Recruit Poaching is a part of college football recruiting, it always will be. Every year college teams swoop in and steal recruits from other teams to bolster their own class and try to keep other teams from doing the same to them. Nebraska and coach Mike Riley understand this area of recruiting very well as they have already experienced both sides, flipping Wide Receiver prospect Derrion Grim from Boise State to Nebraska and losing running back commit Aphonso Thomas to the SMU Mustangs. Now that the season is over and the hammer is being dropped on coaching staffs across the country, countless recruits are wavering on their commitment and are ripe for the picking. Here are the top 10 prospects that could be ditching their current team to join the Huskers.
#1: Jacob Eason: Quarterback, #1 Pro-Style QB in the nation, current team: Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity just gave Mike Riley an early Christmas present, as his decision to fire Mark Richt may have given Nebraska an opening to steal the top quarterback recruit in the country away from the Bulldogs. Eason, a native of Lake Stevens, Washington, committed to the Bulldogs in July of 2014 and was expected to enroll early to partake in spring practice. Eason had a good relationship with Mike Riley when Riley was the coach at Oregon State, but had decided to join the Bulldogs. Rumors that he may be looking around started when Mike Bobo, Georgia’s former offensive coordinator, left to join Colorado State. Eason reaffirmed his commitment to Georgia, but his father did list Nebraska as a possible spot if things at Georgia don’t work out. With Mark Richt and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer now seeking employment elsewhere, it is very likely that Eason will be on the move. While Nebraska does have a previous connection with Eason, he is far from a sure thing. Nebraska will have to beat out all the big boys for Eason’s commitment, including an LSU team that just lost its quarterback for the 2016 class. It’s a bit of a long shot but hey, Husker fans can dream right?
#2: Andre Anthony: Defensive End, #21 Weak-Side Defensive End in the nation, current team: LSU Tigers
If 2015 proved anything, it’s that Nebraska is in desperate need of some defensive ends. Ross Dzuris and Jack Gangwish played hard, but the pair of former walk-ons simply couldn’t generate consistent pass rush this season. Enter Andre Anthony, an explosive edge rusher out of New Orleans, who is arguably the top defensive line prospect in the state of Louisiana. Anthony has been committed to LSU since June but has been clear from the beginning that he plans to take all five of his visits. Anthony has listed Nebraska, Oregon, Florida, Auburn, and Alabama as schools that he is interested in visiting. One thing Nebraska has going for it right now is that Stanley Morgan and Tyrin Ferguson, both New Orleans natives and Husker footballers, know Anthony and have been leaning on him to join them. This recruiting story will likely go all the way up to signing day, so stay tuned.
#3: Desmond Fitzpatrick: Wide Receiver, #59 Wide Receiver in the nation, former team: Louisville Cardinals
This one feels like it’s been a long time coming. Fitzpatrick, a Waterford, Michigan native, had been committed to the Louisville Cardinals for over a year before reopening his recruitment last Saturday. His decision to break things off with Louisville came directly after he visited Nebraska for their 39-38 shocker over Michigan State. Fitzpatrick was blown away by the game-day atmosphere and had a blast during his stay, putting the Huskers firmly in the lead for his commitment. Fitzpatrick has stated that he is looking to take at least one more visit, possibly to Washington State, but as of right now, Nebraska is the heavy favorite to land Michigan’s Gatorade player of the year finalist.
#4: Jaleel Laguins: Linebacker, #30 Outside Linebacker in the nation, current team: Georgia Bulldogs
Nebraska has been after this kid FOREVER. Nebraska hosted Laguins this spring and the linebacker greatly enjoyed his visit to Lincoln. But an offer from Georgia was too much for him to pass up, so he committed. Despite that commitment, Laguins remained open to other schools, as he visited Nebraska for their game against Wisconsin and visited Kentucky over Halloween. Laguins has been high on Trent Bray’s wish list for a very long time, and an extra spot has opened in Nebraska’s class with former Husker commit William Johnson flipping to UAB. Nebraska is in good position with this one.
