* * >>> AFTER A DISAPPOINTING END TO THE 2023 SEASON, FANS WERE THIRSTY FOR MORE FROM TH HUSKER TEAM.

MATT RHULE LOOKED TO QUENCH THAT THIRST BY ATTACKING THE SEASON THE RIGHT WAY, ADDING RECRUITS, TRANSFERS AND EXPERIENCED STAFF MEMBERS TO MOVE THE PROGRAM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

TONIGHT, WE'LL BREAK DOWN ALL THOSE CHANGES AND ALSO TOUCH ON WHY PEOPLE ARE DRINKING THE SCARLET-COLORED KOOL-AID.

ALL THAT AND MORE NEXT ON "BIG RED WRAPUP."

* >>> HI, EVERYONE.

I'M MIKE'L SEVERE.

WELCOME TO "BIG RED WRAPUP LIVE."

OUR STUDIO IS GETTING UPGRADES.

TONIGHT IS ALL ABOUT RECRUITING.

JOINING ME TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IS FORMER HUSKER JAY MOORE AND SHAWN CALLAHAN.

THIS FEELS 2005-ISH.

THERE ARE SO MANY GUYS.

THERE'S TRANSFERS AND FRESHMEN.

IT FEELS KIND OF LIKE 2005.

>> WITH THE NEW ROSTER RULES, YOU CAN BE CREATIVE WITH HOW YOU BUILD THAT.

THERE'S NO LONGER A 25-MINUTE CAP.

IF YOU GET IN THE WEEDS, NEBRASKA HAS ADDED 37 SCHOLARSHIP LEVEL TYPE PLAYERS IN ONE CYCLE.

TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE.

YOU LOOK AT THE TRANSFER PORTAL.

THEY'RE LIGHTER THIS YEAR WITH JUST SIX.

BUT ALL SIX OF THOSE GUYS, YOU CAN MAKE A CASE FOR ALL OF THEM THAT THEY'RE PRETTY GOOD.

BLYE HILL IS PROBABLY THE ONE THAT'S DEVELOPMENTAL.

YOU GET DYLAN RAIOLA.

THAT KIND OF BROUGHT EVERYTHING OVER THE TOP.

>> YOU HAVE THREE QUARTERBACKS ON SCHOLARSHIP.

ONE HAS EIGHT GAMES OF EXPERIENCE AND THE OTHER TWO ARE TRUE FRESHMAN.

THAT'S A LITTLE SCARY.

>> EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT DYLAN RAIOLA AND HIS PEDIGREE.

HE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE DAY ONE STARTER.

WE GOT RAIOLA, HARBURG AND KAELIN.

IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG, YOU'RE STUCK IN A POSITION.

MAYBE SOME MORE ROSTER MOVES AND AFTER SPRING BALL, JUST SOLIDIFY SOME AREAS.

A LITTLE MORE PRESSURE ON THAT O-LINE TO PROTECT AND KEEP EVERYONE HEALTHY BACK THERE.

>> YOU MENTIONED NIL DEALS AND HOW THAT ALLOWS SOME WALK-ONES TO COME IN.

THAT SHOWS HOW WELL NEBRASKA IS DOING IN TERMS OF NIH AND RAISING MONEY?

>> YEAH.

YOU HAVE TO BE A STRONG COLLECTIVE TO DO THAT.

YOU CAN BRING A TRANSFER PORTAL GUY IN AS A WALK-ON.

>> EVEN IF THEY HAD A SCHOLARSHIP?

>> CORRECT.

OLIVER MARTIN WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE.

THAT WAS PRE-NIL ERA.

IF YOU LEAVE SCHOOL A ON SCHOLARSHIP, YOU HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE AS A WALK-ON.

SOME OF THESE GUYS, IF THEY'RE OVER 85, YOU CAN GET CREATIVE AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK WITH A TRANSFER.

WE KNOW AT LEAST FOUR OF THE HIGH SCHOOL GUYS THAT DIDN'T SIGN LETTERS OF INTENT, BUT THEY'RE THREE STAR RATED RECRUITS.

GIVE MATT RHULE CREDIT, GIVE HIS SUPPORT STAFF CREDIT, BECAUSE THIS TAKES A LOT OF ROSTER MANAGEMENT.

YOU HAVE TO BE AGGRESSIVE TO DO WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

>> CAN YOU BRING THAT LIST UP?

COACH MATT RHULE SAID HE THOUGHT THREE OR FOUR OF THOSE COULD BE STARTERS.

PICK ME FOUR GUYS.

>> ALEXANDER FROM NEVADA IS A GOOD ONE.

PRESCOTT IS A WALK-ON TOO.

HE WAS ONE OF THE TOP SAFETIES ON THE BOARD IN SPRING.

MARIO BUFORD IS AS GOOD AS ANY DB.

EVAN TAYLOR TORE HIS KNEE.

CAMDEN COOK WILL BE A STARTER AFTER ONE YEAR.

IT'S SET UP FOR CAMDEN COOK.

THOSE WOULD PROBABLY BE THE ONES.

ACHOA WAS A WYOMING COMMIT.

IT'S A QUALITY GROUP TOP TO BOTTOM WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE WALK-ONES.

>> WE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT IT WAS HARD FOR NEBRASKA TO GET WALK- WALK-ONS.

>> IT WORKS.

OBVIOUSLY SCHOOLS ARE GETTING PAID FOR IT.

IF THEY'RE CLOSE TO HOME OR IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP INTO A PLAYER THEY'VE SEEN OTHER GUYS DEVELOP UNDER MATT RHULE.

IT'S A TACTIC YOU CAN USE.

LISTEN, LOOK HOW MANY FRESHMEN WE PLAYED ON DEFENSE LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF INJURIES AT WIDE RECEIVER.

BUT LOOK HOW WELL THEY WERE ABLE TO STEP IN AND PLAY.

THAT'S JUST OUR DEVELOPMENT.

THAT'S HOW WE BRING GUYS ALONG.

THAT'S A NICE THING TO HAVE IN YOUR BACK POCKET.

WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU READY AND IF YOU HAVE TO STEP IN DAY ONE OR DAY TWO, WE'LL GET YOU READY TO PLAY.

HAVING THOSE GUYS KIND OF DETERMINE IF THEY WANT TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE OR TECHNICALLY WALK ON ON AN NIL SCHOLARSHIP, IT MAKES YOU THINK, BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE DEVELOPED THE RIGHT WAY.

>> NO DOUBT.

WE HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT.

UNFORTUNATELY, OUR CALL ROOM IS NOT UP AND RUNNING.

IT WOULD NORMALLY BE BEHIND ME BUT IT'S NOT TODAY.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS SHARE WITH US VIA E-MAIL.

WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO GET TO AS MANY AS WE CAN TONIGHT.

ALSO, BE SURE TO VOTE ON THIS WEEK'S SURVEY UP ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT ASKS WHAT'S BEEN THE BIGGEST WIN OF THE OFF SEASON, RETAINING TONY WHITE, BRINGING BACK KEY PLAYERS, ADDING GLENN DOMESTTHOMAS OR GETTING DYLAN RAIOLA.

IT'S GOING TONY WHITE.

BEFORE WE GET TO ALL OF THAT, LET'S CHECK IN WITH MATT RHULE AND SEE WHAT HE HAD TO SAY YESTERDAY AFTER ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SIGNING DAY.

