Friday Five: Commitments, champions and one last summer push

Volleyball’s recruiting flurry, softball’s big addition and football’s camp finale shape Nebraska’s June surge.

Photo courtesy Nebraska Athletics

Happy first day of summer, everyone. It’s been quite the week in Nebraska Athletics, but that could be said about most weeks. This one, however, felt a little different with all of the volleyball “booms.”

As we know, those booms meant a tidal wave of volleyball verbals but that wasn’t all. This week also brought a splashy softball transfer, two dozen All-America plaques and football’s final camp blitz. Plus, we have one more critical official-visit weekend. 

Here’s what you need to know.

Dani Busboom Kelly’s first full class comes together in 48 hours

Talk about a wild 48 hours in the world of Nebraska volleyball. 

By Tuesday evening the Huskers had five public pledges, headlined by two top-10 prospects and anchored by the latest addition, Michigan libero Mallory Johnson.

“I’m thrilled to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Nebraska to continue my academic and athletic journey!” Johnson wrote on Instagram, thanking family, club coaches and “the entire Nebraska staff, especially Coach Dani, Coach Jaylen, Coach Kelly and Coach Brennan, for this opportunity of a lifetime.”

Johnson (No. 31 PrepVolleyball) joins Arizona libero Pulelehua “Hua” Laikona, setter Malorie Boesiger (younger sister of Nebraska senior Maisie), top-ranked middle Kendall Omoruyi and 6-foot-3 outside Shaye Witherspoon. Omoruyi and Laikona both star for Arizona Storm Elite, while Witherspoon powered Lafayette (Mo.) to consecutive state titles.

Five verbals in 48 hours—after two days of permissible contact—signals the Dani Busboom Kelly era is wasting no time in talent acquisition. Unless the staff uncovers a late gem, Johnson likely closes a 2027 haul already being called the nation’s best on paper.

Rhonda Revelle snags an outfield anchor from Oklahoma

Nebraska softball doesn’t rebuild next spring; it reloads with a three-time champion. Hannah Coor, who appeared in 152 games for the Sooners, will spend her final season patrolling center at Bowlin Stadium. She hits .279 for her career, recorded a perfect fielding percentage and owns the type of closing-speed highlight reels you expect from an Oklahoma defender.

“We believe Hannah Coor is one of the best defenders in the country at her position,” Revelle said. “Offensively, she will add speed and power to our lineup.”

Coor joins UNLV transfer catcher Jesse Farrell in an experienced core around reigning national player of the year Jordy Bahl. Add a 2026 Big Ten schedule that brings 12-time champ UCLA to Lincoln, and the stage is already set for must-see spring softball.

Huskers collect 13 All-America awards on the track

The women tied for 26th at the NCAA outdoor meet, led by high-jump legend Jenna Rogers, who placed third at 6-2 ¾ and left Eugene as an eight-time All-American. Javelin star Maddie Harris (5th), multi-event ace Eniko Sara (15th), shot-put duo Kalynn Meyer and Kellyn Kortemeyer, plus 1,500-meter racer Berlyn Schutz, rounded out the honors on the women’s side.

Seven Husker men added plaques of their own to push the program’s meet total to 13. Several athletes return to Hayward Field next week for U.S. Olympic Trials, giving Nebraska fans more results to track before the calendar flips to camp season.

Football’s camp season wraps up

Nebraska’s transfer portal and post-graduate camp on Thursday drew roughly 20 prospects to Lincoln. With the NCAA’s new 105-man roster cap looming, coach Matt Rhule’s staff evaluated but did not hold post-camp sit-downs.¹ Defensive end Nathan Baudry (Garden City CC) and cornerbacks Maurice Sherrod (Omaha Central) and Travis Hines II (Iowa Western) were among seven prospects asked to stay late for extra work, yet no immediate offers followed.²

Thursday evening’s “Graveyard Shift” high-school showcase—the final camp of 2025—concluded after this newsletter’s deadline. We’ll circle back next week with any late offers or emerging names from that session.³

One last official-visit weekend before the dead period

Eight prospects—four of them four-stars—are in Lincoln for the final June visit window. Offensive tackle remains priority No. 1, so it’s no surprise that Illinois tackle Claude Mpouma and Florida’s Javieon Cooper headline the guest list. At receiver, Arizona State commit Nalin Scott and Larry Miles from Orlando, Florida, get their in-depth look at Rhule’s offense, following an early-week midweek visit from Texas four-star Zion Robinson.

Quarterback commits Dayton Raiola (2026) and Trae Taylor (2027) are scheduled to serve as lead recruiters, just as they did during last week’s Friday Night Lights camp, a session highlighted by Swedish defensive lineman Valdin Sone and a van-load of elite PPI Recruits prospects who routed their U.S. tour through Memorial Stadium.

With the dead period hitting June 23 and scholarship budgets shrinking under new revenue-sharing math, we’re still expecting a national surge of June commitments. That would be great news for Nebraska, especially after this week. While the Huskers added 4-star offensive lineman Hayden Ainsworth, they also lost Florida speedster CJ Bronaugh. Getting some commitments now would help build some genuine momentum before the dead period begins.

---

So, here we are. First day of summer. Plenty of questions answered, and plenty not.

Volleyball’s 2027 haul is locked and loaded, softball just brought in some championship DNA, track and field piled up hardware and football is squeezing every last rep out of June before the recruiting window slams shut.

Good thing there are more daylight hours right now. Everyone needs them.

1. Those sit-downs previously produced walk-on additions for Nebraska like James Williams and Hayes Miller.

2. At least not by the time this newsletter was scheduled, which feels like something we have to say at this point with how quickly things are moving.

3. Or check the comments. I may circle back there with anything pressing.