Check here for live updates from Nebraska's 2017 Signing Day press conference here at Memorial Stadium.
Head coach Mike Riley is scheduled to meet with reporters at around 4 p.m.
***Riley is at the podium.
***Riley opens by saying he's got his annual "Signing Day cold", but at least he looks better than he did last year.
***Riley said about half of the 2017 class came from within the 500-mile radius, and he said Nebraska needs continue to emphasize that even more going forward. While they'll still recruit nationally, but they have to keep making hey close to home.
***Riley said that while they only got three receivers in this class, you normally don't want more than 3-4 players at one position in a class. They'll look to add to their receiver numbers in 2018.
***Riley said John Parrella did "a terrific job" with recruiting on the defensive line in this class.
***Riley said Jaevon McQuitty "was a perfect fit" in NU's system, and Keyshawn Johnson Jr. was "a magnet" recruit that helped get the ball rolling with the 2017 class, as was Tristan Gebbia.
***Riley said the four commits they got from California might be a little high in terms of what they want each year, but it's not something they're going to worry too much about. He said what matters is going after "the right people" who will be good fits who want to come to Nebraska.
***Riley said Nebraska will continue to start earlier and earlier with their recruiting efforts each class, which will continue to help them get in on higher profile players.
***Eight of the 20 signees are on the offensive and defensive line, and he said his philosophy is that linemen and cornerbacks "are gold". He said there were a lot of linemen in this class, and there will be a lot of CBs in the 2018 class.
***Riley said the in-state players there were able to get in this class is something that "everyone should take note of" that Nebraska will continue to evaluate its local players heavily. He said when players are good enough to be offered in this state, "it ends up being a tremendous bonus" for the Huskers.
***Riley was asked about Jamire Calvin (not by name), and he said he didn't want to make a "blanket statement" about recruits these days because every player was different in how they handle the recruiting process. For every Calvin, Riley said there's a guy like Ben Miles who was solid in his commitment from the day he verballed to Nebraska.
***Riley said the Calvin case "was a little bit over the top... I got three different commitments from the kid. That might be a record."
***Riley said there are so many things you can't predict in recruiting, so he really doesn't have any regrets with how they handled the situation with Calvin.
***On Guy Thomas, Riley said one of the key factors was the trust Parrella was able to build with Thomas, so Nebraska felt good about their chances all along. Same with Damion Daniels.
***Riley said Donté Williams' ability as a recruiter is something "that travels with him" wherever he goes, which is a credit to his ability to connect with players. He said Elijah Blades doesn't commit to Nebraska without Williams.
***Riley said there's a possibility that all three incoming receivers could play next season. He said McQuitty and Johnson will get a good jump by being here for spring ball, and Tyjon Lindsay has the ability to make an immediate impact possibly in the way that James Rodgers did under Riley back at Oregon State.
***Riley said the quarterback position will be prioritized by getting "a passer", but that doesn't mean that can't be a dual-threat QB. He said there have been some elements they put in for Tommy Armstrong that they really like in their offense, so having a player who can do some of those things would be intriguing. He doesn't expect to have another QB be the runner Armstrong was, but athleticism will be something they'll look for.
***Riley said he "loves that versatility" with the two open scholarships they have in the 2017 class, and they'll continue to evaluate the juco market heading into the spring.
***Riley notes Ben Miles as a player who could do a number of things in NU's offense, both as a fullback and as an H-back.
***Speaking of Miles, Riley said he's really been excited to get to know Les Miles during the recruiting process. Riley said he has a ton of respect for Les and the Miles family. Add in Les putting on the Nebraska hat and Keyshawn Sr. wearing a Nebraska shirt on ESPN, Riley said that was some great exposure for the program.
***On Lindsay: "I'm just glad we have him... I'm excited." Riley adds: "For what we have done in our offense, he checks a lot of boxes."
***Riley specifically notes Kansas City and St. Louis as two areas he wants to hit much harder going forward.
***Riley the new camp windows starting this year will make NU selective with the number of camps they have in Lincoln, possibly with three Friday Night Light Camps. They can also host a satellite camp, which they'll still explore.
***Riley said Blades will be involved in pushing to play right away this season.
***Riley said they're "not close" to hiring a new safeties coach, though they do have their first candidate in town for an interview today. He said they want to make the hire quickly, but they're not going to rush it.
***Riley said walk-on receiver Christian Bailey is no longer with the program.
That's all for Riley. Much more coming soon.
