING FOR HIM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO TO THE KEY FOR ANY TEAM, AND OFFENSE ESPECIALLY, IS THE OFFENSIVE LINE.

AND WE START WITH JUJU MARKS, WHO IS ALMOST AN IDENTICAL LOOK TO MICAH MAZZCCUA.

HE LOOKS -- SAME NUMBER, LOOKS JUST LIKE HIM AS WELL, OUT OF OLATHE, KANSAS.

>> IT'S FUNNY, ON HIS RECRUITING VISIT HE WAS STANDING AND TALKING TO MICAH MAZZCCUA ON THE SIDELINES.

>> MAKES SENSE.

>> BUT HE WAS A LATE FLIP FOR NEBRASKA, JUJU MARKS.

HE WAS COMMITTED TO KANSAS, AND NEBRASKA CAME IN.

LOOK, THEY NEED TO TACKLE BODIES ON THIS ROSTER.

I THINK JUJU MARKS OUT OF KANSAS CITY, GIVES THEM A GREAT BODY, ANOTHER KANSAS CITY PROSPECT WHERE THEY'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO PUSH.

>> THE NEXT ONE IS SHAWN HAMMERBECK, WHO IS REALLY INTERESTING, BECAUSE THIS IS A GUY WHO PLAYED TIGHT END, PLAYED SOME DEFENSIVE END, A LITTLE BIT LIKE THE WAY J.J. WATT DID WHEN HE GOT TO WISCONSIN.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE ABOUT WHAT HE BRINGS TO THIS OFFENSIVE LINE.

>> YEAH, NUMBER ONE PLAYER IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

UNANIMOUS IN TERMS OF THE RANKINGS ON THAT END.

AND I THINK FOR NEBRASKA, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS TRY TO GO UP TO SOUTH DAKOTA.

THEY'VE HAD GREAT SUCCESS IN SOUTH DAKOTA OVER THE DECADES, WHERE GENERALLY YOU GET THAT TOP PLAYER, THEY'VE GONE ON TO BE REALLY GOOD PLAYERS IN THE PROGRAM, GUYS LIKE NATHAN GERRY AND MATT FARNIOK, AND SOME OF THE PLAYERS IN RECENT YEARS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK HAMMERBACK IS SOMEBODY THAT REALLY FITS THAT MOLD, THAT CAN PLAY HERE RIGHT AWAY.

>> AND YEAH, HE'S -- YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT HIM, ALREADY, HE'S ALREADY BIG ENOUGH TO PLAY OFFENSIVE LINE.

HE'S JUST GONNA GET BIGGER.

I CAN CERTAINLY SEE HIM AS A TACKLE.

IS IT KAAIHINA-TORRES?

>> KAAHAAINA.

>> KAAHAAINA?

LET'S TALK ABOUT HIM COMING IN, OUT OF HAWAII, A PLACE THAT OBVIOUSLY NEBRASKA LOVES TO RECRUIT, LOVE TO GET THOSE POLYNESIANS.

>> AND LOOK AT THAT HIGH SCHOOL, ST. LOUIS HIGH SCHOOL.

>> PRETTY GOOD.

>> THE HOME OF DOMINIC RAIOLA, YOU KNOW, SO CONNECTION OBVIOUSLY TO THE RAIOLA FAMILY.

AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE TOP PLAYERS IN HAWAII.

FOR NEBRASKA THEY'VE REALLY CREATED A PIPELINE.

YOU KNOW, PRESTON TAUMUA A YEAR AGO WAS FROM THERE.

AND THEN YOU HAVE KAAHAAINA-TORRES THIS YEAR.

SO TWO YEARS IN A ROW NOW, THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO INTO HAWAII AND LAND TWO OF THE BETTER OFFENSIVE LINEMAN.

>> A BIT OF A LUMBERING GUY, A LITTLE BIT LIKE JAVARIO BURKES, WHO'S REMINDS ME OF A LITTLE BIT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS OFFENSIVE LINE GROUP?

>> REALLY GOOD.

YOU HAVE SOME -- AGAIN, OPPORTUNITIES, RIGHT?

YOU HAVE SOME WITH BENHART LEAVING, TURNER CORCORAN HAVING THE INJURIES, SOME YOUNG GUYS HAVE HAD TO STEP UP.

AND THE YOUNG GUYS STEPPED UP BIG-TIME THIS YEAR TO -- YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT EVANS, GOTTULA, LUTOVSKY.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITIES AGAIN, SOME YOUNG GUYS THEY BROUGHT IN LAST YEAR THAT WERE MORE DEVELOPMENT, IT'S GOING TO BE AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE GUYS TO STEP UP.

AND AGAIN, YOU COMMIT TO THE NUTRITION, WEIGHT ROOM, AND YOU UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING, THE OPPORTUNITY IS RIGHT THERE TO STEP IN AND PLAY, DAY ONE.

>> MOVING TO DEFENSE, I ACTUALLY THINK THIS POSITION IS THE BEST OF THE POSITIONS THEY RECRUITED, BASED OFF THE GUYS THEY HAVE IN HERE.

WE START OFF WITH DAWSON MERRITT, AND I KNOW IT'S THE NUMBER AND THE WAY HE STANDS, BUT HE LOOKS LIKE RANDY GREGORY.

COME ON.

HE LOOKS JUST LIKE RANDY GREGORY.

>> YOU KNOW, FOR NEBRASKA LATE, THIS WAS ANOTHER FLIP FROM ALABAMA.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY WORKED HARD TO GET DAWSON MERRITT IN THIS CLASS.

ALABAMA HAD HIM, YOU KNOW, COMMITTED IN THE SPRING, AND HE HAD VISITED NEBRASKA MULTIPLE TIMES.

YOU KNEW HE WANTED TO BE HERE.

BUT IT JUST, AT THE TIME, IN HIS HEART OF HEARTS HE THOUGHT ALABAMA MADE MORE SENSE.

BUT AS THE PROCESS MOVED ON, NEBRASKA WAS ABLE TO FLIP HIM AND GET HIM ON BOARD.

AND HIS FATHER WORKS FOR THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, SO A VERY FOOTBALL-SAVVY FAMILY.

>> THIS NEXT ONE IS REALLY INTERESTING, OUT OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, MALCOLM SIMPSON.

RIGHT NOW MORE LIKE 6-3-2, 65, ACCORDING TO NEBRASKA'S NUMBERS ON HIM.

WHERE DO YOU SEE HIM FITTING?

WHERE DO YOU SEE HIM GROWING INTO IF THEY STAY IN A 3-3-5?

>> WELL, HE'S A BASKETBALL PLAYER TOO.

SO HE CAN RUN, HER CAN MOVE.

HE'S SOMEBODY THAT HAS ELITE UPSIDE WHEN YOU LOOK AT HIS BODY, AND HIS FRAME, AND THE WAY HE MOVES IN THE YEAR THAT HE HAD.

I THINK HE'S PROBABLY A DEFENSIVE END TYPE, YOU KNOW, THAT CAN PLAY ON THE LINE IN THE 3-3-5.

BUT HOW WILL HIS BODY GROW ONCE HE STOPS PLAYING BASKETBALL?

I MEAN, I BELIEVE THIS SUMMER, YOU KNOW, HE'S GONNA PLAY -- HE PLAYS AAU BASKETBALL, HE'S PLAYED AAU BASKETBALL FOR HIS WHOLE LIFE.

SO ONCE HE CONCENTRATES JUST ON FOOTBALL, WHAT WILL THAT LOOK LIKE?

>> AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THIS, A BIGGER VON MILLER.

I KNOW IT'S -- I KNOW HE'S A HALL OF FAMER, BUT STILL.

AND THEN I LEAVE THIS ONE UP TO SEAN, BECAUSE SEAN KNOWS HOW TO SAY THIS D-LINEMAN OUT OF NORTH DAKOTA'S NAME VERY WELL.

>> I WAS ON A FARGO TV STATION, I GOT VERIFICATION IT'S PIETRZAK.

>> PED-SHOCK.

>> YOU CAN GET THAT OUT OF THAT, LET ME KNOW.

>> GOT IT, SURE.

>> BUT I THINK FOR JAY MOORE, THIS IS -- THIS IS A JAY MOORE COMP HERE.

>> YEAH.

KADE PIETRZAK IS AN ANIMAL AT WEST FARGO.

HAD A HUMONGOUS YEAR.

WAS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE NUMBER ONE PLAYER IN NORTH DAKOTA.

>> I THINK HE GROWS IN TO THOUGH MORE OF A BAKER STEINKUHLER.

THIS KID'S GOING TO BE 280, 290.

>> HE IS ONE OF THE BEST GUYS IN THE CLASS.

>> YEAH HE'S -- YOU CAN SEE THAT BODY TYPE WHERE HE CAN -- HE ADDS 20 POUNDS.

>> YEAH.

>> AND HE'LL STILL BE ABLE TO MOVE REALLY WELL.

HE'S GONNA BE A THREE TECHNIQUE INSIDE, MORE OF A TY ROBINSON TYPE OF ROLE.

>> EXACTLY, YEAH.

>> I'D SAY SIMPSON IS MORE OF A JIMARI BUTLER TYPE OF ROLE.

>> YEAH DEFINITELY.

>> WITHIN THIS 3-3-5.

SO, YEAH, HE CAN ADD SOME WEIGHT AND STILL BE ATHLETIC.

>> AND THEN, OF COURSE, OUT OF OMAHA NORTH, TYSON TERRY, WHO YOU HOPE DEVELOPS INTO THE NEXT POLAR BEAR.

I KNOW THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK ABOUT HIM ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE.

HE WAS OFFENSIVE LINEMAN AS WELL.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF TYSON TERRY?

>> AND LOOK, THEY'RE THE SAME SIZE IN HIGH SCHOOL.

YOU THINK OH -- NO.

>> 6'3", 305.

>> NASH HAD TO BE 285 BECAUSE HE WRESTLED 285.

WELL GUESS WHAT?

TYSON TERRY'S A 285 GUY.

HE WRESTLES AT.

HE'S GOING FOR HIS FOURTH TITLE.

YOU WILL NOT FIND TOO MANY KIDS TOUGHER THAN TYSON TERRY.

>> OH YEAH.

>> AND THIS IS A TRUE NORTH OMAHA FAMILY AND THEY JUST BLEED TO TOUGHNESS.

WHEN YOU'RE AROUND THE TERRY'S AND YOU GET TO KNOW THEM.

AND, YOU KNOW I'VE KNOWN THE BROTHERS AND HIS FATHER AND TYSON IS CUT OUT OF THAT SAME CLOTH.

>> FIRST FRESHMAN TO WIN THE HEAVYWEIGHT AS A FRESHMAN IN CLASS A EVER.