>> IT'S HARD TO COMPETE IF YOU DON'T HAVE OTHER GREAT PLAYERS AROUND YOU.

ANY TIME I SEE A GREAT PLAYER, WE'RE GOING TO APPROACH IT.

THEY COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES, WALK-ONS, SCHOLARSHIP, FIVE STAR, NO STAR.

I'VE BEEN PLEASED WITH OUR PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT.

THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.

>> A LOT OF COACHES LOOK AT WE NEED FOUR OF THESE, I NEED THREE OF THESE.

I'VE NEVER THOUGHT THAT WAY.

I LOOK FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I LOOK FOR BIG PEOPLE.

I LOOK FOR O-LINE MMEN AND D-LINEMEN.

>> I THINK THERE'S GUYS THAT WILL START FOR US SOMEDAY ON THIS WALK-ON CLASS.

I TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.

I'VE HAD SOME GREAT WALK-S ONS IN MY TIME.

NO PLACE IS KNOWN FOR HAVING GREAT WALK-ONS BETTER THAN UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA.

THE WAY GLENN TEACHES THE QUARTERBACKS, THEY COULD BE IN THE AIR RAID, THEY COULD BE IN THE RUN AND SHOOT, THEY COULD BE IN A PRO-TILE OFFENSE.

HE HE'S GOING TO TEACH THEM AND SCAFFOLD THAT TEACHING.

RECRUITING DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING ABOUT NEXT SEASON.

IT'S ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THERE'S AN URGENCY WHEN YOU WALK IN THIS BUILDING.

WE'RE STILL 5-7.

SO WE'RE 5-7 UNTIL WE KICK IT OFF AGAINST UTEP NEXT YEAR.

>> WE'RE SO USED TO IT BEING A BIG TEN GAME OR A BIG GAME IN TERMS OF THE COMPETITION.

>> OR IRELAND MAYBE.

>> I'M NOT SAYING IT'S COMPLETELY WINNABLE, BUT IT IS DIFFERENT.

>> A SCHEDULE THAT WILL LET YOU DEVELOP YOUNGER PLAYERS.

>> EXACTLY.

>> YOU LOOK AT THOSE FIRST SEVEN GAMES.

YOU TELL ME HOW MANY OF THOSE WILL HAVE NEBRASKA AS THE UNDERDOG.

GREAT YEAR TO GET UCLA ON THE SCHEDULE.

OHIO STATE, WISCONSIN, IOWA, WE KNOW ARE GOING TO BE GOOD.

I FEEL LIKE THE FIRST SEVEN ALL THE WAY TO OCTOBER 19th, YOU HAVE DYLAN RAIOLA AS A STARTER.

WHAT A SCHEDULE TO BUILD THE CONFIDENCE UP.

>> IT WORKS OUT PRETTY WELL.

YOU PLAYED WITH A LOT OF PLAYERS FROM OUT OF STATE.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE FLORIDA GUYS WERE THE HARDEST TO KEEP, BECAUSE YOU GET HERE AND THINGS ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, OBVIOUSLY THE WEATHER.

THEN THERE'S TEXAS.

WHICH ONE DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK TEXAS IS A LITTLE MORE RELATED TO NEBRASKA.

I THINK OF THE CODY GLENNS, DEMARIO WILLIAMS.

FABIAN WASHINGTON WAS FROM BRADENTON, THE TAMPA AREA, WAS IN MY RECRUITING CLASS, PLAYED AS A TRUE FRESHMAN AND WAS A FIRST-ROUND DRAFT PICK.

HE LOVED IT HERE.

BUT THAT WEATHER, THEY HAD TO COME AND DRAG HIM OUT OF HIS DORM ROOM TO GO TO CLASS.

HE'S LIKE, I'M NOT LEAVING.

THERE'S 4 INCHES OF SNOW AND IT'S 10 DEGREES.

I THINK TEXAS IS A LITTLE MORE RELATABLE.

WE'VE SEEN THAT IN RECENT YEARS.

WE'VE HAD SOME FLORIDA GUYS STEP ON CAMPUS AND MAYBE ONLY LAST A YEAR OR TWO.

>> OBVIOUSLY THE MIAMI AREA IS A NICE PLACE TO GO.

BETTER GROUPING, THE TEXAS GUYS OR THE MIAMI GUYS?

>> YOU COULD MAKE A CASE FOR BOTH, BECAUSE THE MIAMI CLASS REALLY TOOK A BUMP LATE.

YOU LOOK AT THE LAST GUYS, SANDERS, SHAVERS, CARVER.

THAT WAS A REALLY NICE GROUP TO END WITH.

I THINK THE STAFF IS BUILT BETTER TO KEEP FLORIDA GUYS HERE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT JUST THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES THAT CAN RELATE TO THESE KIDS, WE GO BACK TO THAT 2020 CLASS WHEN THEY TOOK THE HIT IN FLORIDA.

THEY HAD A BUNCH OF KIDS THAT ENROLLED EARLY DURING THE MIDDLE OF COVID.

IT JUST WASN'T A GOOD DEAL FOR ANYBODY, LET ALONE YOUNG MEN COMING FROM MIAMI TO LINCOLN.

THEY'RE LIKE, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ALL THE PEOPLE OUT OF LINCOLN OFF CAMPUS AND YOU'RE TRAPPED HERE.

THAT WAS A TOUGH DEAL.

BUT THE TEXAS GROUP, TWO LEGACIES IN THAT GROUP, IAN FLYNT AND MARIO BUFORD.

THAT ALWAYS HELPING.

>> HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK IT WAS TO BRING IN GLENN THOMAS TO HAVE A GUY DEDICATED TO COACHING THE QUARTERBACKS, ESPECIALLY WITH TWO FRESHMAN COMING IN.

>> IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

ALL HANDS ON DECK.

YOU NEED SOMEONE TO RELY ON AND BOUNCE IDEAS OFF OF AND QUESTION THIS.

WHY ARE WE LOOKING AT THIS IN THIS COVERAGE?

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

COACH SATTERFIELD IS TIGHT ENDS.

SO YOU ONLY HAVE SO MUCH TIME IN THE DAY.

FINALLY YOU HAVE THIS GUY THAT'S SITUATED TOWARDS QUARTERBACKS.

HE'S LIKE HERE'S OUR POINT OF REFERENCE, HERE'S OUR GUY.

JUST YOU HAVE MORE TIME WITH SOMEONE.

THAT'S IMPORTANT.

OBVIOUSLY WE DISCUSSED THE THREE QUARTERBACKS AND TWO OF THEM WHO HAVE NEVER PLAYED A SNAP IN NEBRASKA.

THEY NEED TO BE FULLY COMFORTABLE WITH THE PLAYBOOK, TERMINOLOGY, PASSING ROUTES, ALL THAT STUFF AND GET COMFORTABLE WITH THOSE YOUNG WIDE RECEIVERS AS WELL.

>> I KNOW COACH SAID, TRUST ME, I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.

THAT'S A LOT OF GUYS OVER 85.

>> YEAH.

THEY'RE PROBABLY AT LEAST TEN OVER.

WE DON'T KNOW THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE GUYS THAT ARE NIL PLAYERS.

>> SURE.

THEY HAVE OVER 110 ON THE ROSTER RIGHT NOW?

>> ON SCHOLARSHIP IT'S A LITTLE OVER 100.

I'VE HAD CAMDEN COOK AND THOSE GUYS ON THERE AND I KNOW THEY'RE NOT PART OF THAT.

I THINK WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS ANOTHER FOUR OR GAFIVE GUYS AFTER THE SPRING AND THEY NEED TO REWORK THINGS.

>> WAS THERE ANYBODY THAT JUMPED OUT IN TERMS OF THAT STAYED?

WHO'S THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR YOU?

>> I THINK TY ROBINSON AND ISAAC GIFFORD.

>> NASH.

>> HE WAS REALLY GOOD TOO.

>> A LOT OF ZEROS UP THERE.

>> HE MAKES IT LOOK GOOD, THOUGH.

I THINK BOTH OF THEM COULD HAVE LEFT AND BE AT THE NFL COMBINE HERE IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.

I THINK NIL HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT, BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT ROOKIE SALARIES.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING ON NILs.

BUT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FINALLY WIN HERE.

THEY CAN GRASP THAT.

I THINK THEY SAW WHAT WAS DEVELOPED WITH COACH MATT RHULE IN YEAR ONE.

I KNOW THEY DIDN'T GET WHERE THEY WANTED TO BE, OBVIOUSLY, BUT THEY CAN SEE HOW CLOSE THEY ARE.

THEY WORKED SO HARD FOR SO LONG AND HAVE BEEN A PART OF MULTIPLE STAFFS.

I DON'T THINK THOSE GUYS WERE HERE WITH RILEY, BUT WITH FROST.

AND THEN NOW WITH COACH MATT RHULE, MAN, SOMETHING IS BUILDING HERE.

I THINK THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT.

>> THEY FEEL CLOSE TOO.

>> DEFINITELY.

>> WE STEP AWAY FOR A SHORT BREAK.

WHEN WE COME BACK, WE DIVE INTO THE ADDITIONS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE BALL.

AS WE GO, WE CHECK OUT SOME OF THE BEST PHOTOS FROM THE 2023 SEASON.

* >>> WELCOME BACK TO "BIG RED WRAPUP."

IT'S TIME TO DIVE INTO THE OFFENSIVE ROSTER ADDITIONS, STARTING WITH THE QUARTERBACK.

DYLAN RAIOLA.

YOU DON'T GET A LOT OF GUYS OBVIOUSLY THAT ARE FIVE STARS TO COME TO NEBRASKA.

TO GET A GUY LIKE THIS IS A HUGE BREAK.

>> IT IS.

WITH THE DRAMA THAT CAME WITH IT.

HE THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO COMMIT, DOESN'T, GOES TO GEORGIA, TRANSFERS TO ARIZONA TO PLAY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL IN GEORGIA.

THEN COMPLETELY CHANGES IN THE -- >> OHIO STATE WAS A COMMIT.

>> YEAH.

>> THREE HIGH SCHOOLS, THREE COLLEGES.

>> YEAH, IT'S BIG.

OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW WHO HIS UNCLE IS, WHO HIS DAD IS.

THE KID CAN PLAY.

HE WORKS HARD AT IT.

IT'S A GENERATIONAL TYPE OF TALENT.

I DON'T WANT TO PUT TOO MUCH EXTRA PRESSURE ON A YOUNG KID, BUT IT'S ALREADY THERE.

>> SAW HIM PLAY IN HAWAII AT THE POLYNESIAN BOWL.

>> WHEN HE WAS A FRESHMAN, I HAD NEVER SEEN A YOUNG QUARTERBACK GET THE BALL OUT OF HIS ARM LIKE THAT BEFORE.

HE CAN MAKE A BACK FOOT THROW WITH VELOCITY, WHICH YOU DON'T WANT QUARTERBACKS DOING THAT, BUT HE CAN THROW ON A ROPE.

HE'S GOT ARM TALENT WE MAYBE HAVE NEVER SEEN IN NEBRASKA IN A LONG TIME.

>> BECAUSE OF MAHOMES, EVERYBODY'S GOING TO MAKE THAT THROW HERE.

>> THEY BATTLED INJURIES THIS YEAR.

McMORRIS AND HALL WERE INJURED.

KAELIN IS VERY SMART.

THEY DO THEIR VERSION OF A WONDERLIC TEST.

HE HAD ONE OF THE HIGHEST SCORES EVER.

SO HE'S A CEREBRAL, MATURE YOUNG MAN.

HE KNOWS THE DEAL.

MICHIGAN STATE AND SOME OTHERS TRIED TO FLIP HIM.

HE WANTS TO BE A HUSKER.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIM.

THESE ARE THE GUYS YOU WANT AT NEBRASKA.

>> IF EVERYTHING WORKS OUT AND RAIOLA STAYS HERE THREE YEARS AND MOVES ONTO THE NFL AND KAELIN IS A REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE.

>> I'M GLAD IT WORKS OUT FOR A HOMETOWN KID THAT WANTS TO PLAY HERE.

HE WAS A MISSOURI COMMIT.

ONCE RAIOLA FELL THROUGH, HE COMMITS.

YOU THINK IF RAIOLA FLIPS AGAIN, WHAT'S THE KAELIN SITUATION?

THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE IT WORK.

HE'S GOING TO GET A CHANCE TO PLAY.

>> ONLY ONE RUNNING BACK.

>> DANTE DOWDELL FROM OREGON TRANSFERRED TO NEBRASKA.

PUSHING 220.

>> HE'S BIG.

>> HE IS GOING TO GET A LOT OF REPS WITH EMMETT JOHNSON AND QUINT IVES.

HE PLAYED MORE THAN FOUR GAMES LAST YEAR.

HE DIDN'T REALLY LIKE THAT PICTURE THERE.

I THINK HE WANTS TO GO SOMEWHERE WHERE HE CAN COMPETE.

DANTE DOWDELL, THE ONLY RUNNING BACK THEY'VE TAKEN HERE REALLY OVER THE LAST COUPLE CYCLES.

>> BURN THAT REDSHIRT AT OREGON.

YOU LOOK AT MISSISSIPPI.

HE WAS A TOP TEN RUNNING BACK COMING OUT.

>> MR. MISSISSIPPI.

>> HE IS A TALENTED KID.

LET'S GO TO WIDE RECEIVERS.

JAHMAL BANKS, ONE OF THE TRANSFERS.

THE THING THAT JUMPS OUT, 6'4", 205.

>> BIG BODY.

YOU GET HIM, YOU GET COLEMAN NOW.

THEY ALWAYS SAY CATCH RADIUS.

YOU LIKE BIG BODIES.

BILLY KEMP IS A SHORTER GUY.

HE'S A BIG GUY THAT CAN GO GET IT.

>> IF IT'S CONTESTED, HE'LL GO GET IT.

>> HE'LL LEAD NEBRASKA IN RECEIVING.

>> ISAIAH NEYOR IS INTERESTING BECAUSE OF THE INJURY, BUT AGAIN 6'3", ALMOST 200 POUNDS.

>> HE CAN RUN.

THEY MEASURED WINGSPANS.

FOR HIS HEIGHT, HE HAD ONE OF THE LONGEST WINGSPANS, ALMOST A 7'0" WINGSPAN.

WHEN HE WAS COMING OUT OF WYOMING, HE WAS THE HOTTEST RECEIVER IN THE PORTAL.

HE PICKED TEXAS OVER USC, GOT HURT AND NEVER GOT OFF THE GROUND IN AUSTIN.

I KNOW HE LOOKS REALLY HEALTHY.

