Scott Frost Signing Day Press Conference

Nebraska Signing Day Press Conference
Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021

Head Coach Scott Frost
Opening Statement
“I want to start off today by first of all congratulating Coach (John) Cook and the volleyball team. I got a chance to watch (Saturday’s match) and man what a great win for them. I am looking forward to watching Thursday (NCAA Semifinal) and hopefully Saturday (NCAA Final). Good luck to those girls.
 
“It has been an exciting couple of weeks here, for me and for Nebraska football. There are a lot of changes and a lot of work going into getting some new coaches on board and getting some new players on board. That’s exciting to me. I’m really happy with the changes and the new guys that we have coming on board, both on staff and on the roster. College football is changing, and I think we have to be light on our feet and make sure that we’re adapting to some of those changes. The recruiting process is changing a little bit and it can be uncomfortable at times but we’re going to play the game the best that we can.
 
“I’m really excited about the young men that we’ve added today. I would imagine that we’re not done with the recruiting process. That’s going to keep going probably through Christmas break and through the next signing period and maybe even beyond that. I knew we weren’t going to sign that many kids this year, for some of those reasons. We don’t have a lot of spots on our roster as it stands today, so we were really selective with the kids that we decided to recruit and take, and I think that through that selective process, we landed on some really good guys that we feel good about being able to help us right now and develop into really good football players.
 
“There’s going to be a lot of new faces when we get back after Christmas break, both in the coaches offices and in the meeting rooms with the new players. I’m really looking forward to starting fresh with that group of guys and adding them to the young talent and the young leaders that we have on our football team and plowing our way forward. It’s a good day for us, it’s been a good couple of weeks, and I’m looking forward to working with all of these guys.
 
“Rather than get asked questions I think I will just go through the commits from today and give you a brief comment about them.”
 
On Chase Androff
“Chase Androff is a guy that is from Minnesota a tight end for us that Coach (Sean) Beckton identified early on as somebody that he thought fit what he wanted to do. We are excited about him and love his size and his potential. We have got some good young tight ends in the program right now and would not have taken one there if we did not think he was a talented kid that could come in and help us. So he is coming down from Minnesota and we are really excited to see what he can do.”
 
On Jake Appleget
“Jake Appleget is a Lincoln Southeast kid and was at our camp. We really liked him. We really like his athletic ability. He played both sides of the football for Lincoln Southeast so I was able to go to one of their football games and watch him. He is a Husker through and through and a Lincoln kid. We do not want to miss out on really good athletes that we think can develop into really good players for us especially here in the state of Nebraska. So Jake was a pretty easy decision for us and we are looking forward to spending more time with him.”
 
On Justin Evans-Jenkins
“Justin Evans-Jenkins is a kid that we have had our eye on for a long time. His whole recruitment kind of happened late. He is a kid that wrestles in high school and has the right demeanor. I love how aggressive he plays, and really believe in his potential. We kind of were selective with our spots and being really careful with our spots and did not want to give them away to anybody that we didn’t think was somebody we felt really good about being able to come in and make a difference for us. We brought Justin in on the last visit possible and after he was here, everybody liked him even more. We really wanted him to get around our new offensive line coach Coach (Donovan) Raiola and they hit it off and Donovan really believes in him. We were really excited to get that addition late.”
 
On Jaeden Gould
“Another late addition from New Jersey was Jaeden Gould. Coach (Mike) Dawson did a great job with him and Coach (Erik Chinander) and Coach (Travis Fisher) did a great job with him. He’s somebody we recruited really hard early on in the process, and he was committed to another school. There was a lot of change obviously, in college football this year and a lot of kids committed to places that all of a sudden at the end of the season, found out they were committed somewhere without a coach or a different coach. I think that changed a lot of perspectives and got a lot of kids back on the market. We were just elated that Jaeden got back in touch with us. I flew out to Jersey to see him and his family. I feel like he’s a big time player that can come in and hopefully help us early, and we just feel great about getting back in on him.”
 
On Malcolm Hartzog
“Malcolm Hartzog is another defensive back. He was one of the players of the year in Mississippi. He’s another kid where we did not know a whole lot about him until one of the bye weeks when some of the coaches went out. Coach (Erik Chinander) did a great job of going out and hitting the pavement. He went down South and came back and told me that everywhere he went all the coaches in the area were talking about him. I think he is a kid that has a really good corner skill and can also help us on special teams and in the return game. He came up on a visit and everybody loved his personality and everything too, so it was another late add with Malcolm but I am really excited about him.”
 
