Recruitment of EJ

[inWV]

Was reading a Christopherson story of EJ's recruitment. He got on NU's radar after Held was fired and Ron Brown starting filling in as RB coach. Ron was almost solely responsible for getting EJ to Lincoln. And to get a good idea of the difference in the quality of recruits in terms of Held vs. Ron, Held had the commit of Ashton Hayes, who decommitted once EJ was on board. Hayes has played spot for Cal and then Nevada for the past 3 years. Interesting that the Hayes kid had a better Rivals rating than EJ (5.7 vs. 5.6).

 

[Dr_Alan_Grant]

2024

2023

2022

Rushing	Receiving	Fumbles
CAR	YDS	AVG	TD	LNG	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LNG	FUM	LST
3	19	6.3	0	9	1	10	10.0	0	10	0	0
30	102	3.4	0	35	5	10	2.0	0	4	0	0
1	14	14.0	0	14	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0

Hayes hasn't done crap.


EJ you can argue has been very underused, but is already immensely better than Hayes. Interesting that Ron Brown is responsible for recruiting him. Happy he did.

 

[HuskerMania257460]

Good retrospective look. Held was thought to be a great recruiter when he started. Brown has had a great eye for RB talent

 

[TarheelHuskerFan]

Good retrospective look. Held was thought to be a great recruiter when he started. Brown has had a great eye for RB talent

He certainly has a great track record of RB's!

 

[Spinner45]

A lot of the negative that’s being said about Conor Booth was also said about Emmett. Small school kid that just looked good because of who he was playing. Didn’t have to make too many guys miss.

 

[inWV]

A lot of the negative that’s being said about Conor Booth was also said about Emmett. Small school kid that just looked good because of who he was playing. Didn’t have to make too many guys miss.

EJ's parents are Liberian immigrants and I'm not sure how deep he was into the recruiting game. Minnesota not offering probably had a lot of comparable programs not having first thoughts about EJ, much less second ones. Ron Brown has seen a shit ton of college prospects and coached Rex and AA. He saw what others didn't.
As far as Booth is concerned, if he has decent eyes for the field, he will be fine. A lot of backs just never get that part down.

 

[king_kong_]

good post OP

more interested in his re-recruitment this off-season

 

[inWV]

good post OP

more interested in his re-recruitment this off-season

He announced his intention to enter the portal on Dec 5, but never put his name in. I assume his NIL was adjusted and Holgerson explained to him that he was now the lead back. Sometime in the next 12 days, Dowdell got word of a dump truck full of money coming from KY and entered the portal on Dec. 17. I think both EJ and Dowdell wanted to be RB1 and Holgerson could have one of them. He chose EJ.

 

[NikkiSixx]

Fun fact: in 2024 EJ only had 1 rushing touchdown, and 2 receiving touchdowns.

 

[king_kong_]

Fun fact: in 2024 EJ only had 1 rushing touchdown, and 2 receiving touchdowns.

Will be very interesting to see who earns the short yardage/goal line work

 

[NikkiSixx]

Will be very interesting to see who earns the short yardage/goal line work

Booth is my guess.. we really needed Marty.. sad that didn't work out.

 

[Dean Pope]

A lot of the negative that’s being said about Conor Booth was also said about Emmett. Small school kid that just looked good because of who he was playing. Didn’t have to make too many guys miss.

Excellent point. I've got a feeling that Connor Booth is going to be a good back for us. We've had small school kids make it here before and this kid was as dominant as any back I can remember. Arizona State went after him after identifying him as "another Cam Skattebo".

 

[Dean Pope]

Will be very interesting to see who earns the short yardage/goal line work

I bet it's Emmitt and Ives at least to start with. Emmitt is excellent at finding a crease. Ives is a bigger kid who could hopefully fall forward. I would hope that they don't use Emmitt in that role though.

 

[Big bo fan]

I bet it's Emmitt and Ives at least to start with. Emmitt is excellent at finding a crease. Ives is a bigger kid who could hopefully fall forward. I would hope that they don't use Emmitt in that role though.

In the pinstripe bowl the first opportunity we had at the goal line Dana Gave it Ives . So that would be my guess. Plus Ives has bulked up a little Even since December.

 

[JabroniBlvd]

Raiola will break the single season passing record this year for Nebraska...that will help the run game.

 

[RBigredMax]

Raiola will break the single season passing record this year for Nebraska...that will help the run game.

The two big additions to the line will also have significant impacts as well.

 

[king_kong_]

The two big additions to the line will also have significant impacts as well.

I hope the ND kid brings some physicality, toughness and leadership to not only that group but to the offense as a whole

have heard from multiple folks that the Bama OT has no mean streak in him - bit of a softy

we are desperate for toughness and leadership on this team

 

[Walleye79]

I hope the ND kid brings some physicality, toughness and leadership to not only that group but to the offense as a whole

have heard from multiple folks that the Bama OT has no mean streak in him - bit of a softy

we are desperate for toughness and leadership on this team

I am not sure about the mean streak in him. But I did watch film on him. And I am happy with the way he can move around and his footwork. Refreshing to see an OT that doesn’t have anchors on his ankles. Seems pretty good with his technique. Bama did a solid job developing him. Now fingers crossed he stays healthy

 

[InMotion]

I am not sure about the mean streak in him. But I did watch film on him. And I am happy with the way he can move around and his footwork. Refreshing to see an OT that doesn’t have anchors on his ankles. Seems pretty good with his technique. Bama did a solid job developing him. Now fingers crossed he stays healthy

...or doesn't regress with his new coaches..