Calibraska?
Eleven players on Nebraska’s 2017 roster hail from California, with five four-star signees from the Los Angeles area in NU signing classes since 2016.
So it’s not surprising to hear Manny Allen, a four-star 2018 WR from nearby Corona, indicate he has an especially good relationship with Nebraska.
When asked at The Opening camp in L.A. to give an impromptu top five, the 6’2, 175-pounder responded with Nebraska, UCLA, Ole Miss, Oregon, and USC, agreeing that the Huskers appear to stand out as his frontrunner but adding, “there’s no top [team] right now.” Allen recently decommitted from the Trojans.
“Coach Keith [Williams, the Nebraska WR coach, San Diego State alum, and former longtime assistant at smaller Cali schools], he’s just a great coach, and I feel like I’d be very happy to be coached up by him,” he said when asked about the Huskers. He added that he thinks he’d fit their offense well and that Nebraska is using its “Calibraska” slogan, an expression that refers to the program’s history of signing talent from the state, recently amplified by longtime Pac-12 head coach Mike Riley taking over in Lincoln.
Here was retired NFL star Keyshawn Johnson using the slogan to celebrate three of those recent Cali Huskers, which include his son:
Can't wait to watch these 3 play #GBRpic.twitter.com/LU7xnmUuso
— Keyshawn Johnson (@keyshawn) January 15, 2017
Allen says Utah also stands out among his recent offers, with confidence that he’ll be able to build a strong relationship with that staff.
He still wants to visit Ole Miss, Oregon, Washington State, and Georgia, indicating he anticipates receiving a UGA offer. He doesn’t plan to enroll early, but will consider signing in December if the NCAA makes that an option.