Head coach Mike Riley is scheduled to meet with reporters at around 4 p.m.
***Riley is at the podium.
***Riley opens by saying he's got his annual "Signing Day cold", but at least he looks better than he did last year.
***Riley said about half of the 2017 class came from within the 500-mile radius, and he said Nebraska needs continue to emphasize that even more going forward. While they'll still recruit nationally, but they have to keep making hey close to home.
***Riley said that while they only got three receivers in this class, you normally don't want more than 3-4 players at one position in a class. They'll look to add to their receiver numbers in 2018.
***Riley said John Parrella did "a terrific job" with recruiting on the defensive line in this class.
***Riley said Jaevon McQuitty "was a perfect fit" in NU's system, and Keyshawn Johnson Jr. was "a magnet" recruit that helped get the ball rolling with the 2017 class, as was Tristan Gebbia.
***Riley said the four commits they got from California might be a little high in terms of what they want each year, but it's not something they're going to worry too much about. He said what matters is going after "the right people" who will be good fits who want to come to Nebraska.
***Riley said Nebraska will continue to start earlier and earlier with their recruiting efforts each class, which will continue to help them get in on higher profile players.
***Eight of the 20 signees are on the offensive and defensive line, and he said his philosophy is that linemen and cornerbacks "are gold". He said there were a lot of linemen in this class, and there will be a lot of CBs in the 2018 class.
***Riley said the in-state players there were able to get in this class is something that "everyone should take note of" that Nebraska will continue to evaluate its local players heavily. He said when players are good enough to be offered in this state, "it ends up being a tremendous bonus" for the Huskers.
***Riley was asked about Jamire Calvin (not by name), and he said he didn't want to make a "blanket statement" about recruits these days because every player was different in how they handle the recruiting process. For every Calvin, Riley said there's a guy like Ben Miles who was solid in his commitment from the day he verballed to Nebraska.
***Riley said the Calvin case "was a little bit over the top... I got three different commitments from the kid. That might be a record."
***Riley said there are so many things you can't predict in recruiting, so he really doesn't have any regrets with how they handled the situation with Calvin.
***On Guy Thomas, Riley said one of the key factors was the trust Parrella was able to build with Thomas, so Nebraska felt good about their chances all along. Same with Damion Daniels.
***Riley said Donté Williams' ability as a recruiter is something "that travels with him" wherever he goes, which is a credit to his ability to connect with players. He said Elijah Blades doesn't commit to Nebraska without Williams.
***Riley said there's a possibility that all three incoming receivers could play next season. He said McQuitty and Johnson will get a good jump by being here for spring ball, and Tyjon Lindsay has the ability to make an immediate impact possibly in the way that James Rodgers did under Riley back at Oregon State.
***Riley said the quarterback position will be prioritized by getting "a passer", but that doesn't mean that can't be a dual-threat QB. He said there have been some elements they put in for Tommy Armstrong that they really like in their offense, so having a player who can do some of those things would be intriguing. He doesn't expect to have another QB be the runner Armstrong was, but athleticism will be something they'll look for.
***Riley said he "loves that versatility" with the two open scholarships they have in the 2017 class, and they'll continue to evaluate the juco market heading into the spring.
***Riley notes Ben Miles as a player who could do a number of things in NU's offense, both as a fullback and as an H-back.
***Speaking of Miles, Riley said he's really been excited to get to know Les Miles during the recruiting process. Riley said he has a ton of respect for Les and the Miles family. Add in Les putting on the Nebraska hat and Keyshawn Sr. wearing a Nebraska shirt on ESPN, Riley said that was some great exposure for the program.
***On Lindsay: "I'm just glad we have him... I'm excited." Riley adds: "For what we have done in our offense, he checks a lot of boxes."
***Riley specifically notes Kansas City and St. Louis as two areas he wants to hit much harder going forward.
***Riley the new camp windows starting this year will make NU selective with the number of camps they have in Lincoln, possibly with three Friday Night Light Camps. They can also host a satellite camp, which they'll still explore.
***Riley said Blades will be involved in pushing to play right away this season.
***Riley said they're "not close" to hiring a new safeties coach, though they do have their first candidate in town for an interview today. He said they want to make the hire quickly, but they're not going to rush it.
***Riley said walk-on receiver Christian Bailey is no longer with the program.
That's all for Riley. Much more coming soon.
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