TELLS YOU WHAT HE IS AS A WRESTLER.

WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT OVERALL THIS DEFENSIVE LINE IN THIS CLASS?

>> AGAIN, I SEE A LOT OF TREMENDOUS UPSIDE, I SEE GUYS WHO CAN COME IN HERE AND AGAIN WITH THE DEPARTURES OF TY NASH, KEONA DAVIS, JIMARI BUTLER, I KNOW -- PRINCEWILL AS WELL, I'M NOT GONNA TRY -- >> UMANMIELEN.

>> UMANMIELEN.

BUTCHER HIS LATE NAME.

THERE'S AGAIN OPPORTUNITY.

AGAIN, YOU GOTTA COME IN WITH THE RIGHT MENTALITY, AND OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE.

IF YOU WANT TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM.

IN THE 3-3-5, IT'S GONNA BE INTERESTING TO SEE PUTTING THESE YOUNGER GUYS IN THESE SCENARIOS BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY POSITIONS YOU PLAY.

YOU CAN PLAY FIVE TECHNIQUE, A THREE TECHNIQUE.

SO IT'S HARD TO FULLY GRASP ALL THAT.

BUT IF YOU'RE WILLING TO LEARN AND GET BETTER, THAT'S GONNA BE THERE FOR THE TAKING.

>> I SAID D-LINE, WHAT YOU THINK IS THE STRONGEST OF THE POSITIONS IN TERMS OF RECRUITING?

>> I MEAN, WIDE RECEIVER WITH THE MILLS, YOU KNOW, AND THE LATE STUFF THEY GOT DONE THERE.

I THINK YOU'D HAVE TO MAKE A CASE FOR WIDE RECEIVER BUT DEFENSIVE LINE AS WELL.

I MEAN, THOSE AER TO ME THE TWO THAT JUMP OUT AND WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET.

>> I THINK WHAT SEAN SAID ABOUT T.J. LATEEF COMING IN HERE, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE.

YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE PROBABLY SITTING FOR TWO YEARS.

BUT IF YOU DO EVERYTHING RIGHT, YOU COULD BE THE STARTER WHEN DYLAN LEAVES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW DYLAN IS HERE FOR AT LEAST TWO MORE YEARS.

YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT MENTALITY.

AND I THINK THAT'S BEEN PREACHED TO HIM SINCE DAY ONE.

IT'S LIKE, "HEY, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO --" UNLESS SOMETHING HAPPENS TO DYLAN, YOU KNOW, KNOCK ON WOOD, "YOU'RE GOING HAVE TO SIT AND YOU'RE GONNA LEARN."

BUT SOMETIMES THAT'S OKAY FOR KIDS, BUT THAT'S A HARD THING TO UNDERSTAND AND GRASP.

LIKE YOU SAID MIKE'L.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE ATTITUDE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT I'M NOT GOING TO COME IN HERE.

BUT IT CAN BE GOOD TOO BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE PRESSURE PUT ON YOU.

YOU CAN LEARN, YOU CAN DEVELOP, YOU CAN SIT IN MEETINGS AND LEARN FROM HOLGORSEN AND LEARN FROM DYLAN AND GRASP EVERYTHING AND REALLY DEVELOP IN THE MENTAL ASPECT OF IT TOO AND NOT BE PUT RIGHT ON THE LIMELIGHT LIKE DYLAN WAS SO EARLY AND JUST KINDA SIT BACK AND SAY, "I'M JUST GONNA LEARN, I'M GONNA DEVELOP, AND WHEN MY TIME IS CALLED, I'M GOING TO BE READY."

>> ONE OF THE SNEAKY REASONS WHY NEBRASKA BECAME WHAT NEBRASKA DID IN THE EARLY 90s WERE THE LOCAL RECRUITING CLASSES, ESPECIALLY IN OMAHA.

YOU GOT SOME GOOD PLAYERS COME OUT OF OMAHA THIS YEAR.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS CLASS OF TALENT IN THE OMAHA AND LINCOLN AREA, BUT PARTICULARLY OMAHA, IT IS AS DEEP AS YOU ARE GOING TO SEE IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF GUYES THAT SIGNED WITH POWER FOUR SCHOOLS.

AND NEBRASKA GOT ALMOST ALL OF THEM.

OBVIOUSLY LOFTIN WENT TO FLORIDA STATE, AND THEN, YOU KNOW THEY LOST ONE TO STANFORD IN THERE.

BUT I THINK TO DO WHAT THEY DID, IT'S NOT EASY.

I MEAN, YOU LOOK AT OTHER STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY, TO LOCK ALL YOUR LOCAL TALENT DOWN.

IT'S -- I MEAN, IOWA HAS A HARD TIME DOING IT.

IOWA AND KANSAS, OBVIOUSLY, CAN'T DO IT IN KANSAS.

>> COLORADO CAN'T DO IT FOR SURE.

>> COLORADO DOESN'T TAKE ANYBODY.

BUT I THINK FOR WHAT NEBRASKA DID, ESPECIALLY THE LAST TWO YEARS IN- STATE, IT IS NOT EASY TO DO AND GIVE MATT RHULE AND HIS STAFF CREDIT, THEY'VE REALLY EMPHASIZED LOCKING DOWN THE TOP IN-STATE PLAYERS.

>> YEAH, AND WE HAVEN'T TALKED TO HIM YET.

WE WILL AFTER THIS.

BUT EVEN TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HAVING THE NUMBER ONE LINEBACKER ESSENTIALLY IN THE COUNTRY WITH THE BUTKUS AWARD WINNER.

>> YEAH, CHRISTIAN JONES IS GOING TO JOIN US HERE ON SET.

AND, YOU KNOW, WAS NAMED THE HIGH SCHOOL BUTKUS AWARD WINNER OVER SOME VERY GOOD PLAYERS AROUND HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

AND, YOU KNOW, HE'S THE NUMBER ONE PROSPECT IN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA AND THE CONSENSUS RANKINGS AND, YOU KNOW, AND WHAT HE HAS DONE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT HE'S DONE AS A FRESHMAN.

I MEAN, HE WAS OFFERED BY A LOT OF POWER FIVE PROGRAMS AFTER HIS FRESHMAN YEAR.

SO FOR HIM TO HANDLE THAT PRESSURE AND GET TO THIS POINT TONIGHT WHERE, YOU KNOW, HE'S CARRYING THAT BUTKUS AWARD INTO OUR STUDIO, PRETTY SPECIAL RUN.

AND IT'S JUST STARTING FOR HIM.

>> ALL BECAUSE OF GOOD PARENTS, THAT'S WHY.

COMING UP, THE DEFENSE OFF BALL RECRUITS WITH SPECIAL GUEST, IN STUDIO CHRISTIAN JONES AND CADEN VERMAAS.

THEY'LL BE JOINING US.

BUT FIRST, LET'S CHECK IN WITH IAN VOSBURG TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP FOR NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA, COMING UP.

>>> THANKS, MIKE'L.

IT IS MEMBER DRIVE TIME.

AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING A LOYAL VIEWER AND SUPPORTER OF "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

YOUR DONATIONS MAKES THIS AND OUR OTHER PROGRAMS POSSIBLE.

SO THIS IS YOUR REMINDER TO BECOME A MEMBER OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP.

CALL 1-800-989-8236 OR GO ONLINE TO NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

AND WE'LL THANK YOU WITH ONE OF THE SPORTS GIFTS.

WHEN YOU DONATE $25 A MONTH, THAT IS A ONE-TIME DONATION OF $300, WE'LL THANK YOU WITH THE AUTOGRAPHED FOOTBALL BY COACH TOM OSBORNE.

COACH OSBORNE WAS THE HUSKERS HEAD COACH FOR 25 SEASONS AND LED NEBRASKA TO THREE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

THIS IS THE PERFECT AND NECESSARY ADDITION TO YOUR COLLECTION OR YOU CAN GIVE IT AS A GIFT FOR THAT HUSKER FAN IN YOUR LIFE.

OR WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR DONATION OFF $150, THAT IS A $12.50 A MONTH DONATION, WE'LL THANK YOU WITH THE NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA VEST I AM WEARING.

IT'S SOFT, MIDWEIGHT FLEECE VEST WITH ZIPPERED POCKETS.

IT'S AVAILABLE IN BOTH MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SIZES, SO IT'S PERFECT FOR EVERYONE, WHETHER YOU'RE TAILGATING OR GOING TO A HUSKER SPORTING EVENT.

PLUS HE WILL BE SHARING YOUR SUPPORT FOR NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA AT THE SAME TIME.

IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE ON "BIG RED WRAP-UP" TODAY TO LEARN ALL ABOUT THE UPCOMING SEASONS, ALL THE RECRUITS COMING IN AND TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE IS LOOKING LIKE.

AND THANK YOU TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE ALREADY MADE YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

WE LOVE TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS.

YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS THE HOME FOR NEBRASKA SPORTS.

WHETHER IT IS HUSKER VOLLEYBALL, SOFTBALL, BASEBALL OR ANY NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS WE COVER, YOUR DONATIONS ARE WHAT MAKES THEM ALL POSSIBLE.

WE LOVE NEBRASKA, TOO.

THAT'S WHY WE SHARE THE GAMES WITH YOU AND THAT'S WHY "BIG RED WRAP-UP" IS HERE EACH WEEK TO TAKE YOU INSIDE THE GAME.

PLEASE FOLLOW THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY PUT IN THEIR SHARE AND MAKE YOUR OWN DONATION TO NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

CALL 800-989-8236 OR GO ONLINE TO NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

AND BECAUSE YOU LOVE THE HUSKERS, YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE THIS THANK YOU GIFT.

IT'S THE TOM OSBORNE FOOTBALL, WHEN YOU DONATE $25 A MONTH AS A SUSTAINING STAR MEMBER.

THAT IS $300 WITH A ONE-TIME GIFT.

IT IS PERFECT FOR YOUR HUSKER COLLECTION AND WE ONLY HAVE A FEW OF THESE LEFT.

OR YOU CAN MAKE YOUR DONATION OF $12.50, THAT IS A ONE-TIME DONATION OF $150 AND WE WILL THANK YOU WITH A NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA VEST THAT I'M WEARING.

IT'S AVAILABLE IN MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SIZES AND IS PERFECT TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND TO STAY WARM.

SO GO AHEAD AND MAKE YOUR SUPPORT RIGHT NOW.

I'LL BE BACK BEFORE THE END OF THE SHOW TO REMIND YOU OF THOSE THANK YOU GIFTS.

BUT NOW, LET'S SEND IT FOR MORE "BIG RED WRAP-UP" AND LEARN ABOUT OTHER FUTURE HUSKERS.

>> THANKS IAN, WE APPRECIATE IT.