#5: David Reese: Linebacker, #23 Inside Linebacker in the nation, current team: Michigan Wolverines
David Reese was a relatively unheralded recruit when he pledged to the Wolverines back in April, but his stock skyrocketed due to a tremendous senior season which led to Nebraska, Florida, and Texas joining the hunt for him. Reese also began looking around when Michigan didn’t provide him the opportunity to enroll early to take part in spring practice, so most assume that he will not be a Michigan commit for much longer. Nebraska hosted Reese for their win over Michigan State and is likely going to receive a commitment from Reese’s close friend, Desmond Fitzpatrick. While they have a lot going for them, it seems that Florida may be the team to beat for Reese’s signature, as he had a blast during his visit for the Florida State game. Reese still has a visit to Texas scheduled, so this recruiting battle is far from over. Watch for updates.
#6: Noah Fant: Tight End/Defensive End, #36 Weak-Side Defensive End in the nation, current team: Iowa Hawkeyes
When Noah Fant committed to the Iowa Hawkeyes in August, it stung Nebraska fans. Fant was considered to be the best pure athlete in the state of Nebraska and had seen his recruiting stock explode after a tremendous showing on the summer camp circuit. Luckily the door doesn’t seem to be shut on Fant just yet, as Nebraska hosted the talented prospect for their game against Wisconsin and are currently trying to get him on campus for an official visit in December. One thing helping the Huskers cause is the open slot at the tight end position with Jared Bubak now committed to Arizona State. Iowa, on the other hand, has three tight ends currently committed to them and may need to drop one to accommodate the recent addition of Shaun Beyer. UCLA and Vanderbilt are also contenders to swoop in and steal the Omaha South star.
#7: Kyzir White: Strong Safety, #17 JUCO prospect in the nation, current team: West Virginia Mountaineers
This one may seem like a strange addition since Nebraska hasn’t offered White, but bear with me. During Nebraska’s BYE week almost the entire coaching staff was on the road recruiting, and Hank Hughes stopped by Lackawanna Community College to see the talented safety. White has stated that he would be interested in visiting the Huskers if they offered, and the rumors of Dana Holgerson being a front runner for the Miami (FL) job likely have him looking at new destination for school. While Nebraska is interested in White, they are likely withholding an offer until fellow JUCO safety Markell Simmons decides between the Huskers, Utah, and TCU.
#8: Royce Newman: Offensive Tackle, #16 prospect in the state of Illinois, current team: Missouri Tigers
Nebraska moved quickly when they lost the recruiting battle for Tremayne Anchrum, offering Nashville, Illinois native Royce Newman. Newman had been committed to the Missouri Tigers since June, but Gary Pinkel’s retirement, due to being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, has led him to start looking around. To reel in Newman, Nebraska will have to beat out Illinois and their newly minted head coach Bill Cubit, who was awarded the head coach job for the Illini after holding the team together after Tim Beckman’s firing.
#9: D’Andre Christmas-Giles: Defensive Tackle, current team: Tennessee Volunteers
Nebraska is in a weird position when it comes to recruiting defensive tackles. On one hand, they have no defensive tackles that are out of eligibility now that Kevin Williams has been granted a 6th season by the NCAA. On the other hand, both Malik Collins and Vincent Valentine are planning to file paperwork to get a better gauge on their draft status, so Nebraska is looking to add at least one defensive tackle just to be on the safe side. Christmas-Giles may be the D-tackle they decide to go after, as Nebraska has been steadily recruiting the New Orleans native for a couple months now. Christmas-Giles remains committed to Tennessee, but has expressed interest in visiting both Nebraska and Arkansas. One thing Nebraska has going for it is current Husker wide receiver Stanley Morgan was a teammate of Christmas-Giles at St. Augustine high school.
#10: Cameron Goode: Linebacker, current team: California Golden Bears
Nebraska has already swiped one California commit this year, as they convinced Marquel Dismukes to flip his commitment in June, and are looking to go back to the well one more time for Cameron Goode. A native of Houston, Texas, Goode was offered by Nebraska in October and struck up a good relationship with linebacker coach Trent Bray. Goode recently announced that he would be visiting Lincoln two weeks from now, and many expect the Klein Collins linebacker to flip to the Huskers afterwards.
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