Take Two: Does Nebraska have a real shot at Pappoe?

Take Two returns with a daily offering tackling a handful of issues in the college football landscape. Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and a local expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites.

MORE: Farrell's Three-Point Stance | 2019 Rivals250

On Halloween, Owen Pappoe released his final top three and at least one school caught some by surprise.

The 2019 high four-star linebacker from Loganville (Ga.) Grayson named Clemson, Georgia and Nebraska as his favorites. Clemson and Georgia were expected. The Huskers raised some eyebrows.

There are some significant connections to Nebraska and reasons why Pappoe could end up in Lincoln. He had a fantastic trip there this past offseason. Huskers linebacker Mohamed Barry is a Grayson graduate. According to one source, Pappoe was wowed by Nebraska’s environment and program.

But many also believed Florida State, Alabama and Auburn were much higher on Pappoe’s list throughout his recruitment and one of those three would round out his list of favorites.

Can the Huskers go back into Georgia to land one of the top prospects there in 2019? Or will the Grayson standout end up at Clemson or Georgia, like so many expect?

“Seeing Nebraska make the final three for top-ranked 2019 outside linebacker Owen Pappoe did come as somewhat of a surprise, but it was also not a complete shock. The surprising part was because we’ve seen the Huskers offer and recruit top prospects from Georgia in the past, but they very rarely make it to the final cut with most of those players.

"The reason it didn’t come as a complete shock is because he has taken an unofficial visit to Lincoln and NU has a few connections going with him, two things that they haven’t necessarily had with similar prospects from Georgia in the past. Current Huskers linebacker Mohamed Barry is from Grayson and is close with Pappoe and linebackers coach Trent Bray has developed a solid relationship with the rising junior over the course of his recruitment. Pappoe’s unofficial visit to Nebraska for its Friday Night Lights camp and Big Red Weekend went extremely well and it was at that point where it seemed like his interest in the Huskers was more than just casual.” – Clouse

“He’s a Clemson or Georgia kid. There has been talk about him and Georgia since he was in seventh grade. It would surprise me if he left the state. That doesn’t mean Clemson has no chance but it would stun me if he didn’t stay in the Southeast.

“He’s not the biggest linebacker in the world but he’s a real quick-twitch kid. He changes direction well, he plays sideline-to-sideline, athletic as all get-out and just makes plays. He’s a guy who’s always around the football.” – Farrell