Recruiting notes: ‘Impressive’ visit with Scott Frost, NU helps Casey Rogers commit to Huskers

Recruiting notes: ‘Impressive’ visit with Scott Frost, NU helps Casey Rogers commit to Huskers
Anthony Banderas attended several Nebraska football games this past season. (World-Herald News Service)

LINCOLN — Casey Rogers thought Nebraska was the school for him when his official visit ended Sunday.

Less than 24 hours later, with three Husker coaches standing in his prep school in Avon, Connecticut, he knew it.

Parts of Rogers’ tour through the NU campus were unique enough on their own to sway him to the Big Red. He and his parents met President Hank Bounds, spoke with Athletic Director Bill Moos and soaked in facilities that met or exceeded what they saw on visits last month to Alabama and Ohio State. They left satisfied about the academic support and how Casey could further grow into his 6-foot-5, 250-pound frame as a defensive end.

“It’s just an easy vibe to pick up on,” said Lelan Rogers, Casey’s father. “All three of us came away with a very positive feeling that this was the place.”

But the clincher came Monday. At 9 a.m. eastern time, coach Scott Frost arrived with defensive coordinator Erik Chinander and defensive line coach Mike Dawson at Casey Rogers’ prep school, Avon Old Farms, to hammer home just how much they wanted him back in Lincoln.

Rogers gave them good news. He made the announcement public Tuesday night, posting his decision on Twitter to become the 16th known member of NU’s 2018 class. He becomes the 10th commit since Frost took over in early December.

The coaches’ visit “was very impressive,” Lelan Rogers said. “That was kind of what put Casey over the edge. He just felt everything click. He said he had that gut feeling and has since committed. He’s been just as happy as can be.”

Tweeted Casey Rogers: “I’m beyond excited to announce that I have committed to The University of Nebraska! Thanks to everyone who has supported me! Go Big Red! #GBR”

Rogers’ unconventional path to Power Five college football began as a sophomore when he pledged to play lacrosse at Syracuse, where his dad is an assistant coach. But as Casey grew to enjoy football more through his senior year at Westhill High School in Stamford, Connecticut — and play it better as a defensive end, tight end and linebacker — those plans began to change. He received late football scholarship offers from Western Michigan and West Virginia in the Class of 2017 cycle.

Instead of signing, he opted for a postgraduate route in Avon, where he played for an Old Farms team that went unbeaten in the regular season. He spent much of the summer touring camps around the country trying to draw attention from coaches and recruiting sites.

He told Syracuse.com last summer after an Alabama workout that he’d met privately with Tide coach Nick Saban.

“He said, ‘You performed very, very well at our camp,’ ” Rogers said. “ ‘We had you at three different positions (DE/OLB/TE), and it’s hard to find a guy who can do that.’ ”

Rogers — now a three-star prospect according to 247Sports and Rivals while still unrated by ESPN — turned down offers from the likes of Indiana, Mississippi, Oregon State and California. He visited Alabama and Ohio State but had yet to receive offers from either. He was set to visit Vanderbilt this weekend but has since canceled those plans.

Nebraska adds Rogers to a defensive line that includes four-star signee Tate Wildeman from Colorado and three-star commit Masry Mapieu from York. The Huskers are also still chasing linemen Daniel Carson (Independence, Missouri) and Habakkuk Baldonado (Clearwater, Florida) as well as Michael Thompson (St. Louis). NU offered Baldonado on Tuesday.

In addition to lacrosse, the 19-year-old Rogers also plays hockey — he shoots lefty in both but writes right-handed — and wrestled this winter. He told his father his decision Monday after talking with his future Nebraska coaches.

“He said, ‘I want to commit; it’s what I want to do,’ ” Lelan Rogers said. “I said, ‘It’s your life. I support anything you do.’ ”

Anthony Banderas keeps Huskers in the family, commits to Nebraska’s walk-on class

Lincoln Southwest senior Anthony Banderas wants to follow in his family’s footsteps.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound linebacker has heard from his father and brother what it’s like to suit up for the Huskers. Now, after committing to NU as a preferred walk-on, he will have that chance.

Anthony’s father, Tom, was a three-year letter winner for the Huskers at tight end from 1985-87. His brother, Josh, was a prominent member of the Blackshirts for four seasons. He ended his Nebraska career in 2016 as one of four team captains and led the Huskers with 93 tackles.

“My dad went there, my brother went there and now I get a chance to experience it myself,” Anthony Banderas said. “Growing up in Nebraska, it is a dream for everyone that plays high school football here to play for Nebraska.”

Banderas chose to walk on at Nebraska over a scholarship offer from South Dakota. The decision wasn’t easy.

“It was pretty close,” Banderas said. “But at the end of the day, I talked it over with my parents and I want to get a chance to run out of that tunnel like my dad and my brother.”

Banderas had 41 tackles and two interceptions for the Silver Hawks in 2017. He’ll start out playing linebacker for Nebraska.

He’s one of four Lincoln Southwest seniors pledged to Nebraska’s 2018 walk-on class. He’s joined by wide receiver Justin Holm, long snapper Cameron Pieper and offensive lineman Collin Shefke.

“We all work hard and Coach (Scott) Frost saw something in us to give us that opportunity,” Banderas said.

Notes

» Nebraska is engaged in another recruiting battle involving Vanderbilt, fighting the Commodores for three-star athlete/wide receiver Miles Jones (Fort Lauderdale, Florida). Jones posted Tuesday on Twitter he was decommitting from Vandy.

» Rogers’ Old Farms teammate, three-star wideout Nico Ragaini, committed to Iowa last week.

» NU also lost a target Tuesday when three-star QB Jamarye Joiner (Vali, Arizona), tweeted his intention to remain committed to Arizona. The prospect had been set to visit Nebraska this weekend.

Share: