Talented 2023 interior offensive lineman recruit Sam Sledge is staying home to play for for the Nebraska Cornhuskers in college. The Omaha Creighton Prep (NE) standout was offered by Huskers during a junior day visit in January, and was just starting to see his recruitment take off when he decided that Nebraska was the place for him.
Sledge is a Cornhusker legacy as his dad was an all-conference selection for Nebraska in the late 80's. The way in which the coaching staff identified him as a player they wanted early, combined with his family ties to the program, make this a perfect fit for what Scott Frost is trying to build. Sledge understands the storied history of the Nebraska football program and will look to bring some of that magic back when he finally gets to Lincoln in 2023.
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CLASS OF 2022 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State | JUCO
CLASS OF 2023 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
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WHAT THE CORNHUSKERS ARE GETTING...
While Sledge may appear to be flying under the radar from a stars and rankings perspective, that changed when the new Rivals 2023 rankings were released last week. Sledge is a tough and physical player that attacks the game with and old school approach reminiscent of Milt Tenopir's lineman of the past. He has phenomenal feet, an explosive first step and impressive hip mobility which makes him a great puller in gap scheme plays. As the son of a former player who is now a coach, Sledge has a great understanding of the game and will be able to pick up the scheme in little time. While he has a tremendous physical skill-set with plenty of room for growth, the way he plays the game may be his most impressive trait. Sledge is a high motor player who shows his passion for the game by never taking a play off, finishing blocks and playing through the whistle every snap This is a sleepy good pickup for Nebraska and Sledge has his best days on the field in front of him.
WHY IT'S BIG FOR NEBRASKA...
Nebraska football is built on tradition which Sledge is able to grasp more than many other recruits his age. He understands the honor and responsibility that comes with putting on the "N" and he will surely embody what Nebraska football is about both on and off the field. Sledge will likely finish as one of the top ranked Nebraska high school recruits in the 2023 class, and it is always a huge win when you can secure a commitment from your home state's best. Now that Sledge is in the boat, he can start his first job as a Husker which is to recruit the state's other top un-committed players. This is a commitment that Husker fans should be excited about and Sledge is a great addition to the early group of 2023 Nebraska commits.