Big month ahead for rising recruit Ike Ackerman
Central recruit Ike Ackerman with big chance to show out in June
MIKE SCHAEFER50 minsVIP0
2025 Omaha Central recruit
Ike Ackerman never expected the thing that would put on Matt Rhule's radar would be a dunk.
The nearly 6-foot-4, 234-pound recruit has shown substantial athleticism on the football field and through track where he competes at multiple events and took home first in the shot put and second in the discus at the state finals.
But it was a between the legs dunk that someone filmed and Ackerman shared that had Rhule excited.
"The thing that
Nebraska said that got me higher on the radar was going in between the legs on a dunk," he said. "You know Rhule likes his athletes. At districts against Lincoln Pius during warm ups I got a video of me going in-between the legs and he is still stuck on that. He asked me to do a dunk contest with him."
Schools are certainly intrigued about what to do with Ackerman and they've been calling.
"The Huskers, obviously the hometown school, I've been talking with them a lot," he said. "Vanderbilt I've been getting close with their defensive line coach. Baylor.
Kansas State. Kansas.
Cockeye is talking with me about football and track."
The recruit has a camp schedule which might help pull in some offers.
"I'll be at Nebraska the 8th," he said. "I'll also be at Cockeye,
Kansas and Kansas State. I don't remember those dates. Nothing in July as I've got some track stuff."
Nebraska is very much looking forward to that camp according to Ackerman.
"They know my stature can play, they know damn well I'm an athlete, but the biggest thing is they want to see me move at camp," he said. "Lateral stuff. Pro agility. I know I can. I totally get that they need to see it with their eyes."
Ackerman believes Nebraska likes him on defense.
"I've talked with the defensive line coach and Rhule a lot," he said. "I think they want me on defense. I like when offenses can't do anything. You just keep beating them and they're like 'Damn. We can't do anything.' I like dominating. I like competing."
It certainly doesn't hurt that Ackerman may have an equal talent across from him, giving Central a strong defensive front. 2025 edge defender
Alijah Wayne has been a big help for Ackerman.
"We just keep meeting each other in the backfield," Ackerman said. "I see him back there and I'll tap him on the head and say 'Good job.' He'll see me back there. I think it's hard for teams to be in their offense."