YOU HAVE TO THINK THAT BOTH HIM AND BANKS ARE GOING TO PROBABLY BE STARTERS NEXT YEAR.

>> VERY SKINNY WHEN HE GOT TO WYOMING.

HAD THOSE TWO YEARS WHERE HE WAS INJURED AND GOT IN THE WEIGHT ROOM AND PUT ON 25 POUNDS.

JACO JACORY BARNEY DOES EVERYTHING.

>> AS WE'VE HEARD HOW THEY WANT THIS OFFENSE TO REPRESENT THE 49ERS, YOU'VE HEARD THAT IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, SEEMED LIKE A PERFECT FIT FOR HIM TO WITH USE HIM AS A RUNNING BACK, A SLOT GUY AND A WIDEOUT.

JUST AN ATHLETE.

ANOTHER FLORIDA GUY THAT CAN STEP IN HERE AND HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF PLAYING RIGHT AWAY.

>> HE'LL MAKE YOU MISS TOO.

LET'S TALK ABOUT QUINN CLARK.

OBVIOUSLY HE'S A LEGACY.

>> HIS FATHER, THE LATE KEN CLARK, WAS A BRIAN BARE.

QUINN CLARK, 6'5", 205, ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN MONTANA.

>> TOP PLAYER.

>> YEAH IN MONTANA.

HE CAN RUN.

HE CAME TO CAMP, RAN 4.4.

HE'S A LEGACY.

IT MEANS A LOT TO HIM AND HIS FAMILY TO BE A NEBRASKA CORN HUSKER.

>> 29 TOUCHDOWNS OVER HIS SENIOR YEAR.

DEVON HALL WE HAD ON THE SHOW.

WE SAW HIM TAKE HIMSELF OUT OF THE GAME WITH THE ARM INJURY AND ELBOW INJURY HE HAD.

THIS IS AN ATHLETIC KID.

>> ONE OF THE EARLIEST OFFERS FROM NEBRASKA EVER.

IOWA OFFERED HIM THE FIRST GAME OF HIS FRESHMAN YEAR.

>> RIGHT.

HE SCORED THE FIRST GAME.

>> JUST TO MANAGE THAT TYPE OF EXPECTATION AND PRESSURE OVER A HIGH SCHOOL CAREER, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE YOU HAVE A 10 OR 12-YEAR-OLD KID AT HOME.

HE MANAGED THOSE EXPECTATIONS, GOT BIGGER AND STRONGER.

HE'S HERE EARLY.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN GET OUT OF HALL IN THE SPRING.

>> HE HAD THOSE INJURIES AND HAD SOME ISSUES.

I WONDER ABOUT THAT.

ISAIAH McMORRIS, SMALLER, REALLY QUICK.

YOU NEED THESE TWO.

>> YES, YOU DO.

YOU NEED A GUY WHO CAN SMOKESCREEN, GET HIM OUT ON A BUBBLE SCREEN AND MAKE GUYS MISS AND GET VERTICAL.

BILLY CAMP WAS THAT GUY LAST YEAR.

McMORRIS CAN STEP IN AND FILL THAT ROLE.

OBVIOUSLY DEFINITELY A SLOT GUY THAT YOU CAN GET THE BALL TO AND GET VERTICAL REAL QUICK.

>> I WATCHED HIM AGAINST GRETNA.

NO ONE TUMPOUCHED HIM.

>> HE'S QUIETLY PUT TOGETHER AN AMAZING HIGH SCHOOL CAREER.

HE'S GOT A CHANCE TO WIN FOUR CLASS A STATE BASKETBALL TITLES.

HE WAS AT MILLER NORTH AND HE PLAYED ON THOSE TEAMS.

THEN HE WAS AT BELLEVUE WEST.

HIS JUNIOR YEAR HE SET A NEBRASKA RECORD FOR RECEIVING YARDS.

HE'S HAD AN UNBELIEVABLE CAREER.

HE'S A 10.7 GUY IN THE HUNDRED.

SO IS HALL.

HE'S NOT HERE EARLY BECAUSE HE WANTS TO CHASE THAT BASKETBALL DOWN.

>> WITH THE DANIEL KAELIN CONNECTION OF HIM BEING THEIR QUARTERBACK, THAT MAY BE AN AMAZING CONNECTION GOING FORWARD.

KEELAN SMITH IS GOING TO BECOME A TIGHT END, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> IT SAYS 6'2", 205, BUT IN PADS HE LOOKS A LOT BIGGER TO ME.

>> HE'S AN ATHLETE.

HE WAS THE KANSAS CITY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR, HAD A MASSIVE SEASON.

WHEN NEBRASKA TOOK HIM, A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE LIKE, INTERESTING.

>> ANOTHER LEGACY TOO.

>> AND SON OF NEIL SMITH.

HE HAD AS GOOD OF A SENIOR SEASON AS ANYBODY IN THIS RECRUITING CLASS.

>> WOW.

BY THE WAY, HIS DAD COULD HAVE BEEN AN NBA BASKETBALL PLAYER.

EVERYONE THAT WATCHED HIM PLAY SAID SO.

INSTEAD HE WOUND UP BEING BOTH TWO DIFFERENT DECADES WORTH OF PLAYERS.

>> BORDERLINE HALL OF FAME LEVEL FOOTBALL PLAYER.

>> DEFINITELY.

LET'S GO TO THE TIGHT ENDS.

THEY HAVE A BURCH OF THEM IN HOUSE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT IAN FLYNT.

>> ANOTHER BIG BODY.

A TEXAS GUY.

INTERESTING WITH HIS SIZE.

WITH HIM AND ERIC INGWERSON, COULD THESE GUYS POTENTIALLY PUT ON SOME MORE SIZE?

LISTEN, A GUY WHEN I WAS WITH THE 49ERS, JOE STEHLEY CAME TO CENTRAL MICHIGAN AS A TIGHT END, TRANSFERRED AND MOVED TO TACKLE.

HE'S GOING TO BE A HALL OF FAME TACKLE.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S THE CASE.

JUST THINKING OUT LOUD HERE.

>> I LOOK AT THESE BIG GUYS.

THERE'S BLOCKING TIGHT ENDS THEY'RE RECRUITING AND PASS-CATCHING TIGHT ENDS.

LET'S GO TO ERIC INGWERSON AND TALK ABOUT HIM.

>> LEGACY GUY.

HIS TWO UNCLES ARE TIM AND MIKE GREEN, PLAYED WITH JAY BACK IN THE DAY.

6'6", 250.

YOU KNOW, HE COULD EASILY GET TO 270, 280.

HE'S A BASKETBALL PLAYER TOO.

HE KEEPS GOOD FEET, RUNS.

HE WAS COMMITTED TO PITTSBURGH.

YOU KNOW, THEY OFFERED HIM EARLY, COMMITTED EARLY.

THEN NEBRASKA STAYED ON HIM.

THEY WERE ABLE TO FLIP HIM DURING HIS SENIOR SEASON.

BUT A NO-NONSENSE, TOUGH KID.

YOU REALLY LIKE HIS ATTITUDE.

HE WANTS TO BE A HUSKER.

THAT'S THE KEY.

>> I WROTE DOWN NOTES ON ALL THESE GUYS.

ALMOST EVERY ONE OF THEM TWO-SPORT ATHLETES.

IT'S IMPORTANT.

>> IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

IT JUST DEVELOPS OVER PROPRIOCEPTION.

