When it comes to Nebraska football and getting back to where the program once was, the new coaching staff is going to need in-state talent to continue to improve. The college football world is one where a program needs to be able to lock down its own back yard more than ever. This is especially the case when you're talking about a state like Nebraska, where the creme of the crop are four or five players at most, instead of 20, 30, or 40 players.

The good news, as evidenced by a recent invitation announced by Evan Johnson is that in-state players in Nebraska appear to be getting quite a bit better across the board.

The Adams Central quarterback announced on his Twitter account earlier this week that he had received an official invitation to a regional Elite 11 camp.

Nebraska football can only get helped by these kinds of invitations in general

That invitation does seem to underline what we've been seeing with our own eyes and with recruiting services in the last few years. High school players in the state are getting quite a bit more attention from programs outside the state. In the 2019 class, players like Chris Hickman were getting a ton of offers from Power 5 programs around the country.

In the 2020 class, it's guys like Xavier Watts getting a ton of attention from direct rivals of the Nebraska football team.

The 2021 class is doing the same when talking about players like Teddy Prochazka.

Evan Johnson isn't quite at that level of attention just yet. He isn't getting a ton of attention from power programs. But it's clear he's landed on recruiting services' radar and he'll at least be able to show more schools what he can do. When you look at what the Hastings-based QB has done in his career so far, it makes some sense that people are wanting a better look.

Top of the line quarterback?

Standing at 6-2, and weighing in at 200 pounds, he's certainly got the build for a quarterback. Johnson was named Honorable Mention to the All-State football team for the third time last year and he was named his area's player of the year for the second straight season.

Even the invite to the regional Elite 11 camp this summer might not get him a bunch of offers from FBS schools, but it will certainly give him the opportunity.

He's not someone who necessarily fits the Nebraska football offense these days either as he runs just a 4.9 40-yard dash.

At the same time, he is one that the Huskers might offer a preferred walk-on scholarship if only because they'd like to keep the state locked down. Whatever happens with Evan Johnson, it appears Nebraska high-school talent is getting better and that's only a good thing.
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