Exclusive Tunnel Talk: 5/31/2024
Welcome to the latest edition of HuskerOnline.com’s most popular member feature, Tunnel Talk. Our staff gives you the latest inside information on Nebraska football, basketball, volleyball, and recruiting.
Now, on to the scoop…
Callahan’s weekly nuggets
***Five-star offensive lineman David Sanders not having a Nebraska hat in the picture he took at the On3 Elite Series in Nashville this week was a tough blow to Husker fans.
However, NU has only been recruiting him for about a month. He was not in the picture for the Huskers until quarterback Dylan Raiola initiated contact with him. The two connected when Raiola committed to the Bulldogs.
Unfortunately, when Sanders visited Nebraska in May, Raiola was not in Lincoln to attend his sister’s college graduation. Another telling nugget is that Nebraska could not get down to visit Sanders in May at his school. They attempted to get there multiple times after his official, but none of the dates worked for his schedule.
***I was talking to a Texas insider this week about Isaiah Neyor. He said many people internally were surprised the Longhorns didn’t give him more of an opportunity in Austin to play after his knee injury. He said behind the scenes, Neyor looked as talented as any receiver the Longhorns had on the roster.
***Michael Terry III is the definition of a Matt Rhule recruiting. We hear Rhule talk so much about positionless players. That’s precisely what Terry is. He can play everything from wide receiver and running back to defensive athlete. He’s got the ability to move all over.
Speaking of positionless athletes, wide receiver Quinn Clark also fits that profile. He’s slotted to play wideout today, but his size and athletic ability allow him to move around. He could even play on defense.
***We will not see head coach Matt Rhule at the satellite camps in Texas this year, but NU is expected to have most of its 10 full-time assistant coaches in Belton and Houston on June 3-4. An interesting twist with the camp in Houston is that UTEP, the Huskers’ first opponent of 2024, is also working at the event.
***Speaking of UTEP, their opener with the Big Red will be on FOX at 2:30 p.m. CT on Aug. 31. They also played on FOX to begin the 2022 season at Oklahoma.
***Some very interesting data was shared at the On3 Elite Series event. We now put so much emphasis on NIL, but On3 shared some eye-opening data on the biggest NIL contracts they know of for college vs. professional players.
QB – $3.5 million compared to $135 million in the NFL
DE – $2.5 million compared to $55 million in the NFL
WR – $2 million compared to $56 million in the NFL
What they were trying to say is yes, there’s a lot of money out there for them to get, but that should not be their only focus, as there is so much more out there, which is why picking the right school is important to help you develop into the best you can be.
***Something else the experts told the prospects in the room was to keep their financial information private. “Now is not the time to show how much money are making. You should only be worried about growing it.”
***Will Compton had a pretty funny joke to start his presentation in Nashville. “I’m rooting for you guys, but I hope you go to Nebraska. If you want to speak with Coach Rhule right now, I can get him on FaceTime after I’m done.”
*** Currently, NIL is broken up into brand and roster value deals. Around 80 to 90 percent of NIL for football and basketball players is strictly collective-driven roster value deals that pay guaranteed amounts. You don’t see nearly as much true brand value in NIL deals.
***30+ states now allow high school prospects to make money off of their own NIL. States like North Carolina and Texas, for example, do not. So those athletes would lose their eligibility at the high school level if they collected any NIL deal, even if it was their own personal brand and not a payment from a collective.
***The Fall of 2025 is when you will begin to see schools get directly involved in being able to pay athletes with the $22 million cap that’s been established. However, collectives will still be able to exist, and that will continue to be a separator. Nobody has any answers on how that money will be divided between the different sports.
-Sean Callahan
As Sipple sees (and hears) it
***A friend of mine in the coaching business reminded me Thursday of what Bo Pelini told me in November of 2014, before Nebraska fired him. He said if NU gets rid of him, the program will go down quickly and won’t recover.
My friend noted that Pelini’s glum projection occurred before the coming of N.I.L.
