Nebraska made a strong impression on 2028 cornerback Jordan Kirkpatrick during his first trip to Lincoln on Saturday, and the Huskers may have done enough to separate themselves in his recruitment.
Kirkpatrick, a 6-foot-1, 165-pound three-star from Corona (Cali.) Centennial, already had Nebraska in his top five alongside Cal, Arizona State, Washington and UCLA. After seeing Memorial Stadium in person, he came away with plenty to like about the program.
“My first experience in Memorial Stadium was amazing,” he said. “The atmosphere was insane and seeing the whole city of Lincoln come out to support the Huskers was something special. The love from the fans and the staff really stood out to me.”
Nebraska has been working on Kirkpatrick for months, and the relationship has been building since June 15, the first day the staff could directly contact him. That steady attention has mattered.
“My relationship with the Nebraska staff has continued to grow over the past few months. They’ve consistently shown me a lot of love and made me feel like a priority. That’s a big part of what brought me to Lincoln this weekend.”
Secondary coach Addison Williams has been the main point of contact, and Kirkpatrick said that connection has grown into something more personal.
“I was able to connect with Coach Addi the most,” he said. “Me and him have a really close relationship.
He’s like an older brother to me and a great coach on and off the field. Our conversations mean a lot to me.”
On Saturday, Kirkpatrick paid close attention to Andrew Marshall, Victor Evans III and Danny Odem. He sees a fit for his own game in Nebraska’s defensive style.
“Nebraska’s defense is physical and plays with a lot of energy,” he said. “I can definitely see myself fitting into their defense and making an impact in the secondary.”
The visit also gave him a chance to spend time around other recruits and commits, something he values as he weighs his options.
“I was able to be around some of the other recruits and commits,” he said. “It was great getting to know them and seeing the relationships within the program.”
Kirkpatrick is aiming to make his decision by the end of December or early January, and Nebraska appears to have given itself a real shot. Even with the Huskers coming up short on the field Saturday, the trip left a lasting mark.
“Coming out of this visit, Nebraska is definitely one of the schools that stands out the most in my recruitment,” he said. “The atmosphere, the staff, and the relationships I’ve built have all made a big impression on me.”
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