LET'S WELCOME IN NOW CHRISTIAN JONES OUT OF OMAHA WESTSIDE.

YOUR HIGH SCHOOL BUTKUS AWARD WINNER.

CHRISTIAN, THANKS FOR COMING IN, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> YEAH, THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS TEAM, AND LOOK AT JOHN BULLOCK AND ALL THOSE GUYS LEAVING OUT OF THE MIDDLE, DO YOU THINK BASED OFF WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAM, THAT YOU CAN PLAY RIGHT AWAY?

>> I CERTAINLY THINK I COULD PLAY RIGHT AWAY BUT I HAVE TO EARN IT.

I DON'T THINK I'M ENTITLED TO ANYTHING.

I DON'T THINK I WILL HAVE AN EASY WAY TO GET THERE TO THAT CERTAIN SPOT.

BUT IF I EARN IT, I FEEL LIKE I COULD HAVE A REALLY GOOD SHOT.

>> WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU KIND OF FIT IN WITH THIS 3-3-5?

YOU KNOW, THE INSIDE -- ARE YOU AN INSIDE GUY?

A JACK GUY?

WHERE IS -- WHAT HAS THE TALK BEEN WITH COACH BUTLER AND COACH RHULE WHERE YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO STEP IN AND HOW YOU ARE GOING TO FIT INTO THAT 3-3-5 ROLE?

>> YEAH, FOR SURE.

I DON'T THINK I WILL BE BIG ENOUGH TO PLAY THAT JACK POSITION OR AT LEAST I DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO KEEP GROWING TO BE IN THAT PERFECT IDEAL HEIGHT AND WEIGHT FOR THAT, BUT I BELIEVE I WILL BE IN THAT INSIDE POSITION, THAT MIKE WILL POSITION.

PROBABLY MORE SO WHAT JOHN WAS PLAYING THIS YEAR.

>> CHRISTIAN, THE RECRUITING PROCESS, GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN.

I MEAN, IT HAD TO BE STRESSFUL, YOU WENT ON A LOT OF VISITS.

AND HOW RELENTLESS WAS NEBRASKA TO KEEP YOU IN-STATE?

>> YEAH, I WOULD SAY THEY HAD THE MOST EFFORT OUT OF EVERYONE, OUT OF EVERY SCHOOL I HAVE EVER, YOU KNOW, BEEN RECRUITED BY, THEY CALL ME EVERY DAY OR TEXT ME EVERY DAY.

AND, YEAH, IT WAS -- IT WAS A LOT.

THAT'S OR SURE.

>> TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, BECAUSE I TALKED TO A LOT OF FORMER HUSKERS WHO GREW UP IN THE OMAHA AREA AND THE COMPETITION OF THE -- BETWEEN THEM AND THE OTHER PLAYERS IN THE AREA.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT THEIR STATS.

DID YOU DO THAT?

DO YOU KIND OF LOOK AND GO, OKAY, HOW DID THAT GUY DO THAT I'M KIND OF COMPETING AGAINST IN TERMS OF BEING THE NUMBER ONE RECRUIT IN THE STATE?

>> AND NOW, THEY, LIKE, SAY, LIKE, METRO AREA?

>> YEAH.

>> NO, I WOULDN'T SAY I REALLY GET CAUGHT UP IN THAT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WHEN YOU READ UP A LOT ABOUT YOURSELF, YOU KINDA GET LOST IN THAT, AND YOU KINDA JUST -- JUST NOT A GOOD WAY TO LOOK AT IT, BECAUSE YOU JUST GOTTA LOOK ABOVE YOU NOT, LIKE DOWN BELOW.

YOU JUST GOTTA KEEP GETTING BETTER.

>> GOT IT.

>> CHRISTIAN -- SO, I'M A -- I GREW UP AND OMAHA, I WENT TO ELKHORN.

NEBRASKA KID THROUGH AND THROUGH.

WANTED TO PLAY NEBRASKA FOOTBALL.

BUT WHEN I WAS GOING UP, NEBRASKA WAS DOMINANT.

THEY'RE WINNING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, THEY'RE WINNING CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS, THEY'RE IN THE TOP 10 EVERY YEAR.

OBVIOUSLY WITH THE RECENCY KIND OF BIAS, NEBRASKA HAS NOT BEEN IN THAT SITUATION.

SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT NEBRASKA, AND THEN, LET'S BE HONEST, THEY'VE STRUGGLED, RIGHT?

WHEN YOU -- HOW DID THAT WEIGH -- I KNOW THEY PUT A TON OF EFFORT INTO -- HOW DOES THAT WEIGH WHEN A PROGRAM STRUGGLED BUT YOU WANT TO STAY HOME AND BE THE HOMETOWN KID THAT KIND OF TURNS THESE THINGS AROUND?

HOW'S THAT -- THEIR STRUGGLES KIND OF WEIGHED ON YOUR DECISIONS?

WHEN YOU'RE KINDA LOOKING AT THE WHOLE OUTLET OF THE RECRUITING PROCESS.

>> YEAH THAT'S A GOOD -- THERE'S A LOT TO THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ME GROWING UP, I NEVER SEEN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OR SEEN AN ORANGE BOWL OR ROSE BOWL BE WON.

AND SO THAT WAS KINDA WHY IT TOOK SO LONG OT SEE WHAT THE BEST DECISION WAS BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE LOSING.

I DON'T LIKE IT AT ALL.

SO I WANTED TO GO TO THE BEST PLACE WHERE I COULD WIN AND GET DEVELOPED AND THEN THAT'S WHY I KIND OF PULLED THE TRIGGER AFTER THE COLORADO GAME WAS BECAUSE I SAW COACH RHULE, HE STARTED BUILDING THAT CULTURE UP AND I SAW HIM PLAY DIFFERENTLY.

THEY HAD MORE OF A KILLER MINDSET.

AND THAT KIND OF WAS THE SELLING POINT WAS I SAW COACH RHULE REALLY BRING THAT OUT OF HIM.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.

AND IF -- I WOULD SAY THEY DON'T WIN AGAINST THE COLORADO GAME, I THINK IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE A DIFFERENT PLACE.

>> YOU'LL PLAY IN TWO ALL-STAR GAMES.

THE ALL-AMERICAN BOWL IN SAN ANTONIO AND THE POLYNESIAN BOWL IN HONOLULU.

HOW EXCITED FOR YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY?

I MEAN, GOING TO HAWAII IS ONE THING, BUT JUST TO BE WITH FOUR AND FIVE STAR GUYS FOR TWO DIFFERENT SETTINGS IN ALL-STAR GAME'S.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S JUST -- IT'S BEEN A GOAL MY WHOLE HIGH SCHOOL CAREER.

AND I THINK THE BEST PART ABOUT IT IS NOT ONLY THE COOL GEAR AND STUFF, BUT I THINK IT'S JUST THE ELITE MINDSETS.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT -- THOSE PEOPLE YOU'RE GONNA MEET, YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW THEM THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

AND THEY'RE GONNA BE PLAYING IN THE NFL OR SOMEONE'S GONNA BE A CEO SOMEWHERE.

SO I THINK JUST MEETING ALL THOSE DUDES WITH THOSE ELITE MINDSETS I THINK IS JUST -- THAT'S KIND OF THE BEST PART ABOUT IT IS NOT JUST PLAYING IT OR MEETING THOSE HARDCORE DUDES.

>> CHRISTIAN JONES JOINING US FROM OMAHA WESTSIDE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT TROPHY.

I AM ASSUMING YOU WERE ON LIKE A FINALIST LIST SO YOU KNEW YOU HAD A CHANCE.

TALK ABOUT WHEN YOU FIND OUT YOU'D WON.

>> YEAH, SO, ON MONDAY, MATT BUTKUS CAME TO MY SCHOOL IN THE MORNING.

WE HAD WEIGHTS IN THE MORNING AT 8:00 A.M. AND SO I SEE THIS -- HE'S A BIG DUDE, WALKING IN I SEE HIM WALKING IN.

I WAS LIKE, "THAT GUY LOOKS FAMILIAR."

AND THEN HE STARTED GETTING CLOSER, HE'S GOT A CAMERA CREW, AND I SEE THE -- LIKE NUMBER 51 FOR DICK BUTKUS.

I WAS LIKE, "OKAY, I KINDA HAVE A FEELING WHAT'S GOING ON."

AND THEN STARTED TALKING, HE'S LIKE, "HEY, LET'S GO OUTSIDE."

AND A LITTLE LESS QUIET BECAUSE WE WERE IN THE WEIGHT ROOM.

AND I SEE THIS PEDESTAL WITH A BLANKET OVER THIS, AND I WAS LIKE, "THIS IS COOL."

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, HE UNCOVERS IT AND SHOWS ME, AND GIVES IT TO ME, IT WAS A VERY SURREAL MOMENT.

AND IT'S AN HONOR TO BE NAMED IT.

>> WOW.

>> WHAT'S IT LIKE HAVING SO MANY FORMER TEAMMATES AT NEBRASKA TOO?

CALEB BENNING, TRISTAN ALVANO.

A GUY THAT FREQUENTS UP ON THE STAGE AS WELL, WHEN YOUR COACH IS DAMON BENNING.

BEING A FORMER PLAYER THERE.

JUST THEIR KIND OF INFLUENCE ON HELPING YOU MAKING THAT DECISIONS TO COME TO NEBRASKA?

>> YEAH, ALL OF THEM NEVER WERE LIKE, "HEY MAN, WE NEED YOU TO GO HERE, WE NEED YOU TO DO THIS."

ALL OF THEM WERE LIKE, "HEY, I WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU."

YOU KNOW, I HAD FRIENDS -- WITH NOTRE DAME, THEY WERE LIKE, "OH, WE LOVE YOU HERE BUT WE WANT YOU TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU AND WE WILL SUPPORT YOU NO MATTER WHAT."

ALL OF THEM WERE IN MY CORNER, THEY WEREN'T PUSHING ME ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WAY.

SO THAT'S WHAT I AM REALLY GRATEFUL FOR IS THEY REALLY WERE JUST LIKE, "HEY MAN, WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA SUPPORT."

>> NOW WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU?

OBVIOUSLY SINCE YOU'RE IN THE ALL-STAR GAMES, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO COME ON THE BOWL TRIP BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA FOCUS ON THE ALL-STAR GAMES.

WHEN YOU GET TO NEBRASKA, KINDA, WHAT'S THE SCHEDULE FOR YOU TO BE A HUSKER NOW?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, WE'RE JUST GONNA GET RIGHT INTO IT.

WE GOT WINTER WORKOUTS, AND JUST GOING TO ATTACK IT AND JUST KIND OF GET USED TO THAT LIFE.

IT'S A JOB KNOW.

