Steven Sipple: Top-ranked offensive tackle in nation is genuinely serious about Nebraska and seems like an excellent fit; and Rhule’s hunger evident
Things I know, and things I think I know: Nebraska hasn’t had a first-team All-American offensive lineman since Toniu Fonoti in 2001.
Let that sink in.
That’s back when Tiger Woods still roared, and Harry Potter captivated the masses.
So, that’s why I reacted with such surprise Saturday night when, during a HuskerOnline interview on YouTube with Brandon Baker, he said that he planned to make an official visit to Nebraska.
The 6-foot-4, 285-pound Baker, of Santa Ana, California, is the nation’s top-ranked offensive tackle recruit in the class of 2024. It’s not as if Nebraska has made standard practice in recent years of reeling in such highly regarded recruits. But Baker has already made two unofficial visits to Lincoln, including one this past weekend.
Baker has so far scheduled two official visit destinations: Ohio State (June 9-11) and Georgia (June 23-25).
Yes, he says, he’ll return to Nebraska at some point on an official basis.
“That’s not even a question,” he told HuskerOnline.
The Weekly Rundown: Putting a wrap on Nebraska’s spring
Brandon Baker explains Donovan Raiola’s methods
Thing is, Baker and Nebraska seem to be a good fit. He liked what he saw from the Huskers during the spring game Saturday afternoon. He liked the tempo and effort on both sides of the line, he said.
He seems intrigued by Nebraska offensive line coach Donovan Raiola’s teaching methods.
“It’s kind of different than everyone else,” Baker said. “He teaches knuckles up. He wants to keep it as natural as possible. Keep your knuckles up and keep your base shoulder width. You don’t really see that at all.”
Baker added that Raiola wants his linemen to be on the balls of their feet as opposed to being on their insteps. And, yes, Baker is aware that Raiola as a Notre Dame assistant helped mold standout NFL linemen such as Quenton Nelson of the Indianapolis Colts and Ronnie Stanley of the Baltimore Ravens.
“Quenton Nelson, a dog,” Baker said. “Ronnie Stanley, a dog. Those are talented, talented players. So, being able to pick up what they were coached in college is something that’s really, really cool.”
Baker clearly has a natural bond with Raiola.
“He’s Polynesian as well,” Baker said. “That’s always a factor, I would say. In Polynesian culture, family is really valued. He’s a cool person on top of that, someone I can trust.
“I’m really comfortable with not only him, but the whole program, as of now.”
Playing at Mater Dei High School, Baker has faced some of the stiffest high school competition in the country. In fact, he has daily battles with fellow four-star Aydin Breland, the top-ranked defensive lineman in California in the class of 2024.
Breland also attended Nebraska’s spring game Saturday.
Both were impressed by the atmosphere with 66,045 spectators on hand.
“That’s something I did not expect at all, especially at a spring game,” said Baker, adding, “It was unlike anything I’ve ever heard or seen, honestly.”
Baker knows enough about Nebraska to understand it once produced All-American offensive linemen on a regular basis. To wit: Dominic Raiola and Russ Hochstein were first-team All-Americans in 2000; Aaron Taylor achieved the honor in both 1996 and 1997; Aaron Graham in 1995; Zach Wiegert and Brenden Stai in 1994; and Will Shields in 1992.
In the 1980s, Nebraska had a total of eight first-team All-American offensive linemen.
“It’s something I would love to see brought back at Nebraska,” Baker said.
If Nebraska is truly serious about catching up with Michigan and Ohio State, among others, it must get back to producing All-Americans in the trenches and elsewhere. Nobody is saying Baker is a surefire collegiate star. But he obviously possesses ample talent, and he’s clearly intrigued by NU.
Ample competition among deep Nebraska RB group
Nebraska sophomore running back Gabe Ervin’s strong spring landed him a starting job with the first string in the Red-White Game. He responded with a 7-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and finished with 20 yards on eight carries.
The 6-foot, 215-pound Ervin, who started two games in 2021 before suffering a season-ending knee injury, obviously has captured the imagination of the new coaching staff.
Make no mistake, though, Nebraska’s running back group is tightly bunched. Anthony Grant, who rushed 218 times for 915 yards (4.2 ypc) and six touchdowns as last season’s starter, ran with “live” legs Saturday, but ended with only 34 yards on 14 carries. He had an 11-yard run, the longest by any of the RBs.
There wasn’t much room to run.
Prediction: Grant once again will emerge as the starter.
It won’t be easy, though.
“In the running back room, we challenge each other to be the best,” Ervin said. “If one guy makes a great play, we all try to make an even better play.”
The competition will make a good (and deep) group that much better.
Rhule’s elbow grease appreciated
Vincent Carroll-Jackson, a Nebraska class of 2023 signee from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was on hand Saturday. He’ll join the team in May.
A 6-5, 270-pound defensive lineman, Carroll-Jackson intrigues me if only because of the interest that Matt Rhule showed him during the recruiting process. Carroll-Jackson had committed to Syracuse on December 11 before flipping to Nebraska on signing day.
Rhule was introduced as Nebraska’s coach November 29, and obviously set his sights on Carroll-Jackson soon thereafter. After personally extending a scholarship offer to Carroll-Jackson via phone, Rhule flew to Harrisburg the next day.
“He was just persistent about it,” Carroll-Jackson told HuskerOnline, saying Rhule was adamant about the lineman visiting NU’s campus. “He said, ‘I don’t care if it’s for an hour, 30 minutes, one day — I just want you to come down (to Lincoln) and see what we’re all about and the coaching staff I have behind me.’
“He said, ‘We’re new, but we have that hunger.’”
Rhule’s hunger is evident, which shouldn’t be taken for granted.
Not all head coaches are created equal in that regard.
Nebraska fans surely understand that by now.
Nebraska handled Solich celebration well
I had a nice talk with Frank Solich on Monday. It was an informal chat, but I can tell you that he clearly appreciated how well he and his family were treated last week in Lincoln, culminating with Frank being honored during the spring game. As I suspected, Solich wasn’t wild about being the center of attention. It’s not in his makeup at all. But he genuinely felt appreciated by fans and others, and that’s the bottom line here.
Sounds to me like Nebraska handled it all exceptionally well, without overdoing it.
Frank sounds genuinely interested in the program, which is great to hear.
The post Steven Sipple: Top-ranked offensive tackle in nation is genuinely serious about Nebraska and seems like an excellent fit; and Rhule’s hunger evident appeared first on On3.