Wonder what Bo would say now that the landscape has changed so dramatically?
***A college men’s basketball insider told me something this week that underscores the uphill battle that places like Nebraska face. Sure, Fred Hoiberg benefits from a strong N.I.L. program at NU. But the insider noted that many elite players continue to go to the “name-brand” programs for less money simply because they want to play for the brand and play with other elite players.
***The insider said there’s no doubt overall talent in the men’s college game is down and will be down again this coming season. I was struck by a dip in overall talent this past season. You really notice it in the top 10.
***Back to college football. I’m also struck by how many coaches I hear from who are in the dark regarding an NCAA Football Oversight Committee proposal in March that would expand the abilities of a collegiate football support staff, permitting all staff members to provide players skill and tactical coaching instruction — both during practice and games.
Adoption of the proposal would eliminate the long-standing policy of limiting coaching instruction to only the NCAA’s maximum of 11 “countable” coaches: the 10 assistants and head coach.
“It is absolutely the right thing to do,” Craig Bohl, the former Wyoming head coach and Nebraska defensive coordinator — who’s a member of the oversight committee — told me in March.
Is the proposal going to be adopted in time for the 2024 season?
Many coaches are wondering.
I’ve reached out to Bohl twice recently, and … crickets.
That tells me the proposal will be adopted soon — within the next two weeks, is my guess.
***I heard from a Nebraska football fan who was struck by something I said on the radio Thursday. I said Nebraska quarterback Heinrich Haarberg never seriously considered entering the transfer portal earlier this spring. I got the impression the person didn’t believe me. Hey, I’m just saying (and writing) what I heard, and I believe it.
***In my spring review of Colorado football that was published Thursday, I left out the simple fact that the Buffs return three starters on offense and six on defense. However, I did note that CU brought in 39 players from the transfer portal.
Yes, 39.
“You hardly know this team, you know?” said Brian Howell, Colorado football beat writer for the Boulder Daily Camera. “There are so many new faces.”
***It helps Colorado media that Deion Sanders Jr. has a YouTube channel (“Well Off Media”) that posts videos that include practice footage.
“Other than that, the only thing we see is the spring game,” Howell said.
***Someone noted Nebraska had only eight scholarship players hit the portal this offseason, fewest among Power 5 schools. The average is 20.
What is the reason for the Huskers’ lack of attrition?
“Honesty,” said Vince Guinta, Nebraska’s senior director of recruiting and player personnel.
“Honesty and family,” he continued. “It’s simple. Be honest with people and up front. (Matt Rhule) does a tremendous job of setting expectations, so you know what’s expected of you as a player. And when we’re all honest and we operate in a great family environment, people are going to want to stick around. They’re going to know we have their best interests at heart.”
It sounds incredibly … healthy.
-Steven Sipple
Munson’s musings
*** I am sure the Mekhi Nelson news caught some off-guard on Wednesday. It caught me off guard because Nebraska has dug its boots in, with Jamarion Parker being the other running back in its class to add to Conor Booth. Following Parker’s last visits to Nebraska and Alabama, several people, including myself, still predicted Parker to Nebraska.
Parker is set to see Nebraska on June 21st, and bringing in a running back before Parker visits goes against the plan that Nebraska has been following since January. What’s more, there would be an excellent chance that if Nelson visits Nebraska for an OV, he will try to commit to the Huskers while on that official visit.
I had expected that Nebraska would only be interested in bringing in Nelson if Parker passed on being a Husker. I can see Nebraska keeping him warm, even through the summer and the fall (because Nebraska can’t afford another Kewan Lacy type of situation). Taking three running backs doesn’t make sense, and Booth and Parker feel like their top option.
