Bestinau got that-
Steven M. Sipple, Parker Gabriel and Chris Basnett break down impending decisions from Nebraska football transfer portal targets, plus hoops and Baylor Scheierman.
Nebraska encountered serious attrition in its defensive line in the wake of the 2021 season.
As a result, the Huskers are counting on the transfer portal for immediate help.
On Tuesday, the portal delivered again.
Three days after Nebraska landed former TCU defensive end Ochaun Mathis, former Texas Tech defensive lineman Devin Drew announced he will play for the Huskers in 2022.
Drew recently took an official visit to Nebraska’s campus and also strongly considered playing for Illinois.
A native of Raytown, Missouri, Drew made 34 tackles in 13 games this past fall and had 55 stops in all in two seasons at Texas Tech.
Before joining the Red Raiders, Drew spent two seasons, 2018 and 2019, at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Count Iowa Western coach Scott Strohmeier as a believer in the 6-foot-3, 280-pound Drew.
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In many ways, Drew beat the odds to reach his current status, Strohmeier said.
“Devin came in here as a walk-on middle linebacker,” the coach said. “That’s where he played in high school.”
However, when Iowa Western began preseason camp in 2018, Drew was moved to defensive end. He was buried on the depth chart behind six other defensive ends, Strohmeier said.
But Drew wasn’t buried for long.
“I remember coming into staff meetings after practice and the coaches kept talking about him,” Strohmeier said. “I was thinking, ‘The dude is a walk-on MIKE linebacker. How good are we going to be if he’s climbing the defensive end board so quickly?’
“He just climbed and climbed and climbed.”
Eventually, of course, Iowa Western coaches had to make final roster decisions. At that point, Strohmeier said, Drew clearly rose to the level of starter.
COMMITTED‼️‼️‼️ #GBR #Huskers #BIG10 pic.twitter.com/4iDnFVlWbh
— Devin9️⃣0️⃣ (@_Dev90) May 3, 2022
Then, he produced at a high level in that role, appearing in 22 games over two seasons for Iowa Western, which won 19 games in that span.
“He’s a technician,” Strohmeier said. “He’s quiet and just works his tail off. He’ll do anything you ask him to do.”
In two seasons at Iowa Western, Drew racked up 97 tackles, including 14.5 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss. He also forced five fumbles.
“He doesn’t complain; he just works,” Strohmeier said. “He just kept working and kept working. We had some talented kids that year (2018), guys who were more high profile than him coming out of high school. But he just kept climbing and climbing and climbing.
“He takes coaching extremely well. Once you tell him something, he’s just going to do it. I have to credit our defensive line coaches, Aaron Terry and Dave Tolleson. They just drilled him every single day. They kept coming back and saying, ‘Everything we tell this kid, he does.’ If he isn’t perfect with it, he’s going to work on it.
“For two years, he did what he was supposed to do and made plays when he was supposed to make the plays.”
Some power conference schools might have shied away from a full-court recruitment of Drew because he stands 6-foot-3 instead of 6-4 or taller. He’s listed at 290 now after arriving at Iowa Western in the 240-pound range. The Reivers’ coaching staff, though, all the while projected him as a lineman.
Granted, Strohmeier said, Drew isn’t necessarily as physically gifted as former Iowa Western (and Oklahoma) standout Perrion Winfrey, who was drafted in the fourth round Saturday by the Cleveland Browns.
“But Devin’s going to help you win games,” Strohmeier said. “He does everything right. He does his assignment; he’s not going to blow it. And when he has to make plays, he’ll be there to make them. The kid just wants to help you win.”
Keeping up with the transfer portal. Here’s who the Huskers have coming to Lincoln
Casey Thompson, QB
Previous school: Texas
Remaining eligibility: Two years
Of note: Thompson is the most notable transfer Nebraska has added so far because of the position he plays. He started 10 games for the Longhorns last year and led the Big 12 in touchdown passes with 24. He’ll be considered the favorite to win NU’s starting quarterback job under new offensive coordinator Mark Whipple. He’ll be on campus for this semester.
Chubba Purdy, QB
Previous school: Florida State
Remaining eligibility: Four years
Of note:
Purdy started one game in 2020 and appeared in three overall, completing 27-of-53 passes for 219 yards, a pair of touchdowns and an interception. He appeared just once in 2021 — Purdy completed all five of his passes for 98 yards and two scores.
Trey Palmer, WR/Returner
Previous school: LSU
Remaining eligibility: Two years plus a redshirt
Of note: Palmer was a blue-chip recruit out of high school and saw his role steadily grow over his three years in Baton Rouge. Now, he’ll rejoin Mickey Joseph in Lincoln. Palmer can really run — he was timed at 10.42 in the 100 meters and 21.11 seconds in the 200 — and he’s also a dangerous return man. He profiles well in the spot vacated by Samori Toure and will be on campus this semester.
Hunter Anthony, OL
Previous school: Oklahoma State
Remaining eligibility: Two years
Of note: The Oklahoma native entered 2020 as OSU’s starting right tackle, but an injury cost him most of the season. Then he served as a backup this fall. In Lincoln, the 6-foot-6, 330-pounder will be a candidate both at right tackle and at either guard spot. He’s on campus this semester.
Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda, WR
Previous school: New Mexico State
Remaining eligibility: Two years plus a redshirt
Of note: Garcia-Castaneda had a productive season at NMSU, catching 37 passes for 578 yards and four touchdowns. He was coveted as soon as he hit the transfer portal, but NU visited him in California and got him on campus for a visit in December. At 6-foot and 190 pounds, Garcia-Castaneda is a candidate for any spot in the Husker receiver rotation under Mickey Joseph.
Clark Grell
Brian Buschini, P
Previous school: Montana
Remaining eligibility: Three years
Of note: Buschini was named the FCS punter of the year after averaging better than 47 yards per punt and more than 44 net yards per attempt. He was considered perhaps the best punter available on the transfer market this winter and will be counted on right away in Lincoln. He’s on campus this semester.
Timmy Bleekrode, K
Previous school: Furman
Remaining eligibility: Three years
Of note: Bleekrode immediately becomes the favorite to handle place-kicking duties after he was recruited from Furman by new special teams coordinator Bill Busch. The Atlanta native made 15-of-18 field goals in 2021 with a long of 51 yards and is 21-of-25 over the past two seasons.
Kevin Williams, OL
Previous school: Northern Colorado
Remaining eligibility: Two years
Of note: Williams, an Omaha North graduate, is a multi-year starter at the FCS level and began the 2021 season as the Bears’ starting left tackle. He’s got positional versatility and could be a candidate at tackle or guard for the Huskers in 2022. In a young room overall, he adds a veteran presence.
Tommy Hill, DB
Previous school: Arizona State
Remaining eligibility: Three years plus a redshirt
Of note: Nebraska loved Hill out of high school in Orlando in the 2021 class, but he ended up at ASU and earned playing time right away. The Huskers jumped on him as soon as he entered the portal, and now he’ll compete for playing time in a secondary that must replace three starters. He’s on campus this semester.
Ochaun Mathis, DL
Previous school: TCU
Remaining eligibility: Two years
Of note: The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder started a total of 34 games for TCU. He recorded 45 tackles, including seven for loss and four sacks this past season. That followed a breakout campaign in 2020, when he led the team with nine sacks and ranked second with 14 tackles for loss.
Devin Drew, DT
Previous school: Texas Tech
Remaining eligibility: One year
Of note: A native of Raytown, Missouri, Drew, a 6-foot-2, 280-pounder, made 34 tackles in 13 games this past fall and had 55 stops in all in two seasons at Texas Tech.