Goodrich cites relationships as main reason for picking Nebraska
Nebraska has several ties to Lee's Summit (Mo.) West high school's football program going back several years. Many of their former players have gone on to attend Division I programs and it has been good to NU in the past as well.
The Cornhuskers signed receiver Monte Harrison in the Class of 2014 and Boe Wilson in their Class of 2016, and Tuesday four-star prospect Mario Goodrich became the latest Titans player to commit to play for the Huskers.
The Rivals250 prospect attended Nebraska's Red-White spring game in April and was ready to commit on the spot, but he and the Nebraska coaching staff needed to convince Goodrich's father before he could make it official.
"Yes, it's official now," Mario Goodrich told HuskerOnline.com. "Basically, I was telling [my dad] that Nebraska was the right deal for me and Coach D (Donte Williams) told him what he wanted to hear."
Goodrich said it was the entire package of what Nebraska has to offer their student athletes that sealed the deal for him, but he is especially liked the relationships he had developed with the Husker coaching staff.
"I liked the whole setup and I loved the coaches," Goodrich stated as his reasons for choosing Nebraska over his other scholarship offers.
"I know that Coach (Mike) Riley is going to get Nebraska back to where it needs to be, and I know that Coach Donte is going to push me."
The relationship he developed with NU commit Brendan Radley-Hiles also played a big role in bringing Goodrich into the Big Red's program.
"As a matter of fact, I just got off the phone with Bookie not too long ago and told him that I was going to commit tonight," Goodrich shared.
"I might go out to California to work out with him. I have the whole month of June off before I get back to playing basketball on my AAU team in July."
Though he is listed as an athlete by Rivals, the Husker coaches made it clear to Goodrich that he and Bookie, as well as Chase Williams, will be the three signed cornerbacks in this Class of 2018 and they will all play the position when they get to Lincoln.
"Yes, and actually Coach D is out recruiting safeties right now [on the West Coast]," Goodrich stated.
Goodrich said that he will be attending the same Nebraska Friday Night Lights camp as Bookie in June and that he has in mind which Husker home game this coming season he would like to attend for his official visit to Lincoln
"I'd probably like to visit for the Wisconsin game because it's a rivalry," Goodrich explained.
Mario Goodrich became the 11th Class of 2018 verbal commitment for Nebraska.