On Ernest Hausmann
“I am fired up about Ernest. He is a Nebraska kid from (Columbus), and he has not played football his whole life like other kids but I see the potential there for him to have an elite career. I am really excited to add him to our young core of linebackers and see what he can do. I love his demeanor and his love for the game, and I am really fired up about his talent.”
 
On Victor Jones Jr.
“Victor Jones is a receiver. Coach (Sean) Beckton did a great job with him. We have known Victor since my time in Florida. He is another kid with elite speed and potential at that position. Victor also does some really good things on special teams and the kick return and punt return game. He was one of our earliest commits, and we’re really grateful that he stuck with us and is going to come up and play for us. We are excited to get him into the program.”
 
On Jalil Martin
“(Coach Travis Fisher) did a great job with him. Jalil’s a safety from Chicago that was not really on our radar until he came down to football camp this summer. Fisher started watching him and started to get really interested then he went to grab (Coach Chinander) and he started to get really interested then they came and grabbed me and I got really interested. He is another great kid with a great family. I feel honestly that he is under-recruited a little bit and we are lucky that we got him to Nebraska.”
 
On DeShon Singleton
“DeShon is a junior college safety from Hutch (Hutchinson CC). He is a kid originally from Louisiana who came up on a midweek visit last week. We actually started watching him over the course of the fall semester and during the season, and we are really impressed with him. We just needed to get around him and make sure that he was our kind of guy. (Coach Fisher) drove all the way to Hutch to watch a game the weekend before he came up. He was here on a Wednesday-Thursday visit. We are really excited about him. Safety is one spot on our roster where we are a little short on numbers, and I think he is going to be a really good addition that will hopefully come in and compete right away.”
 
On Gage Stenger
“Gage is awesome. I am excited about him, too. His team was probably throughout the course of the year one of the best in the state, and he was arguably one of the best players in the state. If there is a player like that in Nebraska we want him here. He is another great kid from a great family. He is a high character guy. I am not sure where Gage will end up playing yet but I have a lot of confidence in him as an athlete that wherever he ends up he is going to make a difference on our football team.”
 
On Brody Tagaloa
“Brody Tagaloa is a kid from California. We were recruiting him for a long time. Tony Tuioti did a great job with him. He plays tight end at his school and plays defensive line. He is another guy that I am not 100 percent sure where he will end up but I just love his size and athletic ability and who he is as a person and as a kid, and I cannot wait to get him in the program and find out where the best spot for him is and I know he will be a difference maker.”
 
On Richard Torres
“I am really selective with quarterbacks. We were looking at a lot of guys and recruiting a lot of guys. We had some guys and names on our board. Richie goes to a school where I do not think recruiters go through as much as some other places and in my opinion was a little bit under the radar. I think he has got elite arm talent. He got hurt this year but he will be back as an early enrollee and ready for spring. Especially with Coach (Mark) Whipple coming in and some of the things that we are thinking about doing, I think he is going to fit in really well and I cannot wait to work with him.”

On the challenges of the recruiting numbers
“It used to be a pretty simple yeah 85 scholarships and this many kids are graduating and this many kids are coming in. I think the days of signing 25 kids on signing day and going to the next signing day and signing 25 are probably over. There are extra years with COVID and the transfer portal possibilities and other things. It is kind of a moving target every time. Our goal is to try and be as nimble as we can through all of those changes and adjustments to college football and try to accumulate the best players we can and put the best team together as we can. That is one of the reasons we did not want to sign that many. We wanted to be sure about the kids we were signing. There are literally hundreds of kids in the transfer portal right now, and I expect there will be more.
 
“We feel really good about a few of them already that are potentially going to join our team. We cannot talk about that. We feel really good about some other ones that you might not have heard of and their chances of joining the team. I do not want to live in that world but if there are players that come up in the portal that we feel can make us a better team and fit with our culture and our team and make up better that we are going to keep our eye on that. Definitely save some spots in case those people show up and want to be at Nebraska.”
 
On if there is a need to get a quarterback from the transfer portal
“We are going to take the best guy that we can to help our football team whether that is high school kids or junior college kids or transfer portal kids. We are taking a look at everybody we think merits a look. Quarterbacks are definitely a spot we are taking a look at every kid that we can. I think our mind is leaning toward taking one in the portal right now. We are low on numbers there but it has to be the right one, too. We are working through that right now but at all of these positions if there is a player we feel like can help us and we can get we are probably going to take them.”
 
