Nebraska made a strong early move with 2028 defensive lineman RJ Cruz III, and the first visit went about as well as the Huskers could have hoped.
Cruz, a three-star prospect from Owing Mills (Md.) McDonogh School, was in Lincoln on Saturday for his first look at Nebraska. The trip came after the Huskers had been climbing his list since extending an offer late last spring.
By the end of the weekend, Cruz had a clearer picture of the program - and especially of assistant Corey Brown. The two have been building momentum for a while, and Cruz said the relationship is moving in the right direction.
“Me and Coach [Corey] Brown, I feel like we’re getting really close,” Cruz told Hail Varsity. “At the end of last school year, he came through and offered me in person. I’ve been in contact with a bunch of members of Nebraska’s staff since then.”
He came away impressed with Brown’s personality and approach. Cruz called him a “pretty chill guy” who can also “turn it up” when needed, and he liked the path Brown took to get where he is now.
“I like Coach Brown’s story a lot,” he said. “I’m pretty sure he started at a community college and kind of moved up the ranks.
Also like the way he looks at things, his attack scheme. I feel like it fits me really well.”
At 6-foot-3 and 285 pounds, Cruz brings enough size to fit multiple spots on the defensive line. Nebraska has seen him as a possible interior piece, similar to Husker defensive lineman Jahsear Whittington, whom Cruz has followed since Whittington was in high school in Philadelphia.
“I can really rotate anywhere,” Cruz said. “I can rotate three-tech, one-tech, nose guard, i doesn’t matter, especially since my frame fits it all. To them, I’m pretty sure right now it sounds like three-tech.”
The trip also gave Cruz a different view of Nebraska and the surrounding area. He originally comes from Lancaster, Penn., but plays high school football in the DMV, and he said Lincoln and Omaha felt more familiar than he expected.
“Honestly, I was pretty surprised,” he said. “I thought it was just going to be a bunch of cornfields, but turns out there’s a bunch of wilderness and woods; it’s actually really cool. I’m a big outdoors guy, so camping and fishing and all that, they actually have a lot of that there.”
Memorial Stadium made its own impression, too. Cruz has been around loud crowds before, but Nebraska stood out.
“Obviously, the fan base is insane there,” he said. “I mean, it was probably, I’d definitely say top three loudest stadiums I’ve been in.”
The visit won’t be the last. Cruz said he plans to get back to Lincoln as he continues sorting through his options, with Virginia Tech, Penn State, Maryland and others also in the mix. For now, Nebraska remains firmly in the conversation.
“I’m excited to keep growing my relationship with them,” he said. “I definitely have plans to get back there.
They’re definitely a big priority for me as I keep finding schools and see where I fit best. I’m excited to get back out there to Lincoln.”
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