Despite flashes of potential on the scout team this season, Nebraska wide receiver/tight end Justin McGriff announced on Twitter Monday morning he’s transferring from the program.
The 6-foot-6, 230-pound McGriff — who flipped his commitment from Central Florida to Nebraska after coach Scott Frost came to NU — did not play in a game during his first season as a Husker. The consensus three-star prospect had two catches for six yards in the spring game.
McGriff impressed Husker defenders on the scout team.
“He lives up to the expectations with that big frame and he makes the spectacular catches,” inside linebacker Mohamed Barry said.
McGriff, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The World-Herald, is the third player from the 2018 recruiting class to leave the program, joining Will Jackson and Greg Bell.
He’s also the latest wide receiver/tight end to leave Nebraska. Since 2014, Nebraska has had seven receivers transfer from the program — Glenn Irons, Jariah Tolbert, Lavan Alston, Derrion Grim, Keyshawn Johnson, Tyjon Lindsey and now McGriff. Two others — Monte Harrison and Dominick Watt — signed with NU but didn’t come to the school.
Two other tight ends, David Engelhaupt and Matt Snyder, have also left the program.
NU has three receiver signees for the 2019 recruiting class — Jamie Nance, Darien Chase and Wandale Robinson — and offered a scholarship Sunday night to 6-5, 200-pound Charles Njoku out of Wayne Hills (N.J.) High School.
The Huskers have All-Big Ten receiver JD Spielman, Mike Williams, walk-on Kade Warner, Jaron Woodyard, Jaevon McQuitty and Andre Hunt returning at wideout next season.
McGriff is the second Husker to announce his transfer in the last couple weeks. Outside linebacker Guy Thomas, a member of the 2017 recruiting class, said on Nov. 29 he’ll be leaving Nebraska after the semester.
— Justin Clift Mcgriff (@JustincliftM) December 10, 2018
Lincoln Southwest outside linebacker/defensive end Nick Leader joins Nebraska’s walk-on class
Lincoln Southwest senior Nick Leader became the 10th known walk-on in Nebraska’s 2019 recruiting class Sunday night.
“I couldn’t see myself going anywhere else,” the 6-foot-2, 210- pound linebacker said. “I didn’t see any reason not to come to Nebraska. It was just the right place for me.”
He’s the third Silver Hawk walk-on in the class, following kicker Dylan Jorgensen and linebacker Caden McCormack. Leader led Southwest with nine sacks and 19 tackles for loss from his defensive end/outside linebacker position. He was fourth on the team in total tackles (76).
“Nebraska wants me to start out as an outside linebacker,” he said. “I’ll play whatever position the coaches want me to play.”
Nick’s father, David, walked on with the Huskers and lettered in 1991 and 1992. Nick attended Nebraska’s junior day in the spring and took several game day visits to Nebraska this season.
He chose NU over a handful of Division II offers including Missouri Western State, Bemidji State and Sioux Falls.