Nebraska continued its recent recruiting momentum by landing yet another spring game visitor in Hoover, Ala. kicker Barret Pickering as verbal commitment No. 9 for their class of 2018 on Tuesday.
Here are some quick takes and analysis on what Pickering's commitment means to the Huskers.
1. Nebraska has continued to cash in on its successful spring game recruiting weekend by adding a commitment from Barret Pickering. The talented placekicker came away extremely impressed with the Huskers from that that visit and now makes five commits for 2018 and one for 2019 to have pulled the trigger for NU since attending the game on April 15.
2. Pickering fills a very big need in this recruiting class. The Huskers only proven placekicker, four year starter Drew Brown, will be graduating after this season. Pickering will step into Brown's shoes as soon as he steps foot on campus.
3. Although Pickering isn't ranked yet as a kicker by Rivals.com, he is considered to be the nation's No. 2 kicker and a five-star prospect by kicking guru Jamie Kohl of Kohl's Kicking Camps.
"Pickering recently attended the 2017 Underclassman Challenge," Kohl said. "He once again showed dominance in his Field goals. He is a smooth field goal kicker who hits clean rotation and has great command of his ball flight. Focus this winter and spring will be on his leg strength and hang time on (kickoffs) but he showed well at the nations premier gathering of talent. His elite coordination allows him to shows flashes of great punting ability as well."
4. Pickering is an accurate kicker with a strong leg. He was a perfect 49 for 49 on extra points last season and made 19 of 27 field goals with a long of 49-yards.
5. Pickering is used to kicking under pressure. He has played in some huge games throughout his career at Hoover High School as they are considered the top program in the state and are always one of the top programs in the nation on a yearly basis. Last season, the Buccaneers went 12-2 on their way to winning another state title.
6. Alabama isn't a state that Nebraska has had a ton of success recruiting over the years and to get a player from a program like Hoover that produces numerous DI prospects on a yearly basis could potentially open the down for NU to get more down the road.
7. Wrapping up an early commitment at a position of need will allow Nebraska to continue to focus on closing out the rest of this smaller recruiting class with its top targets going forward.
2018 Nebraska commit breakdown
5/2/2017 - Barret Pickering - K - 6-foot, 185 - Hoover, AL - NR
4/23/2017 - Chase Williams - CB - 6-foot-1, 175 - Corona, CA - 4 Stars
4/16/2017 - Tate Wildeman - DE - 6-foot-6, 245 - Parker, CO - 3 Stars
4/15/2017 - Manuel Allen - WR - 6-foot-1, 175 - Corona, CA - 4 Stars
4/14/2017 - Brendan Radley-Hiles - CB - 5-10, 175 - Bradenton, FL - 4 Stars
4/8/2017 - Will Farniok - OL - 6-3, 260 - Sioux Falls, SD - 3 Stars
1/18/17 - Eric Fuller - ATH - 5-9, 160 - Los Angeles, CA - 4 Stars
6/17/16 - Masry Mapieu - DT - 6-5, 290 - York, NE - 3 Stars
8/7/15 - Cameron Jurgens - ATH - 6-3, 235 - Beatrice, NE - 4 Stars
2018 commits by position
0 - Quarterback
0 - Running back/fullback
1 - Wide receiver
0 - Tight end
1 - Offensive linemen
1 - Defensive tackle
1 - Defensive end
0 - Linebacker
0 - Safety
2 - Cornerback
2 - Athlete
1 - Special teams
10. Where are they from
4 - California (Radley-Hiles counts towards California)
2 - Nebraska
1 - Colorado
1 - South Dakota
1 - Alabama
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