SO, I AM EXCITED TO GET TO WORK AND WRITE ALL MY GOALS DOWN AND GO ATTACK THEM.

>> I WANNA GO BACK TO YOU TALKING ABOUT THAT COLORADO GAME.

EVERY PLAYER I TALKED TO, TALKED ABOUT HOW EXCITING THAT NIGHT WAS.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT FELT LIKE TO BE DOWN THERE ON THE FIELD, AND YOU GOT THE DRONES AND ALL THAT STUFF?

>> YEAH I JUST -- I WAS KINDA SITTING THERE, I WAS LIKE, "YOU KNOW, THIS COULD BE ME IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS."

AND I JUST KINDA REALLY FELT LIKE I WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT.

YOU KNOW, THEY WIN, OBVIOUSLY THEY WIN AND THERE IS A LOT TO PRESSURE IN THE GAME.

AND THEY REALLY PLAYED UP TO WHAT THEY NEEDED TO PLAY TO.

I WAS LIKE, "OKAY, I CAN DO THIS.

LET'S GO."

>> YEAH, THAT PICK SIX HAD TO BE THE LOUDEST MOMENT.

>> YEAH, THAT WAS PROBABLY THE LOUDEST I HAVE EVER SEEN NEBRASKA.

THAT WAS -- IT GAVE ME GOOSEBUMPS.

>> THAT'S AWESOME.

CHRISTIAN, WE APPRECIATE IT.

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN ON THE AWARD.

>> I APPRECIATE IT.

>> AND GOOD LUCK ON FORWARD.

>> YES SIR.

>> ALL RIGHT.

CHRISTIAN JONES JOINING US HERE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE REST OF THE FOLKS OFF THE BALL.

ANOTHER BACKER FROM OMAHA.

MILLARD NORTH, PIERCE MOOBERRY WHO ENDED HIS CAREER WITH 153 TACKLES, 13 1/2 TFL'S.

WHAT'S HE KINDA BRING, SEAN, A LITTLE BIT, TO WHAT HE CAN DO IN TERMS OF TRANSFERRING FROM, YOU KNOW, FIRST BEING KIND OF A SAFETY DOWN INTO BEING A LINEBACKER?

HE WAS A PRETTY GOOD WIDE RECEIVER AND TIGHT END AS WELL.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, REAL SIMILAR TO CHRISTIAN HONESTLY, BECAUSE CHRISTIAN WAS A GREAT RECEIVER AND TIGHT END.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT MOOBERRY, HE REMINDS ME A LOT OF SEAN FISHER WHEN HE WAS AT MILLARD NORTH.

FRED PETITO AND THE PREVIOUS REGIME ALWAYS LIKED HIS BEST GUYS.

THAT SINGLE HIGH SAFETY TO KIND OF ROME AND THEN AS THE COACHING CHANGE HAPPENED, THEY MOVED HIM INTO THE BOX AS A SECOND LEVEL LINEBACKER.

AND JUST HIS LENGTH HIS UPSIDE.

YOU KNOW, PIERCE IS ONE OF THE MORE INTRIGUING PROSPECTS IN THE STATE I THINK BECAUSE HE'S GOT SO MUCH UPSIDE TO KEEP GROWING AND DEVELOPING.

>> SAME SIDE A LUKE GIFFORD COME OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, TOO.

LET'S GET TO BRYSON WEBBER, DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD.

WEBBER'S THE SOLE CORNER IN THE CLASS.

MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS.

GOOD AREA, A LOT OF TALENT IN THAT AREA.

TALK ABOUT HIM AND WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE CORNERBACK POSITION.

DOESN'T GIVE UP CATCHES, I KNOW THAT.

>> IT WAS A CHALLENGE TO HOLD ONTO HIM.

BECAUSE EVAN COOPER INITIALLY LANDED HIM.

AND THEN HE LEFT THE PROGRAM, AND JOHN BUTLER WAS ABLE TO STEP IN AND LOCK THAT ONE UP, ONCE HE TOOK OVER AS A SECONDARY COACH.

BUT TCU WAS THE OTHER MAJOR PLAYER THERE.

YOU LOVE THE LENGTH OF HIM, YOU SEE 6'2.5" AS A CORNER.

THAT GIVES YOU A LOT OF ADVANTAGES.

>> HE ONLY GAVE UP ONE CATCH OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

WHICH IS CRAZY TO THINK ABOUT.

PIERRE DESIR IS KIND OF MY COMP.

HE PLAYED FOR THE BROWNS, VERY SIMILAR TYPE OF GUY.

A LOT OF LENGTH IN THE ARMS TOO.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, LET'S GET TO CADEN VERMAAS, JOINING US HERE ON THE SET, OF COURSE.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

THANKS FOR COMING ON AND SPENDING SOME TIME WITH US.

>> I'M DOING PHENOMENAL, APPRECIATE YOU FOR HAVING ME OUT HERE.

>> MILLARD NORTH HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LEGENDARY PROGRAM.

BUT, YOU HAD A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH REALLY A CHANGING OF THE GUARD.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THAT WAS FOR YOU GUYS GOING FROM LEGENDARY FRED PETITO, TO WHAT YOU GUYS ENDED UP BECOMING?

>> IT IS DEFINITELY A LOT DIFFERENT.

OBVIOUSLY, 'CAUSE YOU GO FROM YOU GO FROM THE WING BONE, RIGHT?

SPREAD OFFENSE AND EVERYTHING.

WE WENT FROM A SINGLE HIGH MAN UP ON DEFENSE EVERY PLAY, KIND OF LIKE A COVER ONE, COVER ZERO TYPE THING, TO KIND OF MORE, COVER TWO, COVER FOUR LOOK, EVERY TIME.

AND WE ALSO IMPLIMENTED 3-3-5 IN THERE.

SO WE HAD TO KIND OF SPEND A DECENT AMOUNT OF THE OFF-SEASON HELPING KIDS FIGURE OUT WHAT ZONES TO BE IN.

'CAUSE NONE OF OUR KIDS REALLY KNEW WHAT TO DO.

THE ONLY WAY THEY KNEW WAS LIKE, PLAYING "MADDEN."

[ LAUGHTER ] THAT'S WHAT USUALLY DID IT.

SO, THAT WAS DEFINITELY COOL BUT -- YEAH, COACH BURRELL, HE IMPLIMENTED A LOT MORE EXPLOSIVE WORKOUTS.

A LOT MORE SPEED TRAINING.

'CAUSE HE WAS A TRACK GUY.

AND THEN HE ACTUALLY WANTED ME TO GO OUT AND DO TRACK.

SO I DEDCIDED TO GO OUT AND DO THAT.

AND, YEAH, WE HAD A FEW FOOTBALL PLAYERS GO OUT AND DO TRACK.

PREVIOUSLY WE NEVER REALLY HAD A LOT OF GUYS DO TRACK.

AND YEAH, SO THAT WAS DEFINITELY A LOT OF FUN, AND WE GOT AFTER IT, SO.

>> CADEN, WHEN I FIRST WALKED INTO THE STUDIO TONIGHT AND MET YOU THE FIRST TIME.

I AM LIKE, I KNOW HE IS PLAYING SAFETY.

I'M LIKE, THIS IS ISAAC GIFFORD RIGHT HERE.

SO HAVE YOU GOTTEN THAT A LOT?

IS THAT WHERE THEY ARE PROJECTING YOU, SIMILAR ROLE OF HOW ISAAC PLAYED IN THE DEFENSE AS WELL?

>> YEAH.

SO COACH, RIGHT BEFORE, TALKED ABOUT ROVER.

AND THEN COACH BUTLER, COACH RUHLE, THEY ALL TALKED ABOUT ROVER.

I TOLD THEM I CAN PLAY ANYWHERE THEY WANT ME TO.

I SAID, I CAN DO PUNT RETURN IF THEY NEED ME TO.

OR KICK RETURN.

BUT YEAH, ROVER IS DEFINITELY THE SPOT THEY ARE LOOKING AT ON DEFENSE.

THEY SAID THEY ARE TRYING TO KEEP ME AT MY SAME WEIGHT, AND MAYBE BULKING UP A LITTLE BIT WHEN I GET HERE, JUST TO STAY IN THE AREA AND STAY FAST.

BECAUSE THEY WANT ME TO BE ABLE TO COVER AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

BUT YEAH, THAT IS KIND OF WHERE THEY SEE ME AT.

BECAUSE THEY DON'T REALLY SEE ME AS A DEEP HIGH SAFETY KIND OF THING.

THEY WANT ME MORE IN THE BOX TO FEEL AROUND AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

>> CADEN, YOU COMMITTED EARLY IN THE SPRING OF YOUR JUNIOR YEAR.

>> FIRST, RIGHT?

>> YOU WERE THE FIRST GUY.

YOU COMMITTED BEFORE MATT RHULE EVEN COACHED A GAME.

JUST TO STICK WITH THIS STAFF THAT LONG.

I MEAN, WHAT DID YOU SEE IN MATT RHULE AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO OBVIOUSLY JUMP ON THAT OPPORTUNITY IMMEDIATELY IN SPRING OF YOUR JUNIOR YEAR?

>> SO, I DEFINITELY -- I HAD A LOT OF BELIEF IN COACH RHULE.

'CAUSE THHE WHOLE STAFF WAS NFL GUYS.

I SAID, THAT IS THE STAFF THAT CAN GET YOU IN THE NFL.

I MEAN, OBVOIUSLY YOU TALKED ABOUT OTHER SCHOOLS RECRUITING ME.

YOU HAVE THE IOWAS, RIGHT?

AND THEY HAVE PHIL PARKER, WHO'S GOTTEN ALL THOSE GUYS TO THE NFL.

RIGHT?

AND I SAID -- I WAS LIKE, OKAY I SEE THAT.

BUT I WAS LIKE, I BLEED RED.

I TOLD EVERYBODY THAT.

AND I WAS LIKE, I CAN'T LEAVE HERE.

SOI SAT DOWN WITH MY PARENTS, I'M LIKE -- OKAY I KNOW IT'D BE EARLY.

BUT I SAID, THIS WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.

I SAID, LETS JUST COMMIT RIGHT NOW.

I SAID, I BELIEVE IN WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

EVERYTHING THEY'RE TELLING ME.

MY FIRST INTERACTION WITH COACH RHULE -- I HADN'T MET THE GUY ONCE, HE SAT DOWN WITH ME FOR TWENTY MINUTES.

TALKED WITH MY FAMILY AND I, SO -- THAT WAS DEFINITELY A COOL MOMENT.

NAMED THE WHOLE STAFF, EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, NEW RECRUITS.

IT DEFINITELY FELT LIKE IT WAS RIGHT AND I WAS LIKE, EVEN IF I AM THE FIRST OR LAST COMMIT, NO MATTER WHAT THIS IS WHAT I WILL END UP PLAYING.

