Published Monday, October 1, 2012 AT 10:42 AM / Updated at 11:05 AM
Recruiting: Prospects react to big weekend, win over Wisconsin
Sam McKewon Omaha World-Herald

Nebraska’s 30-27 win over Wisconsin doubled as the biggest recruiting weekend in years — certainly the biggest of the Bo Pelini era — with the Huskers hosting a variety of committed and uncommitted prospects. Of the non-commits, none were bigger — literally and metaphorically — than the three offensive tackle targets in town, David Knevel, Kenny Lacy and Christian Morris.

Lacy and Morris are both UCLA commits, but that doesn’t mean much, considering they always intended to take their NU visits, and the Bruins probably just put on the hard sell to get their commitments. Did the Nebraska visit change their minds?

According to 6-foot-6, 285-pound Morris — the ringleader of the three, I suspect, and the one who had the best overall frame — the answer is yes.

“The visit kind of made me reconsider UCLA a little bit,” Morris told Huskers Illustrated. “I’m still open-minded to other teams. It’s UCLA, Nebraska and Oklahoma.”

Lacy – a four-star listed at 6-foot-6, 270 pounds by probably two inches shorter than Morris – told Husker Online he liked his trip as well.

“I was very impressed by the facilities they have and the resources they have academically for their players. Their sports medicine facilities were very impressive to me too…I also liked the schemes they play with. During the game, their players kept playing hard and I felt that I could fit in there.”

David Knevel, a 6-foot-8, 290-pound tackle who  might be close to a five-star if he played in the United States, rated his visit a 9 out of 10, according to Huskers Illustrated. He’ll still take his visit to Purdue next week, but Nebraska made a big enough impression that you can expect the Huskers to make a final list.

Other visitor reactions from the weekend:

Dominic Walker: The 6-foot-2, 195-pound wide receiver was committed to Vanderbilt. Well, Vandy still stinks and Nebraska made major inroads with the three/four-star talent.

“It was great,” Walker told Husker Online. “It was a good experience. I love the coaches and I loved hanging out with the players and everything. They treated me well. All I can say is Nebraska, I’m really considering it and it made me think about opening back up my options.”

Walker told HO he’ll take visits to Cincy and Missouri, but NU is in his top three. Nebraska has a chance here.

J.D Hinnant: The offensive guard prospect from Fountain Valley, Calif. — listed at 6-foot-5, 260 pounds but not that tall or probably that heavy — told HI his visit was “amazing” because of the crowd, the tour of the Student Life Center and a short meeting with head coach Bo Pelini.

“It went really well because he was very straight forward with us,” Hinnant said. “That was the first time I’ve really had a 1-on-1 talk with him. I know he’s a more defensive minded coach, but he’s a real good guy.”

Hinnant has a visit still to take to Oregon.

JoJo Kemp: The 5-foot-10, 190-pound all-purpose back is now reconsidering his commitment to South Florida after a Nebraska visit surpassed his expectations.

“Nebraska surprised me big time, there’s no doubt about that,” Kemp told HI. “First things you think of are middle of nowhere, cold and country with cornfields. When you actually get here it’s like wow. It’s real nice here just like in Florida.”

Dashon Hunt: The 5-foot-9, 175-pound consensus four-star corner from Thousand Oaks, Calif., seemed sold on NU’s big-game atmosphere.

“I’ve never been in an atmosphere like that,” he told HI. “I knew that they have had sold out stadiums, but I didn’t know it was like that. Getting that experience in person was a really big thing.”

Hunt praised NU secondary coach Terry Joseph as “down to earth” and a guy who “doesn’t sugarcoat anything.”

Shelby Christy: The 6-foot-3, 190-pound wide receiver from Geismar, La., is committed to Mississippi State. A visit to Nebraska did nothing to change that. Lincoln may simply be too far away.

“I really want family to be able to watch me play,” Christy told HI.

Out of the whole bunch, I was most impressed with the frames of Morris, Knevel and Lacy. It’s crucial the Huskers get one of them, but landing Morris could get them all three. NU might have the best chance with Hinnant, Kemp and Walker.

About Sam McKewon

Sam McKewon covers Nebraska football for The World-Herald. Got a tip, question or rant? Good. Email him at sam.mckewon@owh.com. And follow him on Twitter at @swmckewonOWH. And call him at 402.219.3790.