Carter Nelson commitment: What does it mean for Nebraska?
Sean Callahan • about 9 hours
2024 TE Carter Nelson (Photo credit: Sean Callahan/HuskerOnline)
Nebraska’s big month of June continues. The Huskers closed out on the top prospect in the state in 2024 Ainsworth (Neb.) tight end
Carter Nelson.
Here are some quick takes and thoughts on the commitment of Nelson and what it means for the Huskers.
NU is now up to 21 commits in their class of 2024 with the addition of Nelson.
1. There’s no other way to say it. This is huge for
Matt Rhule. With the commitment of Nelson, Rhule now has the top four players in the state locked up for the class of 2024, according to On3 Industry Rankings. NU closed on Nelson and Bellevue West wide receivers
Dae’vonn Hall and
Isaiah McMorris this week alone.
2. Don’t kid yourself. This was a battle. Teams like Georgia, Notre Dame, Penn State and Alabama all coveted Nelson. Team experts from UGA and ND all put predictions at different times for Nelson to go to their perspective schools they cover. That tells you those staffs felt good about where they stood at that time with Nelson. The Huskers’ had to hang in there for an entire month to get their opportunity in June, and they closed the deal.
3. It’s hard to recall an intense in-state battle where national brands entered the state like this. LSU made a quiet run at
Cameron Jurgens in 2018 with a late in-home visit before
Scott Frost closed the deal. The one that probably rivals this one the most is former Elkhorn offensive lineman
Trevor Robinson, who committed to Notre Dame over the Huskers in 2008. As Nelson does now, he had almost every big-time offer in the country. All those teams also came to Omaha to see him during that recruiting cycle.
4. The Huskers have not signed an eight-man scholarship player from the state since St. Edwards safety
Andrew Shanle in 2002. Fullback
Steve Kriewald was also an in-state player who signed with the Huskers in 2000 out of North Loup-Scotia.
Is Nelson the most decorated eight-man player we’ve seen in recent history? Maybe. You probably would have to go back to 1992 when future-Heisman winning running back
Rashaan Salaam signed with Colorado. The late Salaam played eight-man football in California. CU was coming off winning the national title when he signed there.
To put how rare it is to be a major Division I football player from the eight-man level, Alabama head coach
Nick Saban said in his coaching career dating back to 1973, Nelson’s film was the first-ever eight-man tape he had ever watched.
5. Nelson is the highest-ranked in-state player in the state according to the On3 Industry rankings in quite some time. Nelson is ranked No. 57 overall nationally. Lineman
Baker Steinkuhler is the last one ranked higher at No. 28 in 2008. Other notable in-state ranked players were OL
Trevor Robinson (No. 77 in 2008), running back
David Horne (No. 28 on Rivals in 2002) and wide receiver
Niles Paul (No. 102 in 2007).
6. In terms of highest-ranked Husker commits in recent history, tight end
Thomas Fidone (2021) was No. 67, offensive lineman
Turner Corcoran (2020) No. 26, wide receiver
Wan’Dale Robinson (2019) No. 59, wide receiver
Tyjon Lindsey (2017) No. 49 and running back
Aaron Green (2011) was No. 39.
Running back
Marlon Lucky (2005) remains the highest-ranked player on the On3 Industry rankings to sign with Nebraska at No. 9.
7. When you look at Nelson, his recruitment was much more than his eight-man film. His track numbers were one of the biggest driving factors.
Nelson holds the Class C record in the high jump at 7-0. He’s gone 14-1 in the pole vault, 175-0 in the discus, 52-3 1/2 in the shot put, 22.66 in the 200-meter dash and 11.05 in the meter dash. He’s also long jumped nearly 21 feet. You will be hard-pressed to find any player 6-4 215 pounds with numbers like this in the sprints, jumps and throws.
8. Nebraska commitment breakdown
Date | Player | Vitals | Stars |
1. 2/20/2023 | DB- Roger Gradney | 6-1, 190 Garwood (Texas) Rice Consolidated | 4-Stars |
2. 4/1/2023 | IOL – Gibson Pyle | 6-4.5, 275 Houston (Texas) Klein Cain | 3-Stars |
3. 4/11/2023 | DL – Ashton Murphy | 6-5, 242 Elkhorn (Neb.) South | 3-Stars |
4. 4/22/2023 | LB – Willis McGahee IV | 6-2, 215 Miami (Fla.) Christopher Columbus | 3-Stars |
5. 4/24/2023 | TE – Ian Flynt | 6-5, 248 Katy (Texas) Taylor | 3-Stars |
6. 5/5/2023 | ATH – Keelan Smith | 6-3, 210 Liberty (Mo.) North | 3-Stars |
7. 5/19/2023 | QB – Daniel Kaelin | 6-3, 200 Bellevue (Neb.) West | 3-Stars |
8. 6/7/2023 | CB – Mario Buford | 5-11, 165 DeSoto (Texas) | 4-Stars |
9. 6/11/2023 | P – Kamdyn Koch | 6-3. 190 Westminster (Md.) Winter Mills | 3-Stars |
10. 6/18/2023 | DB – Braylen Prude | 6-5, 190 Pearland (Texas) Shadow Creek | 3-Stars |
11. 6/18/2023 | OL – Jake Peters | 6-3, 265 Cedar Falls (Cockeye) | 3-Stars |
12. 6/18/2023 | DB – Callen Barta | 6-2, 180 Topeka (Kan.) Seaman | 3-Stars |
13. 6/19/2023 | CB – Evan Taylor | 6-3, 175 Waxhaw (N.C.) Cuthbertson | 3-Stars |
14. 6/20/2023 | IOL – Landen Davidson | 6-4, 312 Broomfield (Colo.) | 3-Stars |
15. 6/22/2023 | DB – Donovan Jones | 6-0.5, 180 Omaha (Neb.) North | 3-Stars |
16. 6/23/2023 | WR – Isaiah McMorris | 6-0, 170 Bellevue (Neb.) West | 3-Stars |
17. 6/23/2023 | WR – Dae’vonn Hall | 6-2, 190 Bellevue (Neb.) West | 4-Stars |
18. 6/26/2023 | RB – Kewan Lacy | 6-0, 190 Lancaster (Texas) | 3-Stars |
19. 6/26/2023 | DB – Rex Guthrie | 6-1, 205 Littelton (Colo.) Heritage | 3-Stars |
20. 6/27/2023 | WR – Quinn Clark | 6-4.5 190 Bozeman (Mont.) Gallatin | 3-Stars |
21. 6/28/2023 | TE – Carter Nelson | 6-4, 215 Ainsworth (Neb.) | 4-Stars |
9. HS/JUCO breakdown by position
1 – Quarterback
1 – Running back
3 – Wide receiver
2 – Tight end
3 – Offensive line
1 – Defensive line
1 – Linebacker
7 – Defensive back
1 – Athlete
1 – Specialist
10. Where are they from?
6 – Nebraska
6 – Texas
2 – Colorado
1- Florida
1 – Cockeye
1 – Kansas
1 – Maryland
1 – Missouri
1 – Montana
1 – North Carolina