LINCOLN — One quarterback recruiting door closed on Nebraska football to start the week.
Another quarterback recruiting door opened on Friday.
That's when 2024 Bellevue West quarterback Daniel Kaelin announced his decommitment from Missouri via social media.
"This decision wasn't easy or made lightly," Kaelin wrote in part. "So please respect my decision."
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound three-star — who threw for 3,186 yards and 36 touchdowns last season — is back on the market, and Nebraska is a logical contender.
The Huskers' new coach, Matt Rhule, had to wait for a final decision from five-star Dylan Raiola — who committed this week to Georgia — before fully pursuing alternate options. Raiola took longer than expected to announce for the Bulldogs, delaying Nebraska's ability to turn the page.
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But Raiola's off the board, and the busy June official visit season has yet to begin.
Kaelin, who got the Nebraska scholarship offer from then-quarterbacks coach Mario Verduzco nearly two years ago, can look at Michigan State, Minnesota and a dozen more schools if he likes. But NU is likely push hard on Kaelin and his top two receivers — Isaiah McMorris and Dae'vonn Hall — who plan to officially visit Nebraska at the end of June.
For two months, it appeared likely Nebraska would miss two years in a row on a blue-chip in-state QB.
Last cycle, Gretna's Zane Flores picked Oklahoma State after NU's previous offensive coordinator, Mark Whipple, virtually ignored Flores in favor of Springfield (Mass.) Central quarterback William "Pop" Watson, who promptly dropped the Huskers for Virginia Tech once Whipple was fired. Rhule attempted to engage Flores, who remained solid to the Cowboys, where he's now battling for the starting job.
The Huskers have yet to extend an offer to 2025 Omaha North quarterback Sebastian Circo, who has offers from Syracuse, Penn State and Miami (Fla.), among others.
Nebraska football 2023 commits
Dwight Bootle, CB, Miami, Florida
the good life.🌽@HuskerFBNation
— Dwight Bootle II (@BootleII) February 1, 2022
#committed #GBR pic.twitter.com/uWGQzug5QF
Jaidyn Doss, WR, Peculiar, Missouri
#GBR pic.twitter.com/lH5wEq8U7k
— Jaidyn Doss (@JaidynDoss) June 3, 2022
Gunnar Gottula, OL, Lincoln (Southeast)
COMMITTED. #GBR 🌽🔴 pic.twitter.com/HmhuE34yct
— Gunnar Gottula ⁷⁷ (@GottulaGunnar) June 26, 2021
Brock Knutson, OL, Scottsbluff, Nebraska
I’m staying home 🌽🌽🌽@HuskerFBNation @coach_frost @DonovanRaiola @SeanDillonNU @coachwilhite @Bluffs_Football @BarrettRuud #Committed #GBR #Cornfed pic.twitter.com/LcTw9koHgx
— Brock Knutson (@knutson_brock) June 6, 2022
Maverick Noonan, EDGE, Omaha (Elkhorn South)
COMMITTED TO NEBRASKA‼️☠️🌽☠️ @julieanoonan @DannyNoonan95 pic.twitter.com/5NNujqWJV3
— Maverick Noonan (@MaverickNoonan) June 24, 2022
Dylan Rogers, EDGE, Cypress, Texas
Done deal.☠️ #GBR @coach_frost pic.twitter.com/ck784xYW7c
— Dylan Rogers (@drogers041) July 5, 2022
Sam Sledge, OL, Omaha (Creighton Prep)
COMMITTED🌽🏈#GBR pic.twitter.com/xRk7Bcp9aV
— Sam Sledge (@SamSledge1) February 21, 2022
Riley Van Poppel, OL, Argyle, Texas
COMMITTED. GO BIG RED‼️☠️☠️🌽🌽 @toddrodgers13 @Coach_Lundy @coach_frost @coachdawsgbr @CoachChinander @BryanApplewhite @SeanDillonNU @HuskerFBNation @Nebraska247 @TEP5252 @BHoward_11 pic.twitter.com/oaq10fXAI6
— Riley Van Poppel (@Riley_VanPoppel) June 13, 2022
Brice Turner, WR, Bay City, Texas
After a great conversation with @evancooper2 and @CoachBME, I would like to say that I will be verbally committing to The University of Nebraska for Football and Track!! @HuskerFBNation @NUTrackandField pic.twitter.com/AzMZ8dTHr7
— Brice Turner (@BriceTurner9) December 6, 2022
Princewill Umanmielen, EDGE, Manor, Texas
100% COMMITTED #GBR 🌽🔴☠️ pic.twitter.com/y6Y39FgxY7
— Princewill Umanmielen (@hoodiiewill) December 19, 2022
Rahmir Stewart, S, Philadelphia
Boommmm #GBR ☠️🌽❌ #huskernation @HuskerFBNation @Omeezi_ @evancooper2 @CoachMattRhule @cy_woodland pic.twitter.com/YrhBH3dVcF
— 1RahmirStewart (@Rahstew1) December 18, 2022
Jaylen Lloyd, WR, Omaha (Omaha Westside)
GBR!! pic.twitter.com/K9UoWWq8ei
— jaylen lloyd (@LloydJaylen) December 17, 2022
Mason Goldman, OL, Gretna
COMMITTED!!! GBR🔴⚪️!!@CoachMattRhule @HuskerFBNation @DonovanRaiola @Coach_Knighton @CoachKubicek @GretnaDragonAD @Boosters_Dragon pic.twitter.com/kmJLo16D9l
— Mason Goldman (@goldman_mason) December 20, 2022
Syncere Safeeullah, S, Bradenton, Fla. (IMG Academy)
Let’s work💯#GBR @HuskerFBNation @CoachMattRhule @evancooper2 @IMGAcademy @NCEC_Recruiting @NatlPlaymkrsAca @CSmithScout @247Sports @Rivals pic.twitter.com/CEpecwilbb
— Syncere Safeeullah (@SyncereSafe30) December 12, 2022
Jason Maciejczak, DL, Pierre, S.D.
University of North Dakota, thank you! Can’t thank you guys enough for the relationships we’ve built and people we’ve met!With that being said I am extremely blessed for the opportunity play in the Big 10 and very excited to announce I am committing to the University of Nebraska! pic.twitter.com/kVt4Tf4Diu
— Maciejczak_64 (@Maciejczak6) December 19, 2022
Tristan Alvano, K, Omaha (Omaha Westside)
100% ALL IN❤️❤️ #GBR pic.twitter.com/YdxXpJir8O
— Tristan Alvano (@AlvanoTristan) December 16, 2022
Kwinten Ives, RB, Palmyra, N.J
All gas. No brakes. 110% all in‼️ @Huskers #cornhuskers pic.twitter.com/wtAdetU3or
— Kwinten Ives (@kwintenives) December 12, 2022
Malachi Coleman, WR, Lincoln East
You have to WANT to be here!! 110% all N and signed!! @BarstoolHusker @HuskerFBNation @Rivals_Clint @CoachMattRhule @Hayesfawcett3 @AllenTrieu @adamgorney @ParkerThune @ChadSimmons_ pic.twitter.com/7dMPPdHf0l
— Malachi Coleman (@ChiColeman23) December 21, 2022
Eric Fields, LB, Ardmore, Okla.
AGTG #COMMITTED #GBR @Omeezi_ @CoachMattRhule @CoachKennedy7 pic.twitter.com/5SRmYUj4ys
— Eric (@EricFields24) December 21, 2022
Vincent Carroll-Jackson, DL, Harrisburg, Pa.
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/vGJ73ODNHw
— Vincent Carroll-Jackson (@Vincent48487) December 21, 2022
Cameron Lenhardt, EDGE, Bradenton, Florida
☠️ Throw ‣ The ‣ Bones ☠️
— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFBNation) January 4, 2023
Staten Island, NY native @CameronLenhardt is officially Lincoln bound.#RENEW23 pic.twitter.com/GHJKpaA11B
Demitrius Bell, WR, Nashville, Tennessee
Let’s work 🌽🌽 @evancooper2 @CoachMattRhule @Coach_Satt pic.twitter.com/7wMZnvYUDX
— Demitrius Bell (@db1_1o) January 24, 2023
Ethan Nation, CB, Roswell, Georgia
BREAKING: 2023 CB Ethan Nation has Committed to Nebraska!
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 3, 2023
The 5’11 160 CB from Roswell, GA chose the Cornhuskers over Auburn, Ohio State, Colorado, and Houston.
He joins Nebraska’s No. 33 Class in the 2023 Team Rankings 🌽https://t.co/kJFTnqg7xt pic.twitter.com/vYoUKgxYDW
Ismael Smith Flores, TE, Arlington, Texas
I will be signing my NLI to the University of Nebraska on Wednesday @ home with my family due to the weather, more than blessed to be able to be apart of this prestigious program!!♥️ #GBR @HuskerFBNation @Martin_Football pic.twitter.com/x53KyafMGK
— Ismael Smith Flores (@IsmaelSmithF) January 31, 2023
Sua Lefotu, DL, Bellflower, California
Proud and honored to announce my commitment to the University of Nebraska. I want to thank God, my family and everyone that has supported me along the way. #GBR @boscofootball @Coach_Knighton @CoachMattRhule @HuskerCoachTW pic.twitter.com/9lOvVVMf68
— Sua Lefotu (@SuaLefotu) January 28, 2023
Jeremiah Charles, WR, Arlington, Texas
OFFICIALLY A HUSKER❤️🤍🌽🏴☠️#GBR #NationalSigningDay pic.twitter.com/mDXQxREfi0
— Jeremiah Charles (@jeremiah_charl2) February 1, 2023
D'Andre Barnes, CB, Aurora, Colorado
🏔 ➡️ 🌽@jdb_iii is headed east to be a Husker.#RENEW23 pic.twitter.com/P77zcNWXwR
— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFBNation) February 1, 2023
Sam McKewon
Sam covers Nebraska football, recruiting, women's basketball and more for The World-Herald and HuskerExtra. Follow him on Twitter @swmckewonOWH. Email: SMcKewon@owh.com