On the new offensive vision
“It has been great with (Mark Whipple). Up until this point most of our focus has been on getting a coaching staff put together and getting a recruiting class put together. I have known (Whipple) for a long time and kept in touch with him for a long time. Really admire what he does and what he was able to do in his career and this year at Pittsburgh. Same with Mickey (Joseph). Mickey’s is coming from a program that won a national championship and had an elite offense and Donovan (Raiola) coming from a pro offense. After we get through today and some of the things we are doing now I cannot wait to get into a room with those guys and talk offense and figure out exactly what we are going to look like and what we are going to be. I have a lot of confidence the marriage of those things are going to come together real well because there are some elite coaches and really smart guys in that room.
 
“We are going to do what gives us the best chance to win. I think that is going to require some really smart guys sitting down in a room and figuring it out. A little bit will probably be decided based on the players we have in the room at that point. There are a lot of offenses that work if you execute and do it well. I cannot wait to try and mix what we are doing with some of the stuff those guys are doing and hopefully get even better.”
 
On new offensive coordinator Mark Whipple and how he settled on him for the position
“I talked to a lot of guys. Sat down with a lot of guys. There are really unbelievable guys that I sat down with and talked to. I was really encouraged by the level of interest from some of the best guys, in my opinion, in the country. When it came right down to it I think what Pitt did this year and just Whipple’s intelligence and personality. If I am going to take a step back at all from coaching offense and calling plays I wanted someone who has done it a lot, who was experienced, had done it at an elite level, who had coached at an elite level and that I felt like could go into a room and take over and be the face of the offense.
 
“I did not really know other than from third parties that Whipple would have any interest and kind of found that out late and was able to sit down with him and it was a pretty easy decision after I was able to do that. Just his passion for the game, his knowledge of football and his command of what he likes to do is really impressive.”
 
On new offensive line coach Donovan Raiola
“I kind of look at him as a younger guy, too. I was 38 when I became an offensive coordinator. I think Coach Osborne was 34 when he got the head job here. Donovan is 39 and I guess that makes him a young guy in the business. I wish I was 39 again. The first time I met Donovan was actually at a high school practice when I was recruiting. I had heard his name before and knew where he was but I am not sure how much interest I had. We started talking about what he believed in on the offensive line and the technique that he coached, and I got pretty interested pretty fast.
 
“There was again some unbelievable candidates and a couple that it really came down to that I think both would have done a great job. Really when I sat down and watched film with Donovan and watched what he was teaching and what was being done, I felt like it would make a big difference on our offensive line. Really impressed with his character, with his demeanor, and I think that is important with the offensive line we have and the relationship that I know he is going to have with the guys. Could not be more excited with landing on that, and I know this is going to be his first big job. Sometimes those guys are really hungry and that is what I expect from Donovan and he is going to work his butt off for this to work.”
 
On Donovan Raiola’s teaching method
“To me what he coaches is really modern and it is what I believe in. He is going to get the guys ripping off the ball and running and trying to get people moved. It is a little different from what some other people coach. Again, it is what I believe in and based on our personnel and the type of offense we run I think it is the best thing for us. I think he is as good as a guy as there is to teach those things and what we want to get done.”
 
On the remaining open coaching position and who will coach running backs and special teams
“Those are decisions that we still have to make. I think I am really close to getting those things done. Regardless where it lands I know we are going to be coached really well at running back and on special teams. Wanted to get the coordinator thing done first and ended up having an opportunity to hire Mickey (Joseph) so got that done before the coordinator and then found the offensive line coach that I wanted. We got one more spot left and now with Signing Day, I imagine I will turn my full attention to that but I have a pretty good idea on what I want to do, and I think it will be coming pretty quick and I feel good about us being coached well at both running back and special teams.”
 
On Mickey Joseph
“He is a smart guy first and foremost. He loves Nebraska. This is where he wanted to be. I am grateful for that. I think he is going to be able to help us on offense. I think he is going to be able to help me as a head coach because of some of his experience. Coach (Mark) Whipple, too, which is what I wanted and needed. There is no question that he is going to work his tail off to try and get us the best players that we can in this program. We need a few more guys like that that are out hitting the pavement trying to bring the best guys possible to Lincoln.”
 
On the recruiting environment when hiring coaches
“There is a lot of change that is going on in college football. It is crazy. Even in recruiting I cannot tell you with thirty-something coaching changes how many kids had rugs pulled out from them right before Signing Day. I think there is going to be a lot more guys available in February because of that.
 