IT'S UNDERSTANDING GROUND FORCES AND PHYSICS AND BODY POSITIONS, SPEED, HAND/EYE COORDINATION.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

URBAN MEYER SAID THEY NEVER RECRUITED A KID UNLESS HE PLAYED TWO SPORTS .

IT'S VASTLY IMPORTANT FOR THESE KIDS TO BE DUAL OR TRIPLE-SPORT ATHLETES.

>> ALSO HELPS WITH INJURY.

IF YOU'RE DOING THE SAME THING, REPETITIVE INJURIES HAPPEN.

WE BURIED THE LEAD.

CARTER NELSON, ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS OF THE STATE.

>> TECHNICALLY THE HIGHEST RATED GUY OF THIS CLASS.

GOT A CHANCE TO SEE CARTER AT THE POLYNESIAN BOWL ALL WEEK ON THAT STAGE.

YOU KNOW, HE MORE THAN HELD HIS OWN.

FOR A GUY PLAYING 11-MAN FOOTBALL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS CAREER, JUST MOVES WELL, HAS GREAT HANDS, AND HE'S A COMPETITOR.

HE WANTED TO WIN.

I DON'T CARE IF THEY WERE PLAYING TUG OF WAR, DODGE BALL OR FOOTBALL.

WHAT HELPED HIM WAS HIS TRACK ACCOLADES.

AS A SOPHOMORE HE HIGH JUMPED 7'0".

THAT WAS A STATE RECORD.

HE ALSO CAN POLE VAULT OVER 14 FEET, AND HE HAS THE SCHOOL RECORD IN THE 200 METER.

HE THROWS THE DISCUSS 170 FEET.

JUST AN UNBELIEVABLE COMBINATION OF ATHLETIC ABILITY.

HE'S A PRETTY GOOD BASKETBALL PLAYER TOO.

>> IT'S REALLY HARD TO JUDGE HIM WHEN HE'S GOING AGAINST GUYS HALF HIS SIZE.

JUST WATCH HOW ATHLETIC HE IS.

>> GETTING AN ATHLETE LIKE THAT THAT'S SO GOOD AT ALL THESE SPORTS AND A COMPETITOR, I THINK PEOPLE ARE LIKE, YOU KNOW, CONVERT IT 8 TO 11.

WE'VE SEEN HIM DO IT IN TWO ALL STAR GAMES THIS WINTER.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN ISSUE.

>> LET'S GO TO THE OFFENSIVE LINE.

GRANT BRIX, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT GETTING HIM HERE?

>> NUMBER ONE PLAYER IN IOWA.

>> I'D BE CURIOUS WHAT HIS WEIGHT IS TODAY, IF HE'S OVER 300.

HE IS VERY PUT TOGETHER.

HE'S AN EARLY ENROLLEE.

HE'S LIKE AN INSTATE GUY IN A LOT OF RESPECTS EVEN THOUGH HE IS IN WESTERN IOWA.

WHERE HE LIVES THERE'S A LOT OF HUSKER FANS.

I JUST THINK HE FELT COMFORTABLE WITH NEBRASKA.

DANIEL KAELIN WAS BIG IN HELPING RECRUIT HIM TO COME TO NEBRASKA OTHER OKLAHOMA AND KANSAS STATE AND SOME OF THOSE TEAMS DOWN THE STRETCH.

>> ONLY THING IS PASS BLOCKING.

NEVER REALLY HAD TO DO IT THERE.

THEY DIDN'T THROW THE BALL MUCH.

HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN THAT.

>> HE LOOKS FANTASTIC COMING OFF THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE.

HIS OFFENSIVE LINE COACHES DID A FANTASTIC JOB WITH HIM.

HE DIDN'T SEE A WHOLE LOT OF THE KICKING BACK THERE AND TAKING ON THE D END.

TRUST ME, I THINK COACH WILL GET THAT HANDLED PRETTY QUICKLY.

>> LANDEN DAVIDSON JUMP EED OUT ON TAPE.

THAT CAN BE A STEAL.

>> COLORADO IS ONE OF THE MORE UNDER RECRUITED STATES IN AMERICA.

MAINLY THE BUFFALOS DECIDE THEY DON'T WANT TO GO THERE.

THERE'S WAY MORE PEOPLE IN COLORADO THAN NEBRASKA AND THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THREE AND FOUR-STAR LEVEL PLAYERS THERE.

THE BUFFALOS, I DON'T THINK TOOK ANY THIS YEAR.

>> NO.

>> I THINK FOR NEBRASKA, YOU CAN GO IN THERE AND FIND A GUY OR TWO LIKE THIS EVERY YEAR.

LANDEN DAVIDSON WENT TO CAMP.

THERE WERE ABOUT SIX OR EIGHT GUYS THAT GO THEIR OFFERS BY A CAMP WORKOUT BY NEBRASKA.

HE WAS ONE OF THEM.

MATT RHULE SAID IF YOU COME TO CAMP AND DO WELL, WE WILL OFFER YOU.

A LOT OF TIMES YOU GO TO CAMP, GET PUT ON THE LIST AND GET SLOW PLAYED.

MATT RHULE MAKES IT A PRIORITY.

THAT'S HOW THEY GOT LANDEN DAVIDSON.

>> LET'S GET IN ON MICAH HIS MAZZCCUA.

HE'S PLAYED AT A COUPLE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, DONE SOME TRANSFERRING.

HE'S CHOOSING TO GO BACK TO THE GUY HE KNEW FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

>> I WAS SURPRISED HE DIDN'T COME HERE LAST YEAR.

HE PICKED FLORIDA.

>> THEN HE REGRETTED IT.

>> I REMEMBER WE HAD OUR COVERAGE READY TO GO THINKING HE'S COMING, AND HE DIDN'T COME.

THAT WAS A BLOW LAST YEAR.

BUT NOW THEY GET HIM.

HE GIVES THEM AN EXPERIENCED 28-GAME TYPE STARTER OVER HIS CAREER.

>> IN HIS STARTS, HE ONLY GAVE UP TOTAL FOUR SACKS IN OVER 1600 SNAPS.

>> HIS PFF GRADE WOULD BE AS GOOD OR BETTER THAN ANYBODY ON THE CURRENT HUSKER ROSTER.

>> HE ONLY GAVE UP SIX QUARTERBACK HITS IN 2100 TOTAL HURRIES AND 69 SNAPS.

>> THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

YEAH.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT JAKE PETERS.

>> YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT A DUAL-SPORT ATHLETIC.

THIS IS AN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN WHO ALSO PLAYS BASKETBALL AND TRACK.

I'VE SEEN SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF HIM.

THERE'S SOME DEVELOPMENT, BUT THIS IS AN ATHLETE.

IN TWO OR THREE YEARS HE'S A GUY THAT'S GOING TO BE RELIED ON HEAVILY TO PROTECT DYLAN RAIOLA.

>> HE WAS OFFERED BY NEBRASKA AT CAMP.

I REMEMBER WHEN HE SHOWED UP.

OH, TYSON TERRY IS HERE.

>> HE LOOKED LIKE AN OLD SCHOOL NEBRASKA RECRUIT.

>> HE REMINDS YOU OF THAT.

YOU WATCH HIM PLAY BASKETBALL.

HE MOVES LIKE JASON ON THAT BASKETBALL.

>> THAT COULD BE A 1984 PHOTO.