SO I WAS LIKE WHY NOT JUST BE THE FIRST GUY?

>> CADEN VERMAAS JOINING US FROM MILLARD NORTH.

MY COMP FOR YOU, YOU'RE A LITTLE TALLER BUT JIM LEONARD.

YOU ARE A BALL HAWK, I KNOW YOU THINK YOU CAN GET YOURSELF A LOT OF BALLS.

I'VE SEEN YOU ON OFFENSE.

WHAT IS YOUR FEEL IN TERMS OF THE TRANSITION?

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT'LL TAKE TO WHERE YOU CAN GET ON THE FIELD AND PLAY?

>> HONESTLY, I TALKED ABOUT -- I'VE ASKED COACH BURRELL.

I SAID, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FASTEST WAY ON?

HE SAID, SPECIAL TEAMS, RIGHT?

>> SPECIAL TEAMS.

>> DEFINITELY THEY WILL LOOK AT THAT FIRST.

AND THEN I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET ON THE FIELD AS FAST AS I POSSIBLY CAN.

BUT THAT'S ALL UP TO THEM AT THE END OF THE DAY.

I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN, WORK AS HARD AS I CAN.

TRY TO DO THE HARDEST WORKER IN THE ROOM, OBVIOUSLY.

AND JUST LEARN EVERYTHING I CAN THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE SYSTEM.

>> CADEN, OBVIOUSLY YOU PLAYED BOTH WAYS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

NOW HAVING THE MENTALITY ABOUT FOCUSING ON ONE SIDE OF THE BALL.

HOW MUCH ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO JUST, NOW WORRYING ABOU THE DEFENSIVE SIDE.

AND REALLY, DEEP DIVING INTO THE FINE INTRICACIES OF EVERYTHING.

AND WHAT OFFENSE ARE TRYING TO DO TO YOU, AND BE YOUR BEST PLAYER WITHIN THE 3-3-5 DEFENSE?

>> IT WILL BE A LOT BETTER BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT TAKES YOUR MINDSET TO JUST FOCUS ON ONE THING OF ASSIGNMENTS.

HIGH SCHOOL IS LIKE, I HAVE GOT TO KNOW, OBVIOUSLY I WAS KICK RETURN.

SO KICK COVERAGE AND THEN, DEFENSE I GOTTA KNOW WHAT ZONE I AM IN.

BLAH BLAH BLAH.

AND ON OFFENSE I CAN BE LIKE, NOW I HAVE AN ANGLE ROUTE.

YOU ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

BUT YOU REMEMBER OVER TIME BECAUSE YOU PRACTICE IT.

BUT JUST DOING DEFENSE WILL BE A BLESSING BECAUSE I CAN FOCUS ON ONE THING IN THE OFF-SEASON.

BECAUSE OFF-SEASON I WAS FOCUSED ON A LOT OF THINGS AND NOW I CAN SOLELY FOCUS ON ONE THING.

THE BIGGEST THING, I KEEP IT REAL WITH EVERYONE.

THE CARDIO IS A LOT BETTER BECAUSE I AM GOING BOTH SIDES.

IT IS HARD.

OUR PAP-SOUTH GAME, I GO 99 YARDS ON TOUCHDOWN, AND TWO PLAYS LATER I AM BACK IN ON DEFENSE.

LET ME GET A STOP, THEN I HAVE TO GO BACK ON PUNT RETURN.

I'M JUST LIKE, DUDE -- I WAS LIKE I AM TIRED BUT -- IT WAS COOL, BUT I WAS OBVIOUSLY -- I AM EXCITED AND IT WILL BE A LOT OF FUN.

>> WHAT IS THE MOVE IN DAY FOR YOU GUYS?

>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE MOVE IN OR THE BOWL?

>> YOU'RE GOING TO THE BOWL, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, SO, BOWL GAME -- I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT FINALS RIGHT NOW AT SCHOOL.

IT'S EITHER THE 18th THROUGH 21st.

THEN THE REAL MOVE IN DATE WAS, LIKE, JANUARY 11TH.

>> BUT YOU GET TO BE A PART OF THE BOWL TRIP.

HOW EXCITING -- ARE YOU GUYS STILL GOING ON THE TRIP?

IS THA THE PLAN?

>> YEAH, WE WILL GO ON THE TRIP.

I MENTIONED THIS TO YOU GUYS BUT I TALKED TO MY PARENTS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE IT.

SO I SAID IT WILL BE LIKE, "HOME ALONE 2."

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> LOST IN NEW YORK, SO -- >> THAT HOTEL'S RIGHT DOWN IN MIDTOWN.

HOW OLD DO YOU THINK YOU WILL HAVE TO BE WHEN YOU CAN START OUTLIFTING YOUR DAD?

>> UH -- >> NEVER.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> IF WE ARE SQUATTING, PROBABLY RIGHT NOW I CAN.

BECAUSE HE DOESN'T SQUAT IN A WHILE.

'CAUSE HE IS OBVIOUSLY AN OLD MAN, GOT SOME BACK ISSUES.

>> AND KNEES, YEAH.

>> HEY, I AM RIGHT HERE TOO.

>> BUT HIS BENCH, HE SAYS MAX EVER WAS LIKE, 410.

>> WOAH.

>> RIGHT NOW, LIKE THREE PLATES, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> HE IS LEAN.

>> HE IS A POWER LIFTER.

>> I WOULD SAY PROBABLY NEXT FALL, HOPEFULLY.

BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY I AM GOING TO TRY TO BULK UP A LITTLE BIT.

>> YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO MOVE, STILL.

YOU DON'T WANT TO GET TOO BIG.

>> BUT YOU ALWAYS TALK ABOUT RECRUITING, THEY WANT TO SEE HER PARENTS, THEY WANT TO SEE YOUR DAD.

HIS DAD WALKS IN LIKE, "OKAY, SIGN HIM."

>> IT'S ALWAYS FUNNY TOO BECAUSE THERE ARE TWITTER COMMENTS I SEE, WHERE IT'S LIKE, ME AND MY DAD.

EVERYONE IS LIKE, IS YOUR DAD STILL ELIGIBLE?

YEAH, WE'LL OFFER HIM, RIGHT NOW.

>> THAT'S AWESOME.

AND THE FEELING OF THIS CLASS YOU ARE IN, I KNOW THE GUYS, THIS 2025 CLASS, REALLY TIGHT ALREADY.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH, SO WE HAVE A GROUP CHAT, WE TALK ALL THE TIME.

I'M CLOSE TO EVERY GUY IN THE GROUP.

OBVIOUSLY I GREW UP WITH PIERCE.

SO THAT WAS MY BIGGEST HOME RUN.

I FEEL LIKE, WITH ALL THE GUYS THAT I TRIED TO GET IN THE CLASS.

FOR THE LONGEST TIME IT WAS JUST ME, CONNOR AND TYSON.

WE HAD CJ SIMON, HE DECOMMITTED.

SO IT WAS HARD, BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO GET KIDS LEFT AND RIGHT, BUT THE SPRING EVALUATION PERIOD LAST YEAR, I THINK, IS WHEN WE STARTED TO RAMP UP A LITTLE BIT.

SO THAT WAS DEFINITELY A GOOD FEELING WHEN IT HAPPENED BUT WE ARE SUPER TIGHT.

WE ARE EXCITED TO GET HERE TOO.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING.

WE WANT TO CHANGE THE CULTURE AND BRING IN A WINNING MINDSET AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

BECAUSE WE WANT TO WIN THOSE ONE-POSSESSION GAMES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT, SO -- THAT WILL BE A LOT OF FUN TOO AND I AM EXCITED TO MOVE IN WITH ALL THE BOYS.

>> NICE.

I'M ALWAYS CURIOUS WHEN YOU HAVE THESE GROUP CHATS.

YOU HAVE MAYBE OTHER GUYS WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT COMING.

DO THEY LET YOU IN TO KNOW, "HEY, I'M GONNA COMMIT, I'M SILENT RIGHT NOW, BUT DON'T LET THE AIR OUT OF THE BAG HERE."

WHAT ARE THOSE CONVERSATIONS LIKE?

>> SO THAT'S, ACTUALLY FUNNY YOU SAY THAT.

MOST OF OUR TWEETS, WHERE IT IS LIKE, I POSTED A VIDEO OF TYREEK HILL DOING A FLIP THE OTHER DAY, THAT WAS FOR CORTEZ MILLS.

IT'S KIND OF FUNNY, CHRISTIAN ACTUALLY SAID IT, HE SAID WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE WHOLE STATE OF NEBRASKA IF WE WANT TO WITH TWITTER.

SO IT IS KIND OF FUNNY, BUT WE HAD KIDS IN GROUP CHAT.

AND THEY BASICALLY TELL US, LET'S KEEP IT SILENT.

ALL RIGHT, COOL.

AND OBVIOUSLY WE RESPECT IT TOO, BECAUSE WE ALL WENT THROUGH OUR PROCESSES AND WE KIND OF JUST KEEP IT ON THE DOWN LOW.

>> I HAVE A CONCERN WITH TWO TEENAGE BOYS, I AM WORRIED ABOUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

YOU MENTIONED SOCIAL MEDIA.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE THAT?

BECAUSE IT'S NOW A PART OF YOUR N.I.L.

OR ABILITY TO MAKE MONEY.

AT THE SAME TIME PEOPLE CAN BE A LITTLE TOXIC.

>> I MEAN, THAT'S -- LIKE I HAVE ALWAYS TOLD PEOPLE, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR EVERYTHING.

ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE SOMEWHAT SUCCESSFUL LIKE MOST OF THE ATHLETES ARE.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR STUFF.

AND THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO IS PUT IT ASIDE AND SAY, "I KNOW WHO I AM."

AND YOU CAN JUST MOVE FORWARD DAY BY DAY, WORK AS HARD AS YOU DO.

>> NO DOUBT.

HEY CADEN, WE APPRECIATE IT.

ENJOY THE TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY, DON'T GET LEFT BEHIND AND GOOD LUCK GOING FORWARD.

>> SOUNDS GOOD, THANK YOU GUYS.

>> CADEN VERMAAS, APPRECIATE THAT.

>>> WHEN I COME BACK, WE WILL CHAT MORE ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE AND THE BAD BOYS MOWER'S PINSTRIPE BOWL.

NOW LET'S CHECK BACK IN WITH IAN.

>> HI AGAIN.

TEAMS ARE ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT OF THEIR FANS.

WE KNOW BECAUSE FANS OF NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING US AND MAKING PROGRAMS LIKE BIG RED WRAPUP POSSIBLE FOR DECADES.

CALL NOW AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT.

