http://www.omaha.com/huskers/footba...cle_724d105c-2eb7-11e7-a92c-bfd388a01e15.html
The 6-foot, 175-pound kicker said he has been in touch with Nebraska coach Mike Riley as well as graduate manager and special teams assistant Nick Smith the last two months. He attended NU’s spring game and left impressed by the crowd, facilities and academic options. He shared a meal with senior-to-be and returning kicker Drew Brown along with sophomore punter Caleb Lightbourn that weekend and “had a great time.”
Nebraska still knows plenty about Pickering, who is rated the No. 2 kicker nationally and a five-star prospect at the position by the specialist evaluator Kohl’s Kicking. He made all 49 of his extra-point tries last fall and 20 of 27 field goals, including a long of 49 yards and two four-kick games. His 42-yarder in Hoover’s final game helped Birmingham’s largest suburb win the state title in Class 7A. A member of the MaxPreps 2016 Junior All-American team, he also sent 66 of his 79 kickoffs for touchbacks.
Pickering is rated a 4.5-star punter and No. 29 nationally at that spot, but said college coaches want him to focus on field goals and kickoffs at the next level.
“(Nebraska) told me they wanted the best and they want this class to be one of the best classes they’ve ever had,” Pickering said. “It was just really humbling to hear that.”
The 6-foot, 175-pound kicker said he has been in touch with Nebraska coach Mike Riley as well as graduate manager and special teams assistant Nick Smith the last two months. He attended NU’s spring game and left impressed by the crowd, facilities and academic options. He shared a meal with senior-to-be and returning kicker Drew Brown along with sophomore punter Caleb Lightbourn that weekend and “had a great time.”
Nebraska still knows plenty about Pickering, who is rated the No. 2 kicker nationally and a five-star prospect at the position by the specialist evaluator Kohl’s Kicking. He made all 49 of his extra-point tries last fall and 20 of 27 field goals, including a long of 49 yards and two four-kick games. His 42-yarder in Hoover’s final game helped Birmingham’s largest suburb win the state title in Class 7A. A member of the MaxPreps 2016 Junior All-American team, he also sent 66 of his 79 kickoffs for touchbacks.
Pickering is rated a 4.5-star punter and No. 29 nationally at that spot, but said college coaches want him to focus on field goals and kickoffs at the next level.
“(Nebraska) told me they wanted the best and they want this class to be one of the best classes they’ve ever had,” Pickering said. “It was just really humbling to hear that.”