“Coaching is no different. There is a lot of movement. A lot of change. I was really excited in the interest level of our jobs and the people that wanted to be a part of this. Landed on the guys that I think fit us the best and give us the best chance. Everywhere I went there is a lot of excitement and a lot of people recognize how hard our kids played last year and how close we were in a lot of games. A lot of people that wanted to be a part of that.”
 
On what he expects the new offense to look like and how he sold it to recruits
“There is going to be elements of what we do probably and elements of what other people do. At the end of the day you can either run it or throw it. I think we will land on a good combination of that. I don’t want to say it too much because I want to keep as much under my sleeve as I can but I know kids feel great about where we are going. I talked to those kids a little bit about what we are going to do on both sides of the ball. A lot of people want to be a part of it.”
 
On his confidence in the returning quarterbacks
“I am confident in those guys. Coach (Mark) Whipple’s got a chance to look at those guys already too, and he’s confident in those guys. If those are our guys going into the year, I feel great about it. I thought Logan (Smothers) played three excellent quarters against Iowa. We didn’t finish great. I’ve said it all along but I think Heinrich (Haarberg) has a ton of talent and it’s just a matter of time with him. We are really excited about those guys, and I know Whipple is too. If we find the right guy to add to that competition we will.”
 
On recruiting changes over the last couple of years
“I actually think this year was probably a little easier than last. Part of that was us not being able to go out on the road for a lot of days. We weren’t able to go see kids and have kids on campus but when we get kids on this campus we have a great chance to get them. I think a lot of kids and coaches around the country saw how well we played despite the results, and we are looking for a few guys who are going to make the difference and get us over that hump. We will keep looking for them.”
 
On rebuilding the offense  
“Those were tough decisions. I respect those guys and appreciate what those guys have poured into this program. For some of those guys that started four years like Cam (Jurgens) and Adrian (Martinez) they had tough decisions. I wish them nothing but the best but would have liked to keep a lot of them here. Those guys are making the decisions that they think are best for them, and I had great conversations with every one of them about helping them succeed. There are programs all over the country that are losing guys and replacing those types of guys are not going to be easy but we will get there.”
 
On importance of camps  
“It is really important especially for us. There are a lot of schools closer to recruiting areas with more recruits every year then we have. Getting kids to Lincoln is really important for us. I have said it a bunch but when we get kids here and they see the environment here, we have got a great chance of getting them. Camps and having visitors for games help us do that. We went basically a whole recruiting cycle without being able to get anyone here and having those camps and opportunities to get kids to Lincoln sells itself. As many people as we can get to Lincoln gives us a big benefit.”
 
On the center position and if he will look to the transfer portal for that position
“We are going to look for the best possible with remaining spots in the transfer portal. Like I said before I feel great about some of the young talent in our program, and I feel great that Donovan’s going to get some of the guys already in the program playing at a higher level than they have. We have got a lot of guys that have taken snaps at center. At the end of the day I have a lot of confidence in our guys and we will get the best five out there.”
 
On how it’s felt with the new coaches here
“Hitting refresh is big and having some new faces in the building is going to give us a spark. Just the attitudes and energies that some of these coaches are bringing into the building make a difference for us. I am excited to put together some new faces with them. It’s going to be a new group, and we’re going to have to do a great job of bringing the group together as a team and getting them to play as a team so it not just a bunch of new faces. Again, I think we are a long way down the road of putting the right team together especially with the coaching hires we made.”
 
On the new leaders of the team
“I have a good idea of who I want them to be but those guys have to do it. I had individual meetings with our entire roster. There was some I told that it was time to step up and there was some I told that I was really excited about where they were as a player but we need you to step up as a leader. That’s going to start right away when we hit the weight room in January. Some of those guys are going to be the same and some are going to be new faces. I feel really good about the character and ability for some of those guys to take on those roles.”
 
On if he will share any of those names
“No because I do not want to leave anybody out, but we have high character kids on our football team. They are going to work their tails off. Leadership is pretty easy and that’s setting the standard and holding everybody else to that standard. I think a lot of guys returning on defense have already been doing that. We have holes to fill on offense from that standpoint, but we have a lot of guys that do things the right way and go about things the right way. We just need their voice and role to expand.”
 
On his thoughts about Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) affecting the recruiting process
“I think it makes a difference. I think it gives us a chance to grow here based on the interest of Husker football. Our student-athletes – not just football players – have a great opportunity to benefit from that here as much or more than anywhere else in the country. It’s probably starting to make a difference, but I expect that difference to maybe even get bigger as we go down the road.”

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