LET'S TALK ABOUT GIBSON PYLE.

>> HE PLAYED IN THE ALL AMERICAN BOWL, RECEIVED AN INVITE AFTER PERFORMING WELL AT THE FBU TOP GUN CAMP, WHICH IS KIND OF A FEEDER INTO THE ALL AMERICAN BOWL OUT OF HOUSTON.

NEBRASKA HAD THEIR STLAT CAMPS.

I MET HIM THIS SUMMER.

HE WAS A PRIORITY.

HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PRIORITY BASE COMMITS THAT BUILT THIS CLASS TOGETHER.

ONE THING NEBRASKA WAS KNOWN FOR WAS GOING IN HAWAII AND GETTING THE POLYNESIAN KIDS.

PRESTON TAUMUA IS A HUGE INDIVIDUAL.

>> HE'S A HUGE GET.

THAT HISTORY WITH NEBRASKA, THERE'S A FEW GUYS ON THE ROSTER WHEN I WAS AT NEBRASKA AS WELL ON OFFENSIVE LINE AND DEFENSIVE LINE THAT ARE BRING BACK THE HISTORY.

HE'S A HUGE GET.

>> NUMBER ONE PLAYER IN HAWAII.

>> AND HE'S NASTY.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL OF THE BIG TEN.

THEY'LL THROW A FLAG.

>> HE FITS IN VERY WELL WITH THE PERSONALITY OF DONOVAN RAIOLA.

IT WAS GOOD TO HANG OUT AND WATCH PRESTON PLAY.

>> HE'S GOING TO BE A GOOD ONE IN A COUPLE YEARS.

THAT WAS IT FROM THE OFFENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL.

WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH TO THE DEFENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL.

FIRST, MORE PHOTOS FROM LAST SEASON.

* * >>> WELCOME BACK TO "BIG RED WRAPUP."

IT'S TIME TO CHECK IN ON THE SIDELINE SURVEY.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST WIN OF THE OFF SEASON SO FAR?

IT CONTINUES TO WIN WITH RETAINING TONY WHITE, OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR, 37%, GETTING DYLAN RAIOLA 36%, BRINGING BACK KEY PLAYERS, 2%.

TIME TO TALK SOME DEFENSE NOW.

WE START OFF IN THE ONE AREA THAT I THOUGHT WAS A LITTLE -- WEAK IS NOT THE WORD, JUST NOT ENOUGH GUYS.

BUT IT WORKED OUT PRETTY WELL.

LET'S TALK ABOUT ASHTON MURPHY.

>> LAST YEAR EVERY GUY THEY TOOK ALMOST PANNED OUT.

ASHTON MURPHY WAS A PRIORITY EARLY GUY, WEIGHT ROOM LEADER, REALLY LEAN.

YOU ALMOST LIKE THE FACT THAT HE'S 225-235ISH BECAUSE YOU WANT HIM TO DEVELOP AND BUILD THE RIGHT WAY.

HE WAS THE LEADER OF THAT WEIGHT ROOM, THROWS THE SHOT PUT 55-PLUS FEET.

HE'S NOT JUST A FOOTBALL PLAYER.

HIM AND MAVERICK NOONAN WAS A TEAMMATE OF HIS.

>> HE'S GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN THE WEIGHT ROOM TO GET BIGGER.

WE SAW AGAINST WEST SIDE HE HAD TROUBLE AGAINST A PRETTY GOOD OFFENSIVE LINE.

AND THEN KEONA WILHITE, TALENTED KID.

HE'S BIGGER THAN 230.

HIS ARMS GO DOWN TO HIS KNEES, BY THE WAY.

>> HE WAS COMMITTED TO WASHINGTON.

LOST THEIR HEAD COACH.

AT ONE TIME HE WAS COMMITTED TO ARIZONA.

THEY LOST THEIR HEAD COACH.

HE'S HAD SOME BAD LUCK.

NEBRASKA JUST CAME IN AND WOWED HIM WITH THE STABILITY THAT THEY HAVE HERE AT THE PROGRAM.

>> DO YOU KNOW YOUR WINGSPAN?

>> I HAVE NO IDEA.

>> HIS IS 80 1/2.

>> THAT'S LONG.

>> THAT'S VERY LONG.

>> THIS IS A GUY THAT'S PERFECTLY FIT FOR THIS 3-3-5 DEFENSE.

OBVIOUSLY EVERYONE PLAYS ALL OVER THE LINE, BUT THAT'S THAT PERFECT FOUR GETTING OFF TACKLES AND MAKING PLAYS.

>> NEBRASKA HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT CLASSES THAT GUYS HAVE PLAYED PRETTY WELL.

>> IT'S OPEN GROUND.

IT'S A BIG 12 STATE NOW.

>> LET'S GET TO WILLIS McGAHEE.

HE'S AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE AS AN END.

HE IS QUICK, EXPLOSIVE.

I KNOW HE'S ONLY 6'1", 230, BUT HE PLAYS BIGGER.

>> BIG TIME PROGRAM, CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS IN THE MIAMI AREA.

GIVE FIPHILLIP SIMPSON AND COACHING STAFF AT NEBRASKA A LOT OF CREDIT FOR KIND OF KEEPING THEM IN THIS CLASS.

HE'S BEEN AS COMMITTED AS ANYBODY IN THIS 2024 HUSKER CLASS.

>> HE USES HIS HANDS WELL.

HE'S GOT DIFFERENT MOVES FOR A HIGH SCHOOL KID.

EVERY TIME HE GETS TO THE QUARTERBACK, HE KNOCKS THE BALL OUT OF THEIR HANDS.

>> WE ALL KNOW WHO HIS POPS WAS.

YOU'D THINK HE WOULD BE A RUNNING BACK, BUT NOPE.

HE'S VIOLENT.

>> HE IS.

>> VIOLENT, VERY WELL COACHED.

HE HAS A LOT OF TOOLS IN THE TOOLBOX.

>> HE'S GOING TO BE A GOOD PLAYER.

VINCENT SHAVERS.

>> HE WAS COMMITTED TO THE MIAMI HURRICANES FOR MOST OF THE PROCESS.

THEN THE WEEK OF SIGNING DAY OR MID DECEMBER, MIAMI KIND OF TOYED AROUND AND KIND OF GAVE THEM AN EXCUSE ABOUT THEIR NUMBER SITUATION AND NEBRASKA CAME IN WITH THE PHILLIP SIMPSON CONNECTION IN FLORIDA AND EVAN COOPER, THEY WERE ABLE TO GET SHAVERS ON CAMPUS FOR A VISIT AFTER HE WAS A LONGTIME HURRICANE COMMIT.

THEY HAD TO FLIP THE PAPERWORK QUICK TO GET HIM ON CAMPUS.

NOW HE'S HERE ON CLASSES.

>> AN EXAMPLE OF ANOTHER GUY THAT'S REALLY EXPLOSIVE.

GREAT LAST NAME.

IT'S WEIRD THAT THESE GUYS AREN'T GOING TO MIAMI OR FLORIDA OR FLORIDA STATE.

THERE'S SO MANY SCHOOLS IN FLORIDA.

NEBRASKA GETS THEM.

THAT'S AWESOME.

>> ON PAPER, IT SAYS HE'S 6'1".

HE'S LONG, VERY LONG ARMS AND OBVIOUSLY SPEED AND ATHLETICISM.

