Nebraska

Nebraska flips four-star OLB Dawson Merritt away from Alabama

Published

10 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Nebraska flips four-star OLB Dawson Merritt away from Alabama

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on Rivals.com, the leader in college football and basketball recruiting coverage. Be the first to know and follow your teams by signing up here.

Flip season is on and just got real for Nebraska. Four-star outside linebacker Dawson Merritt has announced that he’s flipped from Alabama to the Huskers.

Merritt had been a long time target of the Huskers and remained a priority even after his initial commitment to Alabama.

The Overland Park (Kan.) Blue Valley four-star is the 20th commitment for Nebraska’s 2025 recruiting class. The class currently sits inside the top 20 the Rivals team recruiting rankings.

WHAT MERRITT MEANS FOR NEBRASKA

If Nebraska is going to return to the national scene part of the story will be that the program started landing elite talent from the Midwest. So it’s a huge deal that the Huskers were able to pull the flip with Merritt who is among the best players in the region this cycle.

Merritt joins offensive lineman Julian Marks, linebacker Christian Jones, running back Jamarion Parker, defensive lineman Tyson Terry and wide receiver Isaiah Mozee as four-stars in the class from the Midwest. That’s a terrific haul for Rhule as he rebuilds the program.

This commitment also shows another important thing for Rhule. He can land players that want to go to elite programs. The relationship between Rhule and the Merritt family is fantastic. That’s because of Rhule’s ability to connect and how he kept on Dawson even after he gave his commitment to Alabama.

WHAT MERRITT BRINGS FOR THE HUSKERS

Versatility is the name of the game for Merritt. He’s exactly the type of potential defensive chess piece that defensive coordinator Tony White loves to coach. The Kansas native has the arm length, bend and quickness that can make him a good pass rusher. There are moments he flashed that ability when I saw him play in person this season.

But Merritt has a frame (6-3, 200) that will likely be able to hold 20-30 more pounds. Strength coach Corey Campbell will want to put some additional muscle mass on him before he hits the field in Lincoln. If that happens, Merritt could also be a player that plays some off-ball linebacker in the way that John Bullock currently plays for the team.

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Nebraska

Thursday Tim-Bits: Huskers heating up in final stretch to Signing Day

Published

17 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Press Room

Thursday Tim-Bits: Huskers heating up in final stretch to Signing Day

Nebraska sits at 19 commits in the 2025 class just weeks away from Early Signing Day. The Huskers are heating up, ramping up pursuit and NIL efforts as they look to put the finishing touches on the class. Here’s the latest on top targets like Michael Terry, Dawson Merritt and Jordan Allen, along with a note on the Huskers making the top group for two 2026 four-star targets and two 2026 targets set to see Nebraska in action this weekend.

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Nebraska

VB Previews: Nebraska hosts Minnesota and Indiana amid 21-game win streak

Published

1 day ago

November 14, 2024

Press Room

VB Previews: Nebraska hosts Minnesota and Indiana amid 21-game win streak

Slowly but surely, the Nebraska volleyball team is grinding its way into the No. 1 spot in the Top 25 national rankings.

The Huskers (24-1 overall, 14-0 Big Ten) remain just behind Pittsburgh (23-1) in the latest AVCA Top 25, released on Monday, in the No. 2 spot. They garnered their most first-place votes (12) in the poll in the last four weeks, however, amid their current 21-game win streak.

Now, they will be putting that dominant run to the test once again as they match up with Minnesota (16-8, 9-5) and Indiana (12-12, 5-9) this week in Lincoln.

Below are the stats to know, players to watch and more information on the Huskers’ upcoming home matches against the Gophers and Hoosiers.

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HOW TO WATCH, STREAM & LISTEN

#2 NEBRASKA (24-1 overall, 14-0 Big Ten) vs. MINNESOTA (16-8, 9-5)

Time: 8:00 p.m. CT on Thursday

TV Channel: Big Ten Network

Commentators: Larry Punteney (play by play) and Emily Ehman (color)

Streaming: Fox Sports App

Radio: Huskers Radio Network with John Baylor and Lauren (Cook) West will broadcast all the action on their volleyball affiliate stations

Listen online: Huskers.com (LINK)

App Audio: Official Huskers App

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#2 NEBRASKA (24-1 overall, 14-0 Big Ten) vs. INDIANA (12-12, 5-9)

Time: 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday

TV Channel: Big Ten Network

Commentators: Larry Punteney (play by play) and Lauren Stivrins (color)

Streaming: Fox Sports App

Radio: Huskers Radio Network with John Baylor and Lauren (Cook) West will broadcast all the action on their volleyball affiliate stations

Listen online: Huskers.com (LINK)

App Audio: Official Huskers App

SERIES HISTORY

NEBRASKA-MINNESOTA:

>> Nebraska is 38-12 all-time against Minnesota and won both matches against the Golden Gophers last year.

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NEBRASKA-INDIANA:

>> Nebraska is 23-1 all-time against Indiana and has won 23 straight against the Hoosiers since Indiana’s lone win in 1978.

SCOUTING REPORTS

NEBRASKA

All stats and info provided courtesy of Nebraska Athletics Communications

>> Nebraska has won 21 matches in a row since a loss at SMU on Sept. 3. Seventeen of the 21 wins have been sweeps, including the last four matches.

>> Entering Thursday’s match, Nebraska has won 15 sets in a row.

>> Nebraska is 6-0 against top-10 teams this season, which is the most top-10 wins in a regular season in school history.

>> Nebraska is 9-0 against ranked foes this season, as SMU was not in the AVCA Top 25 at the time of that match.

>> The Huskers rank 11th nationally and second in the Big Ten with a team hitting percentage of .295.

