NIL
Nebraska’s in-state recruiting is a sign of the future.
Matt Rhule arrived with much pomp and ceremony as the chosen one to drag Nebraska out of the endless spiral of losing seasons. He placed an enormous emphasis on in-state players on scholarship or the walk-on program. The world of college football has been turned on its head with NIL and roster limits to the […]
Matt Rhule arrived with much pomp and ceremony as the chosen one to drag Nebraska out of the endless spiral of losing seasons. He placed an enormous emphasis on in-state players on scholarship or the walk-on program.
The world of college football has been turned on its head with NIL and roster limits to the point where Rhule had to pivot. To see this playing out in real time, one only has to look at the top-ranked in-state players in the 2026 class and where they are heading.
Lone Ranger
Linebacker Jase Reynolds (6-3/206lbs) out of Elkhorn North in Omaha is a 3-star recruit ranked 10th in Nebraska’s 2026 class, according to 247. He is currently the only in-state recruit committed to the Huskers, and only a handful of crystal balls are floating around for in-state recruits, but nothing concrete.
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Reynolds is a rangy athlete with great instincts, blowing up plays, but he is raw and will need considerable bulking up to play as an inside linebacker.
To 105 or not to 105?
The ever-changing debate on roster sizes has not yielded any real answers, and Nebraska’s lack of real portal subtractions bears that out. The trimmer roster sizes will undoubtedly hurt the in-state prospects’ chances of being offered.
It was almost a given that the top 10 players in the state could rely on a Nebraska offer—that is no longer the case. The fact that some in-state prospects have publicly said that the coaching staff is not in contact is a sign of the future.
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Nebraska will continue cherry-picking players it feels can make a realistic difference on the team and ‘culture players’ who may not threaten the two deep but are key to maintaining standards.
The state produces capable, tight-end body types, and these sorts of players will always be in demand.
Isaac Jensen (6-6/205lbs) is the next in the conveyor belt of tight ends, and this trend will continue as long as football needs beefy blockers.
Football has changed so rapidly that it may very well shift again, but for right now, in-state prospects can’t guarantee a Nebraska offer.
GBR
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