October recruiting thread

[MtnHusker]

 

[RedSavage]

Donnie is the reason they were here in the first place

1. The interest from Nebraska has been ramping up. Ruggeroli said that after the first five games, Nebraska has been increasing the recruiting attention.

“After our first five games, they started to talk to me a lot. I did like coach Raiola even back before, so I wanted to come out here, meet the other coaches, and see what Nebraska was about.”

There is a solid connection between Bishop Gorman and Nebraska that Ruggeroli is familiar with. The offensive line coaches at each school are close and that definitely helps Nebraska’s cause.

“I think mostly because, with my O-line coach, they’re like brothers,” Ruggeroli said. “I have a really good connection with my O-line coach.”

2. SJ Alofaituli is the No. 2 IOL and player in Nevada in 2025. He’s also the No. 65 ranked recruit in the nation next season.

Alofaituli uniquely connects to Nebraska’s offensive line coach, Donovan Raiola. The two are both from Hawaii, and that helps out Nebraska with Alofaituli.

“Coach Raiola, his dad actually, was around when I was playing youth football in Hawaii,” Alofaituli said. “I am blessed for coach Raiola. He ties into a lot of the stuff like our background, just being from Hawaii in general. It’s a blessing to have a coach, especially over here in Nebraska.”

3. “They’re (Nebraska) are blowing up my phone!” Utu said. “Almost every day. Sometimes I have to just mute some stuff. (It’s) mostly coach Raiola and Keith Williams. They’re hitting me up a lot.”

Coach Raiola might be hitting up Utu a lot, but their relationship goes back a few years. Raiola was helping at a camp that Utu was attending and helped Utu with his technique.

“I actually met coach Raiola back in 2021 at the Polynesian Bowl camp,” Utu said. “He actually corrected me on a lot of stuff that I still use today. That helped me quite a lot.”

Utu says that Nebraska accommodated his family well this weekend. His family felt the love from the Husker staff.

“The love from the Nebraska family has meant a lot,” Utu said. “My dad has trouble walking, and they actually provided wheelchair service, which I appreciate a lot. It shows how much they care about us.”

But that doesn’t fit the narrative of how awful he is…

 

[MtnHusker]

 

[Kaladin]

McCook has a community college?

 

[Hedley Lamarr]

McCook has a community college?

Yes my grandpa actually played for them in football a very long time ago. No longer have a football team though

 

[Huskers633]

I would have to drench that steak in A-1 to choke it down.

 

[RedSavage]

Surf and turf from a parking lot meat truck with a side of a banana. Dining at its finest

 

[nja13]

Surf and turf from a parking lot meat truck with a side of a banana. Dining at its finest

And they probably think they're treating everyone to fine dining because it's steak and lobster. No wonder croots rave about the food on visits to Lincoln if that's the competition.

 

[MtnHusker]

I would have to drench that steak in A-1 to choke it down.

I would expect a steak of that quality to require lots of Catsup. It almost looks like they boiled the dam steak.

 

[RedSavage]

I would expect a steak of that quality to require lots of Catsup. It almost looks like they boiled the dam steak.

 

[HerbRedman]

Good stuff. I feel like I rarely hear about Raiola in these write-ups, at least on 247.

I know Pyle/Peters have mentioned him in their commitment articles. Maybe it's some strain of recency bias on my part.

Also Preston Taumua said Donnie was a key reason he picked Nebraska. Min 2:40 of the video below. 1st question asked out of the gate "Tell us why you picked Nebraska?"...then first words out of his mouth "it was Coach Raiola."

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills here, but the selective memory people have RE: Donnie is really insane. (Not picking on you @Alcaus)

 

[Goskers07]

Also Preston Taumua said Donnie was a key reason he picked Nebraska. Min 2:40 of the video below. 1st question asked out of the gate "Tell us why you picked Nebraska?"...then first words out of his mouth "it was Coach Raiola."

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills here, but the selective memory people have RE: Donnie is really insane. (Not picking on you @Alcaus)

I kind of agree. I think a lot of people are focusing on last year's historically bad line play in regards to Donnie. Hes got some blame, no doubt, but that whole offense was a shit show. And, despite the offense being a shit show this year too, the offensive line has improved. He's got us in the door with some solid recruits too.

I'll admit, I'm warming up to him. I won't stand on the table defending him, but his position as the whipping boy isn't earned to me anymore.

 

[Carm]

Also Preston Taumua said Donnie was a key reason he picked Nebraska. Min 2:40 of the video below. 1st question asked out of the gate "Tell us why you picked Nebraska?"...then first words out of his mouth "it was Coach Raiola."

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills here, but the selective memory people have RE: Donnie is really insane. (Not picking on you @Alcaus)

It's human nature - some people form an opinion early on, and essentially refuse to believe or consider any evidence that contradicts their initial opinion.

 

[HerbRedman]

I won't stand on the table defending him, but his position as the whipping boy isn't earned to me anymore.

This is where I'm at - though TBF I never had him in whipping hot category, I've always been in wait and see mode.

I'm just kind of in amazement w the "Donnie can't recruit" comments. Then on a separate note, everyone seems to collectively forget that we have the Taumua commitment (which is odd bc he's arguably the most important recruit in our 2024 class).

 

[Carm]

We haven't offered yet but

 

[BugeaterInWa]

And they probably think they're treating everyone to fine dining because it's steak and lobster. No wonder croots rave about the food on visits to Lincoln if that's the competition.

Steak - grass
Lobster - not native so probably frozen and shipped

UW could so easily do so much better with lesser effort.

Fresh tuna, halibut, maybe some crab and spotted shrimp.

 

[Natural9]

We haven't offered yet but

View attachment 29241

He’s been offered, but it’s not commitable. And may not ever be unless Brix says no. I’d like us to take both though.

 

[Jim14510]

Lobster looks dry too.

 

[nja13]

Lobster looks dry too.

I'll bet if they asked they could get some foil-wrapped pats of butter to help with that.

 

[Jim14510]

I would expect a steak of that quality to require lots of Catsup. It almost looks like they boiled the dam steak.

Air fryer