CALL 800-989-8236 OR GO ONLINE TO NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

WHEN YOU MAKE A DONATION OF $25 A MONTH, THAT IS A ONE-TIME DONATION OF $300, WE WILL THANK YOU WITH THE AUTOGRAPHED FOOTBALL SIGNED BY COACH TOM OSBORNE.

COACH OSBORNE IS A HOUSEHOLD NAME AND WAS COACH OF THE HUSKERS FOR 25 YEARS.

THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY FOR YOUR HUSKER COLLECTION.

OR WHEN YOU MAKE A DONATION OF $150, THAT IS $12.50 A MONTH, WE WILL SEND YOU THE NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA VEST THAT I HAVE BEEN WEARING.

IT IS PERFECT FOR TAILGATING OR WEARING TO ANY HUSKER SPORTING EVENT.

PLUS YOU'LL BE SHARING YOUR SUPPORT FOR NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA AT THE SAME TIME.

THIS IS A SOFT, MIDWEIGHT FLEECE VEST WITH ZIPPER POCKETS AND IT'S AVAILABLE IN BOTH MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SIZES.

WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR DONATION TO NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA, YOUR SUPPORTING MORE THAN 200 HOURS OF COLLEGIATE AND HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS PROGRAMMING EVERY SINGLE YEAR ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

THAT SUPPORT ALLOWS NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA TO BROADCAST NEBRASKA HIGH SCHOOL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS.

INCLUDING BASKETBALL, WRESTLING, VOLLEYBALL, BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL.

YOU HELP BROADCAST HUSKER VOLLEYBALL, BASEBALL AND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, CREIGHTON VOLLEYBALL, SOCCER AND BASEBALL.

NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU DECIDE TO DONATE, I INVITE YOU TO MAKE IT A MONTHLY GIFT.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE OR GIVE US A CALL AT 800-989-8236, AND TELL US YOU WANT TO BECOME A SUSTAINING STAR MEMBER.

FROM THEN ON, YOUR DONATION IS AUTOMATIC.

MONTHLY DONATIONS MEAN WE CAN COUNT ON YOU AS WE PRODUCE UPCOMING PROGRAMS FOR NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA, JUST LIKE "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

WHEN YOU DONATE $25 A MONTH AS A SUSTAINING STAR MEMBER WE WOULD LOVE TO THANK YOU WITH THE AUTOGRAPHED FOOTBALL BY COACH TOM OSBORNE.

WE ONLY HAVE A FEW OF THESE LEFT SO GO AHEAD AND MAKE THAT DONATION SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE ONE IN YOUR HUSKER COLLECTION.

WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR DONATION OF $12.50 A MONTH AS A SUSTAINING STAR MEMBER, THAT IS A $150 ONE-TIME GIFT, WE WILL THANK YOU WITH A NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA VEST.

IT IS SOFT, MIDWEIGHT AND IT'S FLEECE.

IT'S AVAILABLE IN BOTH MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SIZES.

YOU WILL BE SHOWING YOUR SUPPORT FOR NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA NO MATTER WHERE YOU WEAR IT.

TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE ALREADY DONATED AND BECOME MEMBERS, THANK YOU.

AND TO EVERYONE ELSE WATCHING TONIGHT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

>>> THANKS IAN.

I WANT TO GET ONE OF THOSE SWEET VESTS.

THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO GET.

WELCOME BACK TO THE WRAP UP.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE RECRUITING.

AS WE PASS OUT OF THAT, TO BIG TEN RECRUITING.

COACHES, OREGON, NUMBER THREE, OHIO STATE, FOUR.

15TH WAS PENN STATE, MICHIGAN, 16TH, WISCONSIN 22nd AND NEBRASKA, 24th.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO "ON3."

YOU WILL SEE DIFFERENT RECRUITING RANKINGS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

ON THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF RANKINGS, OREGON IS STILL NUMBER ONE IN THE CFP RANKINGS, PENN STATE DROPPED TO NUMBER FOUR, OHIO STATE MOVES TO NUMBER SIX.

AND THE HOOSIERS MOVED UP TO NUMBER EIGHT, WITH ILLINOIS IN THE RANKINGS AT NUMBER 20.

HOW DID YOU FEEL THE BRACKET LOOKED?

WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT IT?

SMU GETTING IN THERE, ALABAMA NOT GETTING IN THERE, WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE BRACKET?

>> YEAH IT'S -- THAT WAS A TOUGH ONE.

I THINK I HAD TO LEAN WITH SMU, I GET THE STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE PERSPECTIVE.

>> YOU CAN'T GET DOMINATED BY OKLAHOMA LIKE THAT.

>> AT LEAS PLAYING WELL, THEN -- >> THE BIGGEST ARGUMENT IS SEC, YOU WANT TO HAVE THE GRIPE, WHY DON'T YOU GO TO NINE CONFERENCE GAMES TOO?

YOU HAVE GOT TO HAVE THAT ASPECT.

I AM OKAY WITH SMU THERE.

YOU TAKE BOISE OVER CLEMSON, RIGHT?

IN THAT SCENARIO, BUT I TELL YOU WHAT.

I CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH IT.

INDIANA GOING TO NOTRE DAME?

STAYING TECHNICALLY IN STATE AND JUST SEEING HOW IT ALL PLAYS OUT AT THE HOME STADIUM.

AND YOU COULD GET WEATHER AT PENN STATE, WEATHER AT NOTRE DAME, WEATHER AT OHIO STATE.

IT'S GONNA BE FANTASTIC TV HERE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>> THIS IS PROBABLY THE LAST TIME IT IS LIKE THIS.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS, OREGON HAS TO GET WIN OUT OF TENNESSEE AND OHIO STATE WHICH IS A MUST --MUCH TOUGHER RUN THAN, SAY, PENN STATE IF THEY CAN KNOCK OFF SMU AT HOME AND THEN GET BOISE.

>> YEAH, WHEN YOU HAVE THE AT-LARGE BID TEAMS, THOSE CAN BE YOUR THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX BEST TEAMS.

IN THEORY IT SOUNDED GOOD TO GET THE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS THESE BYES.

BUT THAT WAS WHEN THE BIG 12 HAD OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL LOOKED A LOT DIFFERENT WHEN THIS PUZZLE WAS CREATED.

NOW, ALL THE POWER AND MONEY AND HIGH-RANKING RECRUITS ARE IN TWO MAJOR CONFERENCES.

YOU CAN SAY WHAT YOU WANT BUT THE BIG 12 AND ACC FOR THE MOST PART RECRUITS NOWHERE NEAR THE LEVEL OF THOSE TWO LEAGUES.

THEY HAVE NOWHERE NEAR THE DRAFT PROSPECTS.

OTHER THAN A COUPLE OF ACC TEAMS LIKE CLEMSON, FLORIDA STATE, AND MIAMI.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, NOTRE DAME IS ON ITS OWN.

I DO THINK THE SEC AND BIG TEN HAVE AN ARGUMENT BECAUSE THEY PLAY BETTER COMPETITION WEEK OVER WEEK.

>> I KIND OF LIKE ARIZONA STATE.

KENNY DILLINGHAM, FORKS UP.

THIS WEEK AROUND THE BIG TEN, TWO TEAMS HOSTING FIRST-ROUND COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAMES.

TWELVE TEAMS MADE THE POSTSEASON, FOUR IN THE COLLEGE BOWL PLAYOFF, AND EIGHT BOWL BIDS.

FOR THE SEASON, THE BIG TEN INITIALLY WINNING PERCENTAGE OF 77.7% OF THEIR NONCONFERENCE GAMES.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE SIDELINE SURVEY EARLY RESULTS.

HOW DO YOU SEE THE BAD BOY LOWERS PINSTRIPE BOWL TURNING OUT?

69% OF PEOPLE SAY CLOSE HUSKER WIN, 21% SAY, AS SEAN DOES, A CLOSE BOSTON COLLEGE WIN, AND A LITTLE BIT OF NUMBERS.

>> DON'T GIVE AWAY THE PICKS.

>> AH, THEY WILL SEE IT LATER.

SO, LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS GAME AND THE WAY IT LINES UP A LITTLE BIT.

BECAUSE, AGAIN, I LIKE THE BACKUP QUARTERBACK WHO'S IN THERE FOR BOSTON COLLEGE.

I THINK THEY CAN REALLY RUN THE GAME.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU THIS -- SEAN SAID IT A SECOND AGO, ACC IS NOT THE SAME LEVEL OF COMPETITION AS THE BIG TEN.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THESE BOWLS, A LOT OF TIMES, WHEN IT'S ACC VERSUS BIG TEN, BIG TEN WINS THESE GAMES.

>> YEAH, AND MOST -- YEAH, I WOULD DEFINITELY AGREE.

AND AGAIN, I THINK THE BIGGEST THING YOU COME TO THESE TYPE OF GAMES IS, WHO WANTS TO BE HERE?

WHO'S APPRECIATIVE OF BEING HERE?

>> OH, YEAH, MOTIVATION.

>> WHO'S -- YES, MOTIVATION IS THE BIGGEST THING.

WHO'S GOING TO ATTACK THESE 13 TO 14 PRACTICES, WHATEVER THEY GET, OR WHO'S GOING TO GET THROUGH THEM?

WHO'S JUST GONNA KINDA TRY TO GET THROUGH 'EM, 'CAUSE THEY HAVE TO, RIGHT?

WHO HAS THE BETTER ATTITUDES?

HOW MANY GUYS GO THROUGH THE PORTAL?

THOSE -- THAT'S A BIG THING.

HOW MANY GUYS GET INJURED IN THE TWO WEEKS LEADING UP TO THIS?

BUT B.C.

IS A HECK OF A FOOTBALL TEAM.

I'M WELL -- BILL O'BRIEN IS A HELL OF A FOOTBALL COACH, RESPECT THE HECK OUT OF HIM.

BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, IT'S JUST -- IT'S GONNA BE A CLASSIC, I BELIEVE A LOW-SCORING GAME.

WEATHER OBVIOUSLY HAS A TON OF FACTORS IN THIS GAME.

BUT I LIKE NEBRASKA'S DEFENSE AGAINST BOSTON COLLEGE'S OFFENSE IN THIS GAME, I THINK THAT IS WHERE IT'S GONNA COME DOWN.

EVEN WITH NEBRASKA LOSING SOME KEY GUYS ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL, I THINK THERE'S STILL ENOUGH THERE IN THIS GAME THAT NEBRASKA CAN DO SOME DAMAGE.

>> SINCE GRAYSON JAMES TOOK OVER, THEY ARE 3-1.

THE LAST 3 GAMES THEY'VE AVERAGE 34 POINTS, 227 YARDS PASSING, 4 TDS, JUST ONE INTERCEPTION, AND AN IMPRESSIVE 46 1/2 RUSHES A GAME.

