Cornhusker secondary coach Brian Stewart was in Pasadena, Calif., this evening to conduct an in-home visit with Muir High cornerback prospect Elijah Blades. The four-star recruit, who is currently verbally pledged to Florida, has had to postpone a couple dates when he to officially visit Nebraska.
I asked Blades how his in-home went and he texted back:
"It went good. Coach Stewart just talked about how I would love Nebraska and how it's like a family there."
I then asked him if he was planning to officially visit NU before signing day, and he said:
"Yes most likely."
Lastly, when I asked him what has him interested in Nebraska, he replied:
"The fan base."
(Mike)
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Los Angeles (Calif.) Augustus Hawkins is in the middle of their playoff run and they have a game against Los Angeles High next, but head coach Malik James was kind enough to give us a few moments for a status report on both of his star players, five-star receiver Joseph Lewis and four-star Greg Johnson.
Both have been able to squeeze in at least an in-home visit or two this week in between their busy practice schedules.
"Well, so far, Joseph has had USC. Greg has had Arizona so far. We're kind of slow with trying to get to it than a lot of schools because we are still playing in a playoff game and our practices are going late. We'll probably have more soon. We're going to have Arizona State soon and I expect to see most of the Pac-12 next week. I also expect to see Illinois and a few others."
Coach James was asked to give a general summation of where the recruiting situation stands with both Lewis and Johnson.
"Joseph is considering Nebraska, and Oregon based off of which ever coach they sign; Arizona State, University of Washington, USC, and the University of Arizona. I would think the exact same schools for Greg -- Nebraska, Arizona, USC, Arizona State, Notre Dame. That's all I can think of right now."
Lewis will no longer be announcing his college decision at the January 7 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, according to Coach James.
"No, he's going to push it back because he's actually going to take some visits after the Army Game, so he will probably commit on signing day or whenever he feels comfortable in committing. I'm not sure where he's going to go at this point. We are shuffling things around. He's going to pay for a flight or two on his own and end up taking some locals so he can use his officials to go elsewhere.
"It'll be the same thing with Greg in January. We have a championship game this Saturday, so they can't be anywhere this weekend, and if we win then we will play again next Saturday. So we've kind of told everyone, let's just work for January."
Lastly, I asked Coach James what the bottom line will be in determining where both Joseph and Greg end up going to college, and he said:
"I really can't say. I know that Joseph wants to go somewhere where he will be coached up and really get pushed. And he wants to play. He wants to play. It's the same thing with Greg. Greg really wants to get coached up and to have a really good relationship with his position coach.
"Greg also wants the opportunity to be the next Jabrill Peppers if he can do it. There are not many players in the country who can do it like Greg at the highest level and I know he wants the opportunity to do that. He wants to be a corner and defensive player [primarily]."
(Mike)
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I was also able to speak with Scottsdale (Ariz.) Saguaro head coach Jason Mohns this afternoon to check on four-star defensive back recruit K.J. Jarrell and to gauge whether or not Nebraska was in the picture with him at all. Saguaro just won their fourth consecutive state championship last week by beating Tucson Catalina Foothills 42-14.
Even though Jarrell released a top three of USC, Arizona State and Cal on November 11, the Husker staff is still trying to get him to take an official to Lincoln.
"I know that he had a good in-home visit with Coach Mark Banker the other night. I think it went well. I'm not sure how that fits in because he had come out with a top three. I know he has a good relationship with Coach Banker, but we just played for the state championship on Saturday and recruiting just kicked back off on Monday and it's kind of been a whirlwind.
"So I haven't had a chance to sit down with K.J. since then as far as his top three. But I do know that he was open to having Coach Banker to come in and do an in-home. I think it went well and he feels good about that relationship, so whether that materializes out of that, I don't know yet. I think there is some interest there, but how far it will go I can't tell you yet."
(Mike)
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I just received the following DM from Hawaii four-star linebacker Isaac Slade-Matautia commenting on how his Nebraska in-home with Coach Mark Banker went:
"Home visit went very well. Very informative, a lot of perspective given as to where I stand and what the program is looking for. I will visit next week and have a better idea about where I stand with Nebraska. I was able to view the facilities, the academics standards and success through virtual tours. Exciting to see it through a screen...can't imagine what it'll feel like when I get there."
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Nebraska wide receivers coach Keith Williams checked in on four-star WR Los Angeles Cathedral wide-out Jamire Calvin on Thursday night. Calvin tweeted this picture after this visit:
(Sean)
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