>> Nebraska ranks seventh nationally in kills per set (14.28).

>> Outside hitter Harper Murray is leading the Huskers with 3.30 kills per set and 25 service aces and is hitting .255. Murray also adds 2.15 digs per set.

>> Opposite hitter Merritt Beason is averaging 3.06 kills per set for the Big Red and is hitting .258 with 1.30 digs per set and 23 aces.

>> Taylor Landfair is putting up 2.51 kills per set and hitting .254.

>> Middle blocker Andi Jackson is averaging 2.67 kills with a .444 hitting percentage, which ranks fourth in the nation.

>> Middle blocker Rebekah Allick adds 1.68 kills per set on .337 hitting with 1.28 blocks per set. Allick has moved into the top 10 in school history in career blocks with 354.

>> Setter Bergen Reilly is averaging 11.12 assists per set, which ranks sixth in the nation and leads the Big Ten. She also adds 2.90 digs per set and has 17 aces. Reilly has 13 double-doubles and has been named Big Ten Setter of the Week three times this season.

>> Three-time All-American and two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Lexi Rodriguez guides the Husker back row with 3.70 digs per set. Last week, Rodriguez passed Kayla Banwarth for No. 2 all-time in career digs at Nebraska. Rodriguez now has 1,731 and is chasing Justine Wong-Orantes (1,890).

SCOUTING REPORT: MINNESOTA

>> No. 16 Minnesota is 16-8 overall and 9-5 in Big Ten play after suffering home defeats to Washington (3-1) and No. 12 Oregon (3-0) last week.

>> Julia Hanson leads the Golden Gophers with 3.73 kills per set and is hitting .270. She also has a team-high 26 aces.

>> Lydia Grote adds 2.87 kills per set and also has 26 aces.

>> Phoebe Awoleye ranks seventh nationally in blocks per set with 1.49. As a team, Minnesota ranks 13th (2.78).

SCOUTING REPORT: INDIANA

>> Indiana is 12-12 overall and 5-9 in the Big Ten after losses at home to No. 9 Purdue (3-1) and No. 20 USC (3-1) last week.

>> Candela Alonso-Corcelles paces the Hoosiers with 3.58 kills per set, while Avry Tatum adds 3.42 kills per set.

>> Camryn Haworth averages 9.96 assists per set and has 42 aces on the season.

>> Libero Ramsey Gary ranks second in the Big Ten with 4.20 digs per set.

STATS TO KNOW: NEBRASKA

SERVE AND PASS

>> Nebraska has allowed just 46 service aces this season, which leads the nation. The next closest team is Pittsburgh with 54 aces allowed.

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BALANCED ATTACK

>> Nebraska has seven different players averaging between 1.68 and 3.30 kills per set.

>> Six different players have led the Huskers in kills in a match this season.

>> Reilly ranks sixth nationally averaging 11.12 assists per set.

>> Nebraska’s attack has been one of the best in the nation this season. The Huskers rank 11th in hitting percentage (.295) and seventh in kills per set (14.28).

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HOME SWEET HOME

>> Nebraska has won 38 home matches in a row dating back to Dec. 1, 2022, which is the longest active streak in the nation.

>> The Huskers’ home win streak is its longest since moving into the Devaney Center in 2013.

>> Nebraska’s longest all-time home win streak was 88 matches from 2004-09. Since then, NU also has a home win streak of 38 matches in a row from 2009-11.

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Nebraska

Judge fines rural Nebraska junkyard owner after neighbors’ lawsuit

Published

1 day ago

November 14, 2024

Press Room

Judge fines rural Nebraska junkyard owner after neighbors’ lawsuit

FORT CALHOUN, Neb. (WOWT) – An eyesore in the wooded countryside north of the Omaha metro forced frustrated neighbors to take legal action. They ordered a court order for cleanup and the property owner got called before a judge.

More than a year ago, that judge ordered the owner of the Washington County junkyard to remove all parts and vehicles from his property. Neighbors who haven’t seen enough progress hope a civil contempt of court will jumpstart a cleanup once and for all.

“Everyone is disgusted with the sight of it and the sounds of it,” said nearby resident Chris Ostranic. “Something needs to be done.”

Six months ago, Chris and several other neighbors told 6 news about the lawsuit they filed to force a cleanup of the junkyard. After several missed deadlines, the neighbors say it’s time for the court to take a tougher stance and send a message that this mess should not be tolerated on the wooded acreage.

Junkyard owner Michael Pick, acting as his own lawyer, argued that he’s worked hard to cleanup his property. He claims 62 loads of scrap, 7,000 batteries and 150 vehicles have been hauled away. But Pick told the judge he ran out of time to get more done.

“If he’s working as hard as he says he is on this property, it should have been cleaned up,” Ostranic said.

District court judge Bryan Meismer ordered Pick to pay $9,600. Part of the amount for a fine, and the other $3,5000 to cover the neighbors’ legal expenses for their lawyers.

“Our client’s goal is to just get the property cleared and we’re hopeful that this is a step in what has been a long process for them, and to eventually get this junkyard removed from the property,” said the neighbors’ attorney, Brad Entwistle.

After the hearing ended, Pick declined to comment to 6 News; his sister stepping in the way. The two of them then left out a back door, but Pick can’t avoid the judge’s order to pay the contempt fine in 60 days and in the meantime, the niehgbors hope that means they’ll see a significant cleanup fo the property.

“I Just hope Mr. Pick realizes that this is a situation that is well out of hand and he need to abide,” Ostranic said. “He needs to comply.”

Pick told the judge that he will have trouble paying the entire contempt fine before the deadline, but he will be allowed to make payments over time.

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