*** Following Three & Out this week and my section on Nebraska “being behind” recruiting a 2026 quarterback, the Huskers made another ’26 quarterback offer. The Huskers offered Oscar Rios from Downey (Calif.). Rios led his team to an 8-3 season last year, throwing for 2,633 yards with a 73% completion percentage, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
What I like about Rios is his frame. If there has been a knock from me on some of the recent offers, it’s been their stature. Rios is 6-foot-3 and 170 pounds. He will fill out, but the height is a welcomed sight. You also have to appreciate Rios’s efficiency, which you can see from the completion percentage. I will have an update on him either on Friday or Saturday morning.
*** While there are several in-state players that I am excited to hear about their performance and see if Nebraska makes an offer, I feel like the betting money is likely on fewer summer camp offers to seniors than last year. The Huskers had a chance to host some official visitors by the time the first camps started last year. Nebraska seemed to recruit over some of the players that had just visited mainly because some tested were similar to the visitors, and there was the advantage of working first-hand with the campers. It will be interesting to see how this year goes by comparison.
*** I finally caught up with Edge Malcolm Simpson from Hitchcock (Texas). He is busy with AAU basketball and other summer activities, like church camp. He said he has been in discussions with Nebraska to set up an official visit, but one isn’t set up yet. He seems like a player that Nebraska might be keeping warm right now.
The Huskers have already hosted Nicolas Clayton and are scheduled to host Jayden Loftin, Jamal Frilot, Michael Riles, and Kade Pietrzak over two weekends in June. However, the Huskers recently added Loftin and Riles to their visitor lists. I understand, though, that Simpson’s stock is on the rise. He has teams like USC, Baylor, and Kansas all keeping tabs and talking to him about setting up an official visit.
#AGTG I am thankful for the great conversation I had with
@Coach_Knighton . I am truly humbled and blessed to say I have received an offer from the University of Nebraska pic.twitter.com/HiBhj7HUYQ
— Malcolm Simpson (@Malcolm63573618) May 20, 2024
*** This has been an odd time between the spring game and June. The one official visit weekend was a success. TJ Lateef added his name to the class, but things have gone very quiet since he visited, and after, he announced his commitment. As I said in Three & Out, I believe that Nebraska has to feel good about where they are with its board. There haven’t been many new offers to positions outside of the Edge/pass-rushing type of recruits. An offer was made earlier in the week to another 2025 defensive back, JoJo Scott from Lakeland (Flor.) Victory Christian Academy.
Before the offer to Scott, Nebraska had most recently offered defensive backs, LaRue Zamorano and Dylan Robinson. Based on their current processes, it was going to be difficult for the Huskers to get visits with either of those two recruits. The latest offer to Scott might be indicative of that. Plus, Adonyss Currie committed to Texas A&M earlier this week.
*** A recruit that I unintentionally left out of Three & Out a week ago when I was breaking down some of the in-state/regional recruits that could use a strong camp at Nebraska is Darien Whitaker Jr. Whitaker Jr., who is on a bit of a tear as we head into June. He has recently picked up offers from SIU and UNI.
Whitaker’s film is interesting to me. He plays more of an in-the-box linebacker because he is so athletic and sees the play develop so well he can get to places other linebackers can’t. He’s not a traditional MIKE, but does that make him more of a 3-3-5 MIKE, or could he play either of the two OLB spots? How about a walk-up Jack and pin his ears back?
I also like that he has the athleticism to play safety. He is tough out there to get a solid block on. Could he be more of a walk-down in-the-box safety? I will be interested to see how well he tests later next week. Whitaker told me that he plans to be at camp on June 7th.
*** And I probably should have included a junior recruit that I am interested in seeing how they do at summer camp. If I had the chance to do it over again, I would have included Millard South quarterback Jett Thomalla. All of the 2026 offers out to new quarterback prospects have me thinking about the ultimate curveball that Thomalla could be if he comes in and rips it up at camp this summer.
I have to admit, the intrigue is there because of his size, athleticism, ability, and the production that he had last year as a sophomore. I caught up with Thomalla on Thursday, and he knows that he will be at a Nebraska camp session this summer but isn’t sure which one he will be attending yet. He told me he would let me know once he figured it out.
-Bryan Munson
Washut’s Nebrasketball news & notes
***If you’re wondering what the heck is going on with Berke Buyuktuncel’s recruitment, you’re not alone. ICYMI, I put in an RPM for the UCLA transfer to commit to Nebraska last weekend.
I based the prediction on information I’d heard from a few credible sources. However, my confidence level wasn’t quite as high as some of my previous predictions.
Much of that has to do with how quiet and secretive this whole recruitment has been. There have been little to no updates throughout the process, making it extremely hard to get a solid read on where things stand.
From what I’ve heard, this has been a somewhat complicated process from the jump. A lot of that, I’m told, is due to figuring out the NIL numbers through the federal limitations of an international player on a student visa.
I know a ton of work has been done behind the scenes to get everything figured out, and I’ve heard the entire process described simply as “weird.”
That said, I’m still sticking with my RPM of Buyuktuncel to Nebraska. An official announcement will hopefully come soon, but at this point, I have zero clue when that might be.
***Because of how long the Buyuktuncel situation has played out, it makes sense that Nebraska continues to explore other options. The latest development is NU’s interest in Arkansas transfer Trevon Brazile.
The 6-10 forward went back into the transfer portal market this week after taking his name out of the NBA draft pool. Per reports, the Huskers quickly reached out and are among the early contenders for his services.
Georgetown and St. John’s are other schools that have initially reached out.
I don’t see Brazile’s recruitment as having anything to do with where things stand with Nebraska and Buyuktuncel. Brazile is a no-brainer talent that NU would take no matter what, and the Huskers have already invested so much time and effort into Buyuktuncel to cut ties now.
With two available scholarships for next season, Nebraska has the luxury of pursuing both.
***Nebraska’s 2024-25 non-conference schedule is steadily coming into shape. We now know the Huskers’ likely season opener, as it was reported last week that they will host UT-Rio Grande Valley on Nov. 4.
Here is NU’s known non-con schedule thus far:
Monday, Nov. 4 – vs. UTRGV
Saturday, Nov, 11 – vs. Bethune-Cookman
Sunday, Nov. 17 – TBA (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
Friday, Nov. 22 – at Creighton
Wednesday, No. 27 – vs. South Dakota
Dec. 22, 23, and 25 – Diamond Head Classic
Opponents TBD (Known field: Oregon State, Loyola-Chicago, Charlotte, Charleston, two other TBA)
Monday, Dec. 30 – vs. Southern
***One of the top prospects on Nebraska’s 2025 high school recruiting board is Arizona Compass Prep guard Davis Fogle.
Head coach Fred Hoiberg’s first stop of the opening live evaluation period two weeks ago was to Hamilton, Ohio, to watch the four-star guard at the UA Rise Circuit.
The Huskers have been in regular contact with Fogle since his official visit to Lincoln last fall. Others firmly in the mix for the Anacortes, Washington, native include Gonzaga, Kansas, Creighton, and LSU.
Fogle plans to officially visit the Zags in late June and then KU near the end of August/early September. No word yet on whether he’ll return for a second NU official.
I get the sense that Nebraska is in a very good spot with Fogle right now. But closing the deal won’t be easy, given the level of competition for his services. I’ve heard he and Hoiberg have developed a solid relationship since his visit.
It sounds like Fogle plans to commit this fall, likely around September or October.
***Another 2025 prep name to watch is Whitmer, Ohio, guard Antione West. The 6-foot-3 three-star is working on setting up a Nebraska visit in early June.
Ohio State, Dayton, and Xavier are also high on West’s list.
***Speaking of 2025 targets, you have to keep A’mare Bynum at the top of Nebraska’s wish list. The former Omaha Bryan standout transferred to Branson (Missouri) Link Academy for his senior season, but that hasn’t slowed NU’s involvement.
The Huskers remain one of the schools in contact with Bynum the most going into the summer. Others include Colorado, Louisville, and Ohio State.
