Zavier Betts' life changed with one phone call on Wednesday night. The 15-year-old Bellevue West sophomore was at home when his coach, Mike Huffman, called.
Huffman told Betts that Nebraska coach Mike Riley wanted to extend a scholarship offer to the receiver.
"The opportunity to play college football is something I have been dreaming about since I was a kid," Betts said. "I started to stroll around my house going 100 miles per hour."
Betts, a 6-foot-2, 187-pound receiver, has strong hands, a large catch radius and the will to fight for balls in the air.
"The way he moves is what separates him," Huffman said. "When he runs, he covers so much ground effortlessly. Sometimes he looks like a gazelle and other times he looks like a baby giraffe."
According to Huffman, Betts does have some things to work on.
"The harder the catch it is, he makes those look easy. The easier the catch, he has a tendency to drop."
South Dakota State was the first to offer Betts, on Sept. 22. Betts went to South Dakota State and Iowa State for unofficial visits.
Betts was surprised to get the offer from Nebraska; he only camped at Nebraska in June and hasn't been to a Husker game in person.
"Both of those game day experiences were really, really important," he said. "It showed me the level of the crowd and how loud it just can be."
"I am extremely shocked. I didn't think I would get an offer this early from Nebraska. They don't really offer a lot of in-state kids, and to get one this early is special," he said. "I wasn't expecting this