Top prospects are leaving sunny locales for chilly Nebraska
If Mike Riley ever decides to give up his football coaching career, he's a shoo-in for a top-level sales position.
Despite the average winter temperature in Lincoln, Neb. is 24.6 degrees Fahrenheit, the Cornhuskers coach was somehow able to convince a number of recruits from warm-weather markets to commit to the Big Ten program.
The top five players in Nebraska's 2017 recruiting class all come from markets nowhere near the midwest - three from California, one from Nevada, and one from Florida.
| Player | Position | Position Rank | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyjon Lindsey | WR | 14 | Las Vegas (NV) |
| Tristan Gebbia | QB | 12 | Calabasas (CA) |
| Elijah Blades | CB | 25 | Pasadena (CA) |
| Keyshawn Johnson Jr. | WR | 40 | Calabasas (CA) |
| Guy Thomas | DE | 24 | Miami (FL) |
Riley spent 11 years with Oregon State prior to taking the Nebraska job in 2015, and clearly developed some strong relationships with high school coaches along the Pacific coast.
Since he took over the program, the Cornhuskers have landed 12 commits ranked in the ESPN 300, with seven coming from California or Nevada.
The prize of this year's class is wide receiver Tyjon Lindsey, who decommitted from Ohio State before opting to head to the Big Ten west division and join Nebraska.
Joining Lindsey in Lincoln is the quarterback-receiver combo from Calabasas High School of Tristan Gebbia and Keyshawn Johnson Jr.
The son of former USC legend Keyshawn Johnson committed to Nebraska over a list that included the Trojans, Ohio State, Alabama, and Clemson.
Nebraska's 2017 class lands 22nd in the country for ESPN's team rankings, and is rated tops in the Big Ten west division. If Riley continues to pull top talent from all around the nation, it seems to only be a matter of time before the Cornhuskers find themselves in the conference championship game.