Bynum should continue to attract even more high-major interest, especially after averaging 16.8 points and 6.5 rebounds over four games at the Nike EYBL Session 4 last weekend.
-Robin Washut
Abby’s assists
***Former Washington pitcher Ruby Meylan has no doubt caught the eye of Nebraska the second time around. While she was at Omaha Skutt High School, the Huskers did not recruit Meylan. However, after two strong seasons at Washington, NU likely gave her a look.
However, Meylan wants to be the ace pitcher at her new school and wouldn’t be with Jordy Bahl returning from an ACL in 2024-25. She is very unlikely to join the Huskers.
Meylan will be an incredible addition to any team. She left Washington with a 2.31 ERA in two seasons. She had a 27-17 win-loss record in 303.2 innings pitched.
The right-handed pitcher is the granddaughter of former Nebraska Defensive lineman Wayne Meylan, who was inducted into the 1991 College Football Hall of Fame.
Against Nebraska in 2023, Meylan threw five innings, allowing no runs and two hits in the season opener.
The Huskers’ top two pitchers during the 2023-24 season (Kaylin Kinney and Sarah Harness) both graduated. NU will have Jordy Bahl during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons. They added Arkansas left-handed pitcher Hannah Camenzind. Nebraska has Caitlin Olensky and Emmerson Cope returning after their freshman seasons.
Southern Illinois left-handed pitcher Maddia Groff is more likely to become a Husker. She was recruited by Rhonda Revelle while at Marian High School in Omaha. Groff was named an NFCA Third Team All-American after a 1.11 season ERA. She allowed 140 hits and 42 runs in 220.2 innings.
She is likely a package deal with her twin sister, Rylinn Groff, who also spent one season at SIU. Rylinn played in 30 games and had 11 runs, 14 hits and eight RBI.
***Nebraska Volleyball’s match against Louisville will be in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Typically, Louisville plays in L&N Federal Credit Union, which has a capacity of 1,331. The Yum! Center holds over 22,000.
The Nebraska vs. Louisville match will either be on Sept. 21 or 22. The 2024 NCAA Final Four will be at the KFC Yum! Center. If NU makes advances to the national semifinals, a match in the venue will only help.
Louisville will also play Tennessee, UNI, Creighton, Stanford and Pitt at the Yum! Center.
Additionally, Nebraska Volleyball will play in the first-ever AVCA First Serve Showcase. The doubleheader is at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky on Aug. 27.
The Huskers play Kentucky at 8:00 p.m. CT to open their season. Louisville and Wisconsin play after the first match.
***Nebraska’s Class of 2025 prospects are ranked as the No. 2 class by Adrenaline Volleyball. Texas is ranked first and USC is third. Wisconsin’s class came in sixth, according to the publication.
The Huskers’ class features setter Campbell Flynn, outside hitter Teraya Sigler, opposite hitter Ryan Hunter, libero Keri Leimbach and middle blocker Manaia Ogbechie.
***PrepVolleyball.com announced their 18U Club All-Americans. Hunter, who played a grade up, was named an Honorable Mention. She only played part of the club season due to an ACL injury.
The website also announced its 75 Senior Aces. They are “the 75 graduating seniors that, throughout the 2023-2024 high school AND club seasons, distinguished themselves with their consistent efforts and contributions, not only on the score sheet, but in building camaraderie within their teams, and showcasing positive sportsmanship in competition as well.”
While no Huskers won, five Nebraska natives received the honor:
NamePositionHigh SchoolClubCollegePaisley DouglasLOmaha SkuttVCNebraskaUSCFaith FrameLGretnaPremier NebraskaCincinnatiMalayan LongSLincoln SouthwestVCNebraskaMarquetteLauren MedeckOHPapillion-LaVista SouthPremier NebraskaSouth DakotaMia TvrdyMBPapillion-LaVistaPremier NebraskaOregon
-Abby Barmore
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