Five recruiting busts that hurt the Huskers under Mike Riley
Recently-dismissed Nebraska head coach Mike Riley had only three recruiting classes in Lincoln, including one that was signed just two months after he took the job. In the aftermath of his tenure we look at five recruits who could have helped, but did not live up to their recruiting rankings.
FULL COVERAGE OF NEBRASKA'S FIRING OF MIKE RILEY: What happens to Calibraska movement? | Mind of Mike | Who is next in Lincoln? | Riley's failure to develop QBs | Recruiting misses that doomed Riley | Which teams will benefit? | Recruiting busts under Riley | HUSKERONLINE.COM
As a Recruit: Taylor could have pretty much wrote his ticket coming out of high school, but had zeroed in on schools such as Florida State, LSU, Nebraska, Stanford and Wisconsin going into his senior year. He took his first official visit of the process to Nebraska toward the end of his senior season and decided he did not need to see any others, committing just days later.
What he did at Nebraska: Now a fifth-year senior, Taylor still has yet to record a carry in his career as a Cornhusker and he has not been on the travel squad for the last two seasons. Injuries in 2014 and 2016 stunted his development, but Taylor’s lack of productivity considering his projections coming out of high school are remarkably lacking.
As a Recruit: Possessing both size and speed, Harrison was a highly-recruited wide receiver prospect who landed offers from Arkansas to Vanderbilt to Michigan State. He chose Nebraska the summer before his senior year and then went out and posted 60 receptions for over 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns in his final high school season.
What he did at Nebraska: Harrison never made it to Lincoln. Despite his talent on the gridiron, the Kansas City-area native was even more coveted on the baseball diamond and was selected in the second round of the Major League Baseball Draft following his senior year of high school. After indicating he was undecided between football and baseball prior to the Draft, Harrison signed with the Milwaukee Brewers a week after being selected. Harrison is now pursuing his career in professional baseball while Nebraska fans wonder what could have been.
As a Recruit: Anderson was one of the highest-rated recruits in Riley’s first recruiting class. He originally committed with friend and fellow Coloradoan Eric Lee to Bo Pelini during his junior year, but stuck with the Cornhuskers through their transition. Anderson was viewed as a versatile defensive back who could play either cornerback or safety and possessed good instincts.
What he did at Nebraska: Even after enrolling early and going through spring football with the Cornhuskers, Anderson was redshirted as a freshman. He has done little since, registering just three tackles in as many seasons in Lincoln. During those three seasons Anderson has bounced between cornerback and safety, never really establishing himself in either role.
As a Recruit: Barnett was one of six four-star prospects in Mike Riley’s first class at Nebraska. His recruitment looked to be an Arkansas-Oklahoma battle late into his senior season, and official visits were taken to both schools that fall. When Riley took over in Lincoln, however, the Cornhuskers rose quickly and he committed to Nebraska in January of his senior year.
What he did at Nebraska: Offensive linemen rarely make an immediate impact, so Barnett redshirting despite coming to Lincoln as a four-star prospect was not necessarily surprising. In the two seasons since, however, Barnett has bounced between third and fourth string offensive guard and done little to positively impact the on-field product.
As a Recruit: After throwing for Nebraska coaches at a June camp following his junior, Stanton earned an offer and committed to the Cornhuskers less than a month later over offers from the likes of Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin. He would go on to compete and impress at the Elite 11 Quarterback later that summer, but saw his senior season come to an early end with a torn ACL.
What he did at Nebraska: Stanton committed to Pelini and started his career working under that staff for his first two seasons. After Pelini was let go and Riley was hired, Stanton worked through the new head coach’s first spring before deciding to transfer shortly after. He would find his way to Saddleback Community College and then UNLV, where he served as the second-string quarterback for the Rebels this season.
