The Nebraska football team is looking like the team to beat for one of the best cornerbacks in the 2018 recruiting class.
Nebraska football trending upwards
While Nebraska has been in a bit of a lull when it comes to getting commits from the 2018 class, that doesn't mean the coaches are resting on their laurels. In fact, it appears Mike Riley, Donte Williams and company are working hard to turn the head of cornerback Houston Griffith.
Griffith is actually the second highly ranked defensive recruit Nebraska has managed to get the attention of in the last few weeks. Last time, it was defensive end, Micah Parsons. This time Griffith appears to be putting the Huskers in the driver's seat.
According to 247Sports, Nebraska has not only taken the lead in the derby for his services, but has taken a rather commanding lead. Griffith is not expected to head to the Huskers over Florida State and Notre Dame.
Nebraska currently rates a 67 percent likelihood of getting Griffith, compared to just 25 percent for the Seminoles and just an eight percent chance of Notre Dame winning the sweepstakes.
The stakes are exceedingly high when it comes to trying to get the corner to come to one of the powerhouse schools.
Nebraska football winning hearts and minds
Florida is one spot that hasn't been a great recruiting ground for the Nebraska Football Team. California has been the place the Husker coaches have had a great deal of success but the other coast line hasn't been as lucrative.
Luring in someone like Griffith could be a way for the Nebraska football team to establish a kind of connection to the state of Florida. The four-star player is the eighth-ranked cornerback in the state of Florida and the 11th best corner in the entire 2018 class.
Griffith has caught Nebraska's eye thanks to his playing at IMG academy and it appears as though Donte Williams has been a good enough recruiter that the player is looking hard at the Huskers.
If he does pick the Cornhuskers, this would be quite the coup.
While Nebraska is among the supposed leaders, Alabama and Ohio State are also hard after Griffith. The fact that the Huskers are even in the conversation shows that Riley and company have gotten the program elevated in the eyes of some of the best players in the country.
Even getting a look from someone like Griffith is a big plus after a few setbacks over the summer. Nebraska has had one wide receiver decommit. They dropped the recruitment of another player. The next and most important move is how the Nebraska football team manages to rope in Griffith now that they have his attention.