Three & Out: Need for an edge, 2025 top prospects, and an emerging 2026 in-state talent
Three & Out is Nebraska On3’s feature in which recruiting analyst Bryan Munson gives his weekly takes on topical issues concerning Nebraska football and recruiting.
In this week’s Three & Out, Nebraska is still searching for pass-rushing help in the 2024 class, we look at the top targets in the 2025 class for Nebraska, and Kaprice Keith is a name to know from the 2026 class. Here is your Three & Out:
WANTED: Pass rusher in 2024 class
The Huskers are still in the market with the 2024 class, but there aren’t a lot of openings, and there may not be a lot of time left. One could argue that the only two clear holes in the class left for Matt Rhule and his staff to fill are at offensive tackle and Edge/Jack linebacker.
We all know about Grant Brix. His situation is reasonably well documented. He will be announcing soon and seems to be down to three schools. Nebraska is definitely in the hunt for the western Iowa four-star offensive lineman.
Edge, though, is another matter. The Huskers still seem somewhat involved in Jacob Smith and his process. Jacob and his brother have left prep school in Connecticut and are back in Kentucky. Jacob and his twin brother Jerod Smith were both ruled eligible this past week to play this year at Corbin (Ky.).
The issue with the Smiths is that they are still committed to Michigan, but where there is smoke, there is fire. They have taken some trips since they each committed to Michigan. Additionally, something has always seemed off going back to Jerod committing to Michigan following his official visit the first weekend in June.
Jacob took his official visit to Michigan the same weekend as his brother but also visited Nebraska on June 16th. The weekend after his official visit to Nebraska, Jacob took an unofficial visit to Michigan and finally committed to the Wolverines on July 13th, six weeks after his twin brother committed to Michigan. The twins are now trending to Kentucky following their transfer and some recent visits to UK.
What does that mean for Nebraska? There is Jayshawn Ross. Ross released this tweet on August 20th:
Ross stated that he is re-opening his recruitment. Maybe a better term would have been “resetting”? The four-star Edge had a final five of Oklahoma, Nebraska, Tennessee, Penn State, and Michigan. Oklahoma seems out of the picture, and Tennessee recently picked up a commitment from another four-star Edge, Jordan Ross. According to On3’s info, Ross never visited Michigan or Penn State.
Liberty North head coach Andy Lierman told HuskerOnline a couple of weeks ago that Ross was still going through the process and felt like Ross could improve his stock the first month of the season. Coach Lierman also felt like Ross would take some additional visits.
This “reset” isn’t too surprising given the coach’s comments, but my question is, where is Nebraska at with Jayshawn, or is Jayshawn interested in Nebraska? He appears to be one of the top remaining targets for Nebraska in the 2024 class, or at least was at the end of July. Now? We must see if Ross makes it back to Lincoln in September or if any new targets pop up.
All is quiet on the recruiting front…for now
I don’t know about all of you, but I am ready for recruiting to pick up again. There is still some room in the 2024 class. There is a start to the 2025 class, which I anticipate will be the focus of the Nebraska coaching staff in the coming weeks.
Unfortunately, Nebraska opens the season with their first two games on the road. But there is some redemption as Nebraska’s season opener against Northern Illinois is a 6:00 start. Night games in Memorial Stadium are a precious commodity for the coaching staff to host visitors.
Yes, Nebraska will host their top remaining 2024 target that weekend. Brandon Baker, the No. 1, industry-ranked offensive tackle in the country, will return to Lincoln for his third visit to Nebraska.
No. 1 OT Brandon Baker visits Nebraska
It’s what Nebraska could get going, needs to get going, with the 2025 class that should start again that night. The Huskers hosted a great group of 2025 players at the end of July. They laid the groundwork with several of the top regional targets.
What this staff does so incredibly well is zero in. A few loose ends with the 2024 class keep the staff from getting after the next group. Things will start to turn on the 16th and the night game in Lincoln.
Top targets for the 2025 class:
NamePositionHeight/WeightTown (State) SchoolAlex ManskeQB6-3/205Algona (Iowa)Conor BoothRB6-1.5/205Wahoo (Neb.) Bishop NeumannEmmanuel ChoiceWR6-0.5/190Lancaster (Texas)Andrew MarshWR6-0.5/175Katy (Texas) JordanRomel StevensWR6-6/180Houston (Texas) WillisChristian TutsonWR6-0/165Temple (Texas)CJ SimonWR6-1/160Moore (Okla.)Chase LoftinTE6-5.5/200Omaha (Neb.) Elkhorn NorthJackson KohlTE6-5/240St. Louis (Mo.) Christian Brothers CollegeNicolai BrooksOT6-7/345Cedar Rapids (Iowa) John F. KennedyAndrew BabalolaOT6-6/270Overland Park (Kans.) Blue Valley NorthwestTaren HedrickOT6-5/305Columbia (Mo.) BattleJack LangeOT6-8/275Eureka (Mo.) Houston Kaahaaina-TorresIOL6-3/265Honolulu (Hawaii) St. LouisKalvin JanssenIOL6-4/270Gretna (Neb.) Jayden WoodsEdge6-3/228Shawnee (Kans.) Mill ValleyJack LimbaughEdge6-4/220Algona (Iowa)Charlie WolebenEdge6-5/215De Soto (Kans.)Julian MarksDL6-7/255Overland Park (Kans.) St. Thomas AquinasTyson Terry (Commit)DL6-3.5/275Omaha (Neb.) NorthChristian JonesLB6-3/215Omaha (Neb.) WestsideChase PearsallLB6-0/217Lee’s Summit (Mo.) NorthCharles BassCB6-2/180St. Louis (Mo.) East St. LouisCaden VerMaas (Commit)S6-0/196Omaha (Neb.) Millard North
There is a lot of kinetic energy right now with the 2025 class. I imagine the coaches are chomping at the bit to get on the field and hit another team. The start of the season is just a week away. But I expect there is some anticipation to get started on the next recruiting class too. It will take a few more weeks to get there, but I anticipate the coaches will zero in on the 2025 group once it arrives.
Kaprice Keith is a name to know
We covered some of the top 2025 targets for Nebraska. If we look down the road a little further, one of the more exciting names in the 2026 class is Bellevue West athlete Kaprice Keith.
Keith was noticeable in a room of the metroplex’s best players in February when HuskerOnline did their In-State Tour in Omaha. Not only was he noticeable, but players like Daniel Kaelin, Dae’Vonn Hall, and Isaiah McMorris were sure to drop his name in their interviews and say he was next.
The word is out, and Iowa State came through already with his first D1 offer following his impressive performance against Creighton Prep, including an interception.
Keith has the size to be elite. The sophomore is already 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds. On top of already having the size you are looking for, there is the pedigree. Kaprice is the son of Kenton Keith, who graduated from Omaha Benson and went on to play football at New Mexico State. He also went on to play for the Indianapolis Colts.
Kaprice is working out with Dad in his training program, which is training many of the top athletes from the area. Keith took little time this season to already grab the attention of one D1 team. More will recognize his talent and potential this fall, and it’s just a matter of time before the Huskers offer.
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