>> LET'S GO TO STEFON THOMPSON FROM SYRACUSE.

>> PLAYED WITH TONY WHITE IN SYRACUSE, STARTED AS A FRESHMAN THERE, STUCK AROUND SYRACUSE HIS LAST YEAR.

THEY HAD A COACHING CHANGE.

HE'LL COME IN WITH TWO YEARS OF ELIGIBILI ELIGIBILITY.

YOU LOOK AT THAT LINEBACKER POSITION, LUKE RHYMER GONE, GARRETT SNODGRASS BACK WAS BIG.

I THINK WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PRIORITIES IN THE TRANSFER PORTAL, GETTING A VETERAN LINEBACKER LIKE THOMPSON WAS A BIG ONE.

>> HE STARTED AS A TRUE FRESHMAN AT SYRACUSE, ONE OF ONLY TEN GUYS EVER TO START THE SEASON AS A FRESHMAN.

>> DID McNABB START AS A FRESHMAN?

>> I DON'T BELIEVE SO, NOT THE FIRST GAME.

MARVIN HARRISON MIGHT HAVE STARTED AS A FRESHMAN.

CALEB BENNING, PHENOMENAL ATHLETE, GREAT KID.

OBVIOUSLY WE'RE BIASED ON THE SHOW HERE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT HIS DAD.

BEEN FUN TO SEE HIM LAST YEAR, HIS JUNIOR SEASON.

HE GOT HURT AND HAS BEEN ABLE TO COME BACK AND HAVE A BIG ROLE IN THAT CLASS A FINAL GOAL A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

GREAT GAME.

GUY CAN DO IT ALL.

GREAT ATHLETE.

>> BEST TACKLING HIGH SCHOOL PLAY I'VE EVER SEEN.

>> JUST HIS INSTINCTS FOR THE GAME SEPARATE HIM.

HE'S NOT GOING TO WIN TRACK COMPETITIO COMPETITIONS, BUT HIS INSTINCTS BRING HIM OVER THE TOP.

>> MARIO BUFORD, I GUESS YOU CALL HIM A LEGACY BECAUSE HIS BROTHER IS HERE.

5'11", 170.

HE'S SO GOOD.

>> I THINK HE'S SET UP TO COMPETE FOR PLAYING TIME VERY EARLY IN HIS CAREER.

TOMMY HILL GRADUATES SOON.

HE'S PUT HIMSELF UP TO COME IN HERE AND HAVE A CHANCE TO COMPETE.

MATT RHULE LOVED MARIO BUFORD.

HE'S THE HIGHEST RANKED DEFENSIVE BACK IN WHAT IS THE LARGEST DEFENSIVE BACK CLASS I'VE EVER SEEN AT NEBRASKA.

>> I'VE SEEN HIM KNOCK AT LEAST FOUR GUYS COMPLETELY OFF THEIR CLEATS.

HE'S NOT BIG, BUT HE'S PHYSICAL.

ON AN ISLAND, HE'S A GREAT QUARTERBACK.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HE PLAYS BIGGER THAN HE IS.

>> THE OTHER GUY WHO I LIKE A LOT IS ROGER GRADNEY.

FIRST OF ALL, AS A KICKOFF RETURNER, HE'S DYNAMIC.

AS SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS THE JET AWARD, LOVE THAT.

I BELIEVE HE HAD FOUR KICKOFF RETURNS.

>> AND HE HAD A HIP INJURY THAT PUT HIS RECRUITING IN JEOPARDY.

NEBRASKA CAME IN AND GOT HIM EARLY.

THEY KIND OF BET ON GRADNEY BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE DID.

THEN HE GOT HIS RANKING AND STAYED COMMITTED.

YOU TALK ABOUT McGAHEE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE LIKE, MAN, GRADNEY IS A GUY THEY TOOK EARLY.

YOU SEE THE ATHLETIC ABILITY.

HE'S GOT A GREAT FRAME THAT COULD GROW INTO MAYBE A LINEBACKER.

>> EASILY.

YOU CAN TAKE A TIGHT END PROVING THE TACKLE.

YOU CAN MOVE THEM UP THERE OR A REEL LIKE ISAAC GIFFORD WHO CAN PLAY IN THE BOX AND BE VERY PHYSICAL.

>> REX GUTHRIE TOO OUT OF COLORADO.

NEBRASKA OFFERED REX OUT OF CAMP.

ANOTHER GUY THAT DIDN'T COME IN WITH ANY OFFERS.

CAME IN WITH NOTHING ON THE TABLE AND JUST BALLED OUT.

NEBRASKA WOULD THINK HE'S VERY SIMILAR TO CADEN VERMOSS.

>> NOT ONLY DID HE PLAY TWO SPORTS, HE RAN 100 METERS, HE RAN THE 200, HE TRIPLE JUMPED AND THREW THE DISCUSS.

HE'S INCREDIBLE.

REX GUTHRIE TACKLES LIKE A GROWN MAN.

HE LIFTS GUYS OFF THEIR FEET.

THIS DRONE VIDEO FOR THE HIGHLIGHTS IS INCREDIBLE.

WATCH HIM PLAY.

HE'S ALREADY MORE ADVANCED THAN MOST GUYS YOU'LL SEE AS A TACKLE.

>> HE BATTLED AN INJURY HIS SENIOR SEASON, BUT HIS INTENSITY -- AND HE'S A GUY WITH A 36 INCH VERTICAL.

>> 106 TACKLES HIS JUNIOR YEAR AS A HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER.

THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

HE'S STILL 109.

BLYE HILL.

>> A DMV GUY FROM THAT D.C., MARYLAND, VIRGINIA AREA, PLAYED IN BALTIMORE FOR HIS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

HIS FATHER WAS A FORMER NFL LINEBACKER, TEN PLUS YEARS IN THE LEAGUE.

BLYE HILL, GREAT LENGTH.

HE'S A FOUR TO THE PLAY THREE.

THIS IS KIND OF A LONG PLAY TRANSFER.

THIS IS A GUY THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET HIM FOR FOUR YEARS IN THIS PROGRAM TO PLAY THREE.

>> LONG WINGSPAN, LONG TORSO.

HE'S GOING TO PUT ON 15 MORE POUNDS.

MAYBE HE'S A HARD-HITTING, STARTING SAFETY.

>> TOMMY HILL, I DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS QUITE 6'3".

YOU SEE A LOT OF NFL GUYS LIKE SAUCE GARDNER THAT HAVE THAT LONG TYPE OF BODY.

THAT'S HOW THE GAME HAS EVOLVED.

>> HE WASN'T THE BEST PLAYER IN THE METRO BUT EVERYTHING WAS SOLID.

>> HE WILLED HIS WAY TO A HUSKER OFFER.

HE CAME TO A FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS CAMP.

I DON'T THINK HE WAS ON THE RADAR THAT NIGHT TO GET AN OFFER.

HE MADE THEM OFFER HIM WITH THE WAY HE PERFORMED.

THE HUSKER COACHING STAFF JUST ALL GRAVITATED THAT NIGHT TO DONOVAN JONES.

THEY REALLY LOVE HIS ATTITUDE.

HE HAD A GREAT CAMP.

A BIG GUY TO GET FROM THE OMAHA METRO AREA.

GREAT FAMILY THEY'RE BRINGING INTO THE PROGRAM.

>> GREAT INSTINCTS AND ANOTHER TRACK GUY WITH SPEED WO.S BRAYLEN PRUDE.

>> I SAW HIM THE NIGHT HE GOT HIS OFFER IN HOUSTON AT THE SATELLITE CAMP AND WAS NOT ON THE RADAR AT ALL FOR ANYBODY.

6'5", 190.

THERE WERE TONS OF TALENTED GUYS AT THIS CAMP.

THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW MATT RHULE SAID I'M DOING TO OFFER THIS GUY.

HE WALKED OVER AND OFFERED HIM A SCHOLARSHIP IN HOUSTON THAT NIGHT.

>> PLAYING LINEBACKER HE HAD TO TEAM A LOT WITH GUYS BLOCKING HIM.

GOOD HANDS.

>> IT TOLY.

TH 6'5" IS AN IMPRESSIVE FRAME.

MATT RHULE SAID IF THEY'RE BIG, I'M LOOKING AT THEM.

OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS THE CASE, BUT BIG, LONG ATHLETIC AND CAN PLAY WITH TECHNIQUE AND GET HIS NOSE IN THE BALL.

>> ANOTHER GUY AMARE SANDERS.

>> HE HELD OUT ALL THE WAY TO DECEMBER AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET HIM.

I THINK THE EVAN COOPER, PHILLIP SIMPSON MIAMI COMBO WAS BIG.

THERE'S A BIG GROUP OF MIAMI KIDS IN THIS CLASS WHICH WE HIGHLIGHTED.

IT'S A FOREIGN LAND IF YOU'RE FROM MIAMI.

YOU'VE GOT A GROUP OF THESE GUYS COMING UP TOGETHER.

I THINK THAT WILL MAKE THE TRANSITION EASIER.

>> IT'S A GOOD POINT.

LARRY TARVER IN THREE YEARS, 15 INTERCEPTIONS.

EVERY HIGHLIGHT IS A PICK.

HE HAD FIVE PICKS AS A SENIOR AND TEN MORE AS A JUNIOR AND SOPHOMORE.

IN THREE YEARS HE HAD 15 INTERCEPTIONS.

>> THAT'S A KILL.

WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PROPRIOCEPTION.

SOME GUYS HAVE THAT KNACK, AN ED REED TYPE OF PLAYER AS A POTENTIAL COMP.

ALWAYS AROUND THE BALL AND HAS INSTINCTS TO GET IN THE WAY OF IT.

>> I GIVE YOU A NEBRASKA COMP WITH JOHN GOMES.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF TARVER?

>> THEY JUST KEPT GROWING THIS CLASS.

HE WAS A GUY THEY ADDED LATE.

I THINK MATT RHULE IS IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING ROOM FOR GOOD PLAYERS.

TARVER WILL MAKE NEBRASKA BETTER.

>> HE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.

THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THEY BROUGHT GUYS IN AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, JUST PUT THEM IN A SPOT.

>> DON'T OVERTHINK HARRISON PHILIPS.

>> RIGHT.

LET'S GET TO SOME OF THE QUESTIONS FROM FACEBOOK.

ROBERT WELLER ASKED WHAT IS THE STATUS OF STADIUM UPGRADES.

>> I THINK WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW IS WHAT'S THE PLAN.

THERE'S 22,500 PEOPLE THAT SIT IN THE SOUTH END ZONE.

THAT'S A GOOD CHUNK OF YOUR GRASSROOTS FAN BASE DOWN THERE IN THE SOUTH END ZONE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THAT SOUTH.

THIS WILL BE THE LAST YEAR OF SOUTH THAN WE THINK.

FOR '25 IT WILL BE GONE AND PROBABLY '26 TOO.

>> IT'S GREAT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO FIX IT UP BUT I FEEL SO BAD FOR THEM.

>> I HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT HAVE BEEN THERE A LOT.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

I SAID YOU'LL HAVE SEATS FOR '24, I KNOW THAT.

AFTER THAT, IT'S GOING TO BE UP IN THE AIR.

>> I THINK THE BIGGEST THING IS THE EAST AND THE WEST AND THE SOUTH LOVE CHAIR BACKS.

AUTOMATICALLY THAT'S GOING TO CUT CAPACITY 15 TO 20% IF NOT MORE IN THAT PART OF THE STADIUM.

THE NORTH, THOUGH, THEY CAN'T PUT CHAIRBACKS IN BECAUSE THEY WANT TO TEAR IT ALL DOWN.

JIM ASKED HOW DO YOU GET PAST TO THE SCHOLARSHIP LIMIT.

>> PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS SO INTERESTED IN WHO'S OFF THE BOAT.

>> WE DON'T BELIEVE IN THAT.

>> MATT RHULE HAS UNTIL THE END OF THE SPRING TO MOVE PLAYERS ON.

THEY GIVE THEM THE OPTION LIKE, HEY, YOU CAN STAY HERE ON SCHOLARSHIP AT NEBRASKA AS A STUDENT OR GO IN THE PORTAL.

ANY PLAYER THAT THEY DID NOT SIGN, THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT WITH BASICALLY UNTIL THE END OF THE SPRING.

>> THE CUT DOWN HAPPENS IN THE FALL.

>> I WOULD SAY THE CUT DOWN WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN IF THERE'S SOME PLAYERS THAT MOVE ON IN MAY.

THE PORTAL IS OPEN APRIL 15th THROUGH APRIL 30th.

THAT'S ONLY THREE DAYS AFTER THE BRI SPRING GAME.

>> I IMAGINE THERE COULD BE SOME GUYS THAT ENTER THE PORTAL IN THE LAST WEEK OF SPRING BALL.

>> ANY RECRUITS YOU THINK WILL PLAY RIGHT AWAY?

>> OBVIOUSLY RAIOLA.

I THINK YOU LOOK AT THOSE TRANSFERS THAT ARE COMING IN FROM OTHER SCHOOLS.

JUST BECAUSE OF INJURIES, YOU NEED SOME DEPTH AT THAT WIDE RECEIVER SPOT.

>> I'M LOOKING FOR GAVIN'S QUESTION.

IN THE TERMS OF THE WAY SPECIAL TEAMS IS SET UP FOR NEBRASKA, WILL THEY HAVE RETURNERS?

>> THEY SHOULD.

IT'S SO HARD TO RETURN PUNTS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL WITH THE RUGBY PUNTING.

CAN YOU GET A COMPETENT ATHLETE BACK THERE THAT CAN MAKE PLAYS?

YOU FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOME ON THIS FILM TONIGHT THAT WE WATCHED.

>> WE HAD MORE PUNT RETURNS AND KICKOFFS AS A NATION LAST YEAR THAN ANY OF THE YEARS BEFORE THAT.

ALL THE RULES ARE AGAINST BRIGGSING BABRIGGS I -- BRINGING BACK KICKOFFS AND PUNTS.

>> WE'LL BE BACK.

THE NSA BOWLING CHAMPIONS ARE THIS SATURDAY FEBRUARY 10th AT 8 A.M. AND THEN TUNE INTO THE NSA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP LIVE AT 3 P.M. CENTRAL ON FEBRUARY 24th.

BE SURE TO CATCH THE OMAHA SUPERNOVAS VERSUS THE ORLANDO VALKYRIES FEBRUARY 19th AT 5 P.M. CENTRAL.

THAT WILL DO IT FOR US.

I'M MIKE'L SEVERE.

WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE NEXT YEAR ON "BIG RED WRAPUP."

*