When new Nebraska running backs coach Ryan Held talks about recruiting, he's not shy about his passion.
Over the last few weeks, the former Husker walk-on from Kansas City has quickly earned a reputation as one of Scott Frost's ace recruiters with his aggressive nature on the recruiting trail.
“Everybody that knows me knows I love recruiting. That’s my baby,” Held said on the Huskers Sports Network Tuesday night. “Whatever it takes in terms of traveling, I’ll go to Alaska. I don’t care if that’s what it takes.”
Held took that statement even to another level when he let Husker fans inside how he operates on a daily basis when it comes to recruiting.
“When I’m sitting at a stop light I get anxiety because I want to send two more text messages to recruits because I feel like another coach is going to beat me,” Held said. “I have to do all the little things that are going to help put Nebraska in a position to be successful, and I’m willing to do that.
"If you aren’t willing to do that, it’s hard to get players. Everybody on our staff is willing to do that, and I think we’ll see the fruits of our labor here as we build this thing player by player that we are going to get, and obviously the players we already have in the program.”
The former junior college head coach in both Kansas and Oklahoma has also helped Nebraska get back into the JUCO ranks after a three-year absence.
The Huskers signed four top junior college players last week, after going three straight recruiting classes under Mike Riley without taking a single one. Held helped lead the charge on that with his wealth of knowledge and contacts within the JUCO landscape.
One of the more exciting JUCO players Nebraska signed last week was Arizona Western C.C. running back Greg Bell, who rushed for over 2,400 yards in two seasons in Yuma, along with being a two-time NJCAA All-American.
"Greg (Bell) is a guy that’s an older guy, he was a tremendous player coming out of high school," Held said. "He can catch the ball and run it. I think getting into our weight program, and our nutrition program will definitely help him with Coach (Zach) Duval, and getting him here in the spring will be big; because he’s going to learn the playbook just like everybody else in the program.
"As we build this thing, we have to get weapons, and he’s a weapon that can help Nebraska build the Cornhusker running game. He’s a guy that will be added to it, and I look forward to coaching him.”
Lastly, after a long road on the coaching trail that included stops at multiple lower levels, Held is one of the better success stories you'll see out there.
He started from the very bottom both as a player and a coach, and now he's been able to earn his dream job under Frost.
"To have a chance to come back and be a part of the Big Red revival is very special," Held said. "When I signed that contract I can tell you, I had goosebumps and tears – it was great to put on that red polo. I will never take a day for granted as long as I’m with the Huskers, and I’m all in for sure.”
