Steven Sipple: Nation’s top-ranked OT and his Mater Dei High School teammate have Husker fans California dreamin’
Nate Frazier, the top-ranked high school running back in the state of California, obviously loves the sport of football. So, he surely would fit in Nebraska’s program and in our football-adoring state, right?
Go ahead, Husker fans, do some California dreamin’.
Frazier made an unofficial visit to Nebraska’s campus this weekend as part of mega-recruiting weekend for the new Husker staff. He’s already received his fair share of attention from Husker fans who desperately want to have a top-10 program again. Same goes for his teammate at powerhouse Mater Dei High School, Brandon Baker, the top-ranked offensive tackle in the nation in the On3 Industry rankings.
Baker also was on-hand for Nebraska’s mega-weekend.
California dreamin’, on such a lovely day.
“I know when I’ve got a run play to his side, I know I’m going to have an open hole,” said the 5-foot-11, 195-pound Frazier, a consensus four-star player in the class of 2024.
Nebraska fans long for powerful rushing attack
Nebraska fans long for the days when Husker running backs consistently ran through open holes behind dominant offensive lines. That stuff doesn’t happen by magic, as Husker fans have learned (the hard way) in recent years. Yes, it absolutely helps to have highly ranked players in the system. A lot of them. We see it at other places. Georgia and Alabama offer undeniable proof.
Georgia, by the way, offered Frazier a scholarship Thursday.
Nebraska, though, is making an admirable push in trying to lure Frazier and Baker and some more of the nation’s top players. That’s what this past weekend represented, with 20-some recruits making unofficial visits. It showcases new Husker head coach Matt Rhule’s aggression. Heaven knows NU needs a shot of recruiting aggression. Rhule seemingly knows what it’s going to take to win big in the mega-conference that is the Big Ten.
It’s going to require highly rated players like Frazier and Baker.
You’re never going to get them to Nebraska if you don’t try. You’re certainly never going to land them in your program if you don’t bring them to Lincoln and show them around. Give Rhule and his staff ample credit in that regard.
California dreamin’ is sort of fun, isn’t it?
“I’m going to be honest with Husker fans, man: When I first came here, I was like, ‘Nebraska Cornhuskers, there’s going to be cornfields everywhere,’” Frazier told HuskerOnline.
“Don’t dislike me, Husker fans,” he added with a grin.
Oh, they won’t. Especially when they learn that Frazier did his research. Turns out, he knows a few things about Nebraska’s running back tradition.
Plus, “I saw the view of the city and the stadium and stuff like that,” he said. “It’s not just all cornfields. As far as Nebraska (as a program), it’s exceeded my expectations. It’s crazy. Everything out here is what I like. The fan base is crazy. Everything is amazing out here.”
Safe to say Rhule made a strong impression on Frazier.
“He gave us (recruits) some wise words that you can use for motivation,” Frazier said. “He gave us words that could change your life. That means a lot to me.”
Brandon Baker sees chemistry on Matt Rhule’s staff
Safe to say Rhule and his staff also made a strong impression on Baker.
“Coach Rhule has definitely brought a very strategic, very intentional staff around him,” said the 6-5, 285-pounder, who has a cerebral way about him.
Baker likes Rhule’s emphasis on developing student-athletes not just as players, but as young men.
He also likes the chemistry that’s evident in Rhule’s coaching staff.
“I would say this staff gels really well, honestly one of the best I’ve seen thus far,” Baker said. “I think a key part of that is coach Matt brings a lot of his ex-players in.
“They have good chemistry just off the bat.”
Tell me this California dreamin’ isn’t kind of fun, Husker fans. But this is where we should include reality in the discussion. Nebraska is a long shot to land Frazier and an even bigger long shot to land Baker.
Oregon is regarded as the favorite to Baker. After all, his brother, Gary Baker, played defensive line in the Ducks’ program from 2015 to 2019. Brandon Baker in the past has called Oregon his “dream school.”
But maybe just maybe other teams — yes, including Nebraska — have legitimate hope in the pursuit of Baker. Last month, Oregon lost its offensive line coach, Adrian Klemm, to the New England Patriots.
“I was just kind of surprised, not gonna lie,” Baker told Ducks Digest regarding Klemm’s departure. “But honestly it kind of opened my eyes to the whole recruitment process, really because prior to that I would say Oregon was in a really good spot.
“They still are, but I would say for sure Oregon was one of the top schools throughout my entire recruiting process up until that point.”
Dream big, Nebraska fans, but also be realistic
Hmmm. Interesting. If you’re a Nebraska fan, you must understand Baker is a long way from making a final decision. Go ahead, dream big, Husker fans. But be cautious. Be realistic. Baker plans to make a couple official visits this summer and perhaps a couple during the fall, and maybe one more after the football season.
The key, of course, is Nebraska getting Baker back on campus for an official visit.
It’s possible Nebraska worked its way into that conversation by making a good impression on Baker.
No question, Rhule has come out swinging in the recruiting realm.
He clearly made a big impression on Frazier.
He gave us words that could change your life.
Chad Simmons of On3 recently reported that Nebraska, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington are among the schools that have made a lasting impression Frazier. There are others, he says.
He’ll take more visits and thoroughly size up schools.
Strong academics are critical to him, and he’s aware of Nebraska’s tradition of producing academic All-Americans.
“If you don’t graduate from Nebraska, you literally put zero effort into it,” Frazier said. “You just didn’t try.”
The excitement in his eyes was evident.
Go ahead, do some California dreamin’, Husker fans.
And perhaps thank Rhule for his aggressiveness.
The post Steven Sipple: Nation’s top-ranked OT and his Mater Dei High School teammate have Husker fans California dreamin’ appeared first on On3.