>> YEAH, THEY RUN IT.

AND THEY'RE PHYSICAL AT WHAT THEY DO, BUT THEY'RE EFFICIENT IN THE PASSING GAME.

THEY HAVE 24 TOUCHDOWNS TO JUST 7 INTERCEPTIONS THROUGH THE -- I MEAN, THEIR BILL O'BRIEN RUN OFFENSE, BILL O'BRIEN KNOWS HOW TO PUT TOGETHER EFFICIENT OFFENSIVE UNITS.

YOU BROUGHT UP THAT ACC POINT THOUGH, I WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT, THE BIG TEN IS 8-1 IN THIS BOWL GAME.

THE BIG TEN HAS WON, I BELIEVE, THE LAST SEVEN IN A ROW.

DUKE BEAT, YEARS AGO, INDIANA.

THAT'S THE ONLY ACC WIN IN THIS GAME.

THE BIG TEN HAS DOMINATED PINSTRIPE BOWLS IN ITS HISTORY, SO THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT FAVOR NEBRASKA, BUT THERE IS NO HISTORY WITH THESE TWO TEAMS.

THEY'VE NEVER PLAYED IN THE HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM.

>> I CAN TELL YOU, THERE WERE A LOT OF HUSKER FANS THAT WANTED BILL O'BRIEN.

WHEN THAT COACHING SEARCH HAPPENING, YOU HEARD THEM SAY, "OOH, BILL O'BRIEN'LL BE GREAT.

WE LIKE HIM."

FORMER NFL COACH, WE KNOW WHAT HE DID THIS TWO YEARS AT PENN STATE UNDER REALLY TOUGH SITUATIONS.

AS MATT RHULE SAID TODAY, HE KINDA -- WAS IT YESTERDAY?

-- SAVED THE PROGRAM A LITTLE BIT AT PENN STATE COMING IN AND DID WHAT HE DID.

WE DO YOU THINK ABOUT BILL O'BRIEN?

>> AGAIN, I RESPECT HIM.

I WAS ONE OF THOSE GUYS, THAT SAID IF NEBRASKA WOULD GO AND HIRE BILL O'BRIEN, I WAS ALL FOR IT.

OBVIOUSLY WHAT HE DID WITH WHAT PENN STATE WAS DEALING WITH AT THE TIME - - >> OH, YEAH.

>> WITH ALL -- WITH THE LOSS OF SCHOLARSHIPS, AND ALMOST -- IT WAS ALMOST A DEATH PENALTY, ESSENTIALLY WHAT THEY WERE DEALING WITH THOSE YEAR.

AND HE WAS -- HE WAS SUCCESSFUL.

DEVELOPS GUYS, A GREAT OFFENSIVE MIND, THEY HAVE TIGHT ENDS COMING OUT OF THOSE COUPLE YEARS THAT ARE NOW PLAYING IN THE NFL, SO HIS MINDSET, BEING WITH THE PATRIOTS, HE'S BEEN WITH ALABAMA.

SO A WELL-RESPECTED COACH WITHIN NFL AND COLLEGE.

AND HE'S GOING TO TAKE BOSTON COLLEGE TO SOME UNCHARTED TERRITORY I THINK WITH THAT FOOTBALL PROGRAM.

>> SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE PORTAL.

WHICH, WHAT DO YOU THINK NEBRASKA -- OBVIOUSLY, LONG SNAPPER.

BUT WHAT ELSE DO YOU SEE THEM TARGETING -- AND WIDE RECEIVER.

WHAT DO YOU SEE THEM TARGETING?

>> YEAH, WIDE RECEIVER AND LINEBACKER ARE THE TWO EARLY PRIORITY POSITIONS WE HAVE SEEN NEBRASKA GO AFTER.

DANE KEY IS A RECEIVER AT KENTUCKY.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> AND DAIKIEL SHORTS COACHED HIM.

I EXPECT HIM TO VISIT CAMPUS PROBABLY THIS WEEK.

THEY HAVE NOT HOSTED A PORTAL VISITOR YET.

THAT WILL BEGIN WEDNESDAY.

SO STARTING WEDNESDAY, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A FLOOD OF PORTAL PROSPECTS MAKE THEIR WAY TO CAMPUS.

DANA HOLGORSEN HINTED THAT IT COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM 20 TO 30.

NOW, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE ALL 20 OR 30, BUT MATT RHULE HAS THROWN OUT THE NUMBER -- THEY'D LIKE ABOUT 15.

>> RIGHT.

>> MAYBE SEVEN OFFENSE, SEVEN DEFENSE, AND A SPECIALIST.

THEY MIGHT EVEN LOOK FOR A KICKER.

I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S SOME QUIET DISCUSSION.

>> KICKER OR PUNTER?

THEY DEFINITELY NEED A PUNTER.

>> BOTH, POSSIBLY.

I MEAN, I THINK IF YOU -- DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH ON CAMDEN COOK TO KNOW THAT YOU CAN GO FORWARD?

I THINK YOU CAN ALSO GET A PORTAL -- A PUNTER LATER TOO, IN THE SPRING, IF YOU REALLY HAD TO FIND ONE, THE RIGHT ONE WOULD PROBABLY BE OUT THERE.

>> IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO BRING IN COMPETITION.

LET'S LOOK AT THE LIST OF THE PORTALS LEAVING NEBRASKA.

'CAUSE WE KINDA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LIST, HOW MUCH IS IT TRYING TO MATCH UP THESE POSITIONS IN THE PORTAL?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THE DEFENSIVE -- THE QUARTERBACK ONE IS INTERESTING.

WILL THEY BE ABLE TO FIND SOMEBODY ELSE?

I MEAN, JALYN GRAMSTAD TOO, WILL HE COME BACK FOR A SIXTH YEAR?

I NEED TO GET DEPTH AT THAT POSITION, ESPECIALLY IF HAARBERG IS NOT THERE.

BUT DEFENSIVE LINE IS THE REAL HIT SPOT WHERE THEY HAVE TAKEN THE MOST LUMP.

WILLIAMS NWANERI, THOUGH, NOW GOING IN THE PORTAL.

THAT SHOULD GET YOUR ATTENTION.

HE PLAYED FOR MOZEE, AT LEE'S SUMMIT NORTH HIGH SCHOOL.

FORMER FIVE-STAR.

DIDN'T -- REDSHIRTED THIS YEAR AT MISSOURI.

PLAYED ONLY 50 SNAPS ON THE YEAR IN 4 GAMES.

THAT'S A BIG PRIORITY PORTAL NAME TO WATCH.

>> THE GOOD NEWS IS, NEBRASKA ROTATES SO MANY DEFENSIVE LINEMAN.

THE PROBLEM IS THE MAJORITY OF THOSE GUYS ARE LEAVING.

>> YEAH, JAMES WILLIAMS, KAI WALLIN, KEONA DAVIS, PRINCEWILL.

>> MAYBE WE -- MAYBE WE GET KEONA DAVIS TO COME BACK.

>> MAYBE.

>> MAYBE.

>> MAYBE, MAYBE.

>> SPEAK IT TO EXISTENCE.

>> I LOVE THAT.

YEAH, THESE GUYS, I LOOK AT THIS, YOU DO LOSE SOME KEY PIECES WHO DO PLAY A LOT, BUT THESE AREN'T, IN MY OPINION, IS THESE AREN'T ABSOLUTE GAME CHANGERS.

THESE AREN'T GUYS THAT COME IN, AND THEY'RE NOT IRREPLACEABLE, IN MY OPINION.

I THINK YOU CAN GO OUT THERE AND FIND GUYS THAT ARE SAME, IF NOT BETTER THAN THE SKIES THAT STEP UP AND PLAY.

>> I DON'T WANT TO LOSE PLAYERS, IT IS JUST THE BUSINESS WE ARE IN.

YOU GOT TO GO REPLACE THEM BUT NEBRASKA PLAYED A TON.

BUT THEY ARE GOING TO FIND SOME GUYS NOW.

IT'S OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE YOUNG PLAYERS TO STEP UP HERE AND PLAY AND DEVELOP IN THESE TWO WEEKS, AND GO PROVE YOURSELF.

YOU CAN DEFINITELY DO THAT THROUGH THESE BOWL PRACTICES AND BOWL PREP.

>> JIM ON X WANTS TO KNOW, ABOUT NEBRASKA HAVING TWO LINEBACKER COACHES, OUTSIDE, INSIDE, DO YOU THINK MAYBE THAT MEANS THEY WILL PLAY MORE FOUR LINEBACKERS?

>> WELL, IT IS TWO VASTLY DIFFERENT POSITIONS.

>> SO IT'S EDGE.

>> YEAH, SO I PLAY THE 3-4 IN THE NFL , MIKE SINGLETARY WAS INSIDE GUY.

WE HAD PATRICK WILLIS WHO WAS IN MY DRAFT CLASS.

AND THEN WE HAD JASON TARVER WHO IS OUR OUTSIDE GUY.

WELL-RESPECTED MIND, DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR AT STANFORD FOR A WHILE WITH HARBAUGH AS WELL.

SO HE, THE EDGE SPOT, THEY CALL IT THE "JACK. "

YOU ARE A STANDUP DEFENSIVE END ESSENTIALLY.

>> THEY HAD AN OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS COACH TOO.

I MEAN, THEY HAD A FULL TIME GUY.

HE FOLLOWED TONY WHITE TO FLORIDA STATE.

>> IT IS VASTLY DIFFERENT SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE TWO, IT IS NOT APPLES TO APPLES.

IT IS APPLES TO ORANGES.

>> NOW, SIMPSON'S WILL TAKE OVER FOR JACK POTENZA.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SECONDARY, THOUGH.

THE QUESTION IS, ALSO, "DO YOU THINK THEY WILL HIRE A QUARTERBACK COACH IF BUTLER IS GOING TO STAY WITH THE SAFETIES OR DO YOU THINK SOMEBODY ELSE HELPS OUT THERE?"

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE IF YOU PLAY A 3-3-5, THAT'S FIVE YOUR GUYS ON THE 11 STARTING POSITIONS.

SO YOU NEED IDEALLY TWO PEOPLE BACK THERE, PHIL SNOW, JOHN BUTLER -- I THINK WITH THE RULES NOW YOU CAN BE PRETTY CREATIVE IN ADDING BODIES.

NEBRASKA LAST TWO COACHES ESSENTIALLY THIS WEEKEND THEY WILL HAVE THREE MORE ADDED IN THAT THEY ADDED IN TODAY.

SO I THINK YOU CAN BE REALLY CREATIVE AND THAT NUMBER OF 10 THAT USED TO BE LIMITED AT.

YOU COULD EASILY GET AWAY WITH WAY MORE THAN THAT NOW WITH CLOSE TO 20 GUYS IF YOU WANTED TO HAVE A POSITION COACH AND ASSISTANT POSITION COACH LIKE IT WOULD BE IN THE NFL.

>> TERRY BRADDEN COMING IN FROM KANSAS CITY, YOUR THOUGHTS ON BRINGING A GUY IN THAT HAS A BACKGROUND IN THE NFL FOR THOSE YOUNG PLAYERS?

>> GUYS LOVE IT, JOHN BLAKE WAS MY DEFENSIVE LINE COACH HERE IN NEBRASKA.

>> THAT'S RIGHT BABY.

>> HE HAD THE GIFT OF GAB.

HE COULD SELL A KETCHUP POPSICLE, TO A LADY IN WHITE GLOVES.

HE SPENT ALL THE TIME WITH THE COWBOYS WITH SWITZER, OBVIOUSLY HE PLAYED FOR SWITZER AT OKLAHOMA IN THOSE DAYS SO HAVING THAT IS LIKE, WHEN I HAD CHARLES HALEY, AND LEONARD LETT, LEON LETT, AND THESE GUYS.

GUYS WANT TO HEAR THAT.

GUYS WANNA HEAR HOW, "MAN I COULD SEE YOU DOING THIS ON SUNDAYS."

"I COULD SEE YOU DOING THIS IN THE NFL PLAYOFFS."

SO RECRUITS AND COLLEGE PLAYERS, CAUSE THAT'S THE ULTIMATE GOAL EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE GETTING MONEY NOW, THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS GETTING THAT FIRST NFL CONTRACT AND BE DRAFTED.

GUYS LOVE THAT, THAT IS A HUGE RECRUITING THING BUT IT'S ALSO A GOOD MOTIVATOR FOR YOUNG PLAYERS.

>> FROM BABA ON X, WANTS TO KNOW, "HAS EVER BEEN A HIGH SCHOOL BUTKUS AWARD WINNER IN NEBRASKA BEFORE, DO YOU KNOW?"

>> NO, NOT THAT I KNOW.

>> FIRST ONE.

>> THE GUYS THAT CHRISTIAN BEAT OUT.

I MEAN THEY WERE FIVE-STAR PLAYERS.

IT IS A REALLY, REALLY PRESTIGIOUS AWARD THAT CHRISTIAN WALKED IN HERE WITH TONIGHT.

I THINK EVEN IN HIS OWN SCHOOL, WHEN HE WALKED INTO WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL, THAT WAS A SHOCK TO EVERYONE ON MONDAY THAT HE BROUGHT THE BUTKUS.

DICK BUTKUS'S SON BRINGS THE TROPHY INTO WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL.

>> THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

>> THAT'S A PRETTY SURREAL MOMENT AND ONE I AM SURE CHRISTIAN IS NEVER GOING TO FORGET.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF DIFFERENT POSITIONS BUT, SPECIAL TEAMS ESSENTIALLY PROBABLY COST THEM THE IOWA CAME.

SPECIAL TEAMS MAY HAVE COST OTHER GAMES AS WELL.

STILL GOT TO FIX THAT, THOUGH.

>> 100%, AND THE BIG TEN WHERE TEAMS ARE --IT SEEMS LIKE AN ALL- CONFERENCE IS NOW.

THE BOTTOM AND TOP ARE COMING CLOSER TOGETHER.

I MEAN WE GET CLOSER GAMES, BETTER COMPETITION.

THOSE SINGLE SCORED LOST GAMES AT NEBRASKA WE HAVE GOT SO FAMILIAR WITH.

IS BECAUSE OF SPECIAL TEAMS.

MISSED FIELD GOALS, DROPPED PUNTS.

REALLY A NONEXISTENT RETURN GAME, PERIOD.

NEBRASKA HAS TO FLIP THAT.

YOU HAVE TO GET EXPLOSIVE GUYS WHO CAN GO KICK THE BALL OR CATCH THE BALL AND MAKE ONE GUY MISS.

THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE GOT TO DEAL WITH, GET VERTICAL.

YOU GOT TO HAVE A SNAP.

THE MOST IMPORTANT PLAY IN FOOTBALL IS A SNAP, WHETHER ON SPECIAL TEAMS OR OFFENSE.

YOU GOT TO HAVE GUYS THAT CAN DO THAT.

AND I THINK HOHL'S THE GUY.

AND THEN YOU HAVE ALVANO, TOO.

IF HE DEALS WITH HIS INJURY.

BUT HOHL GOT SOME CONFIDENCE BUT YOU GOT TO FIND YOUR GUYS IN THERE TO GET THIS GOING.

YOU WILL HAVE MORE CLOSE GAMES IN THE FUTURE, SPECIAL TEAMS MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

>> SPEAKING OF SPECIAL TEAMS.

BOSTON COLLEGE IS LAST IN THE ACC IN PUNTING, BY THE WAY.

THEY ARE ALSO FIRST IN PENALTY YARDS.

THEY HAVE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF PENALTY YARDS ANYBODY IN THE ACC.

>> IT IS A BIG ED FOLEY GAME.

>> IT IS.

>> HIS BROTHER WAS THE QUARTERBACK FOR BOSTON COLLEGE.

THEY HAVE GOT TO BE AGGRESSIVE.

I THINK ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF THE DEPTH QUESTIONS THAT NEBRASKA HAS ON DEFENSE , AN X FACTOR IN THIS GAME IS SPECIAL TEAMS, CAN NEBRASKA CREATE A PLAY?

THEY HAVE BEEN SO CLOSE TO OUTRIGHT BLOCKING A PUNT THIS YEAR.

CARTER NELSON HAS PROBABLY ALMOST LOOKED FIVE PUNTS, WHEN MALACHI COLEMAN WAS HERE HE ALMOST WALKED ONE AGAINST RUTGERS.

CAN THEY GET ONE OF THOSE PUNTS, CAN THEY DO SOMETHING IN THAT AREA OF THE GAME?

>> YEAH, YOU GOT ALL THIS TIME TOO, LOOK FOR A LOT OF FAKE PUNTS, LOT DOUBLE REVERSALS ON KICK OFF RETURNS.

ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT STUFF YOU CAN THROW IN THERE TO MIX UP BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALL THESE EXTRA PRACTICES AND YOU GOT TO FIN SOMETHING ELSE TO DO BESIDES BANG YOUR HEAD AGAINST THE WALL WITH SOME OF YOUR YOUNGER DEVELOPMENT BUT.

EVEN THOUGH THEY NEED THOUGH NEED TO TRUST.

YOU CAN FIND SOME UNIQUE SCENARIOS WITH THE SPECIAL TEAMS.

>> ALSO, YOU GOT HARBAUGH, THE DOUBLE PASS, STUFF LIKE THAT AS WELL, THAT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING YOU CAN SEE.

WHENEVER COACHES HAVE TIME, ESPECIALLY OFFENSIVE COACHES, THEY ARE GONNA COME UP WITH SOME CRAZY STUFF TO TRY TO GET TO THAT.

>>> LET'S GO TO BURNING QUESTIONS.

WHAT DO YOU GOT SEAN?

>> BURNING QUESTION FOR ME IS WHAT WILL PORTAL MONTH LOOK LIKE FOR NEBRASKA?

THESE NEXT TWO WEEKS REALLY WILL KIND OF DEFINE THE ROSTER.

AND ONE OTHER NOTE, WE WILL LEARN THE SCHEDULE, TOMORROW.

SO AT 1:00 ON WEDNESDAY, WE WILL GET A BETTER ROADMAP OF WHAT NEBRASKA'S BIG TEN SCHEDULE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE FOR 2025.

>> I AM INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THE MOTIVATION IS FOR BOTH TEAMS HEADING INTO THIS GAME.

I HAVE HIT ON IT NUMEROUS TIMES BUT WHO WANTS TO BE THERE, WHO ATTACKED THESE PRACTICES?

WHO WANTED TO GET BETTER?

WHO IS APPRECIATIVE, WHO WANTS TO GO SEE NEW YORK?

AND BE INVOLVED.

I THINK BOTH TEAMS WOULD BE, I THINK THAT'S WHY IT WILL BE SUCH A GOOD GAME AT 11:00 A.M. ON DECEMBER 28th.

I AM EXCITED TO SEE THOSE THAT.

THOSE TWO THINGS PLAY OUT AND SEE HOW THAT COOKIE CRUMBLES.

>> SEAN, STOLE MY BURNING QUESTION.

‘CAUSE THE THIRD MOST IMPORTANT DAY IN THE BIG TEN.

BEHIND THE BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

OHIO STATE.

MICHIGAN.

THE GAME.

IS NOW WHEN THEY PUT THE SCHEDULE OUT.

WILL YOU HAVE MORE OF THE BOTTOM TEAMS IN THE CONFERENCE OR MORE OF THE TOP TEAMS?

CAN YOU AVOID THE TOP FOUR OR FIVE LIKE INDIANA DID, ONLY PLAYING ONE OF THEM?

IT IS AN IMPORTANT DAY FOR NEBRASKA AND THE REST OF THE BIG TEN TOMORROW.

>>> DON'T FORGET HEAD OVER TO THE WEBSITE, FACEBOOK PAGE, X ACCOUNT, AND CLICK ON THE PREDICTION.

JAY, SEAN AND I.

WILL EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE BOSTON COLLEGE GAME, THE HUSKERS FINAL GAME WILL BE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28 ON ABC IN THE BAD BOY MORRIS PINSTRIPE BOWL AGAINST BOSTON COLLEGE.

ON TUESDAY NIGHT, JANUARY 7th, WE WILL HAVE A SPECIAL BOWL GAME RECAP.

BIG RED WRAP-UP.

WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE TRANSFER PORTAL AND THE SHOW OVER ALL WILL BE OF COURSE, LIVE ON WORLD, FACEBOOK LIVE AND YOUTUBE LIVE.

AT 7:00 P.M, ON TUESDAY, YOU CAN ALWAYS CATCH THE RE-AIR, AT 10:00 P.M. ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

AND THIS SUNDAY, YOU CAN WATCH THE 24th RANKED NEBRASKA WOMEN'S HOOPS TEAM AT NOON AGAINST CHATTANOOGA ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA AND THEN TUESDAY, 6:00 P.M., WYOMING, IS VISITING CRATON, ALSO LIVE ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT NEBRASKA HIGH SCHOOL CLASSICS ANYTIME ON YOUTUBE.COM/NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.

OUR THANKS TO KAYDEN VERMOSS AND CHRISTIAN JONES AND THEIR PARENTS FOR BRINGING THEM HERE AS WELL, AND BEING ON WITH US.

FOR JAY MOORE AND SEAN CALLAHAN, I'M MIKE'L SEVERE, WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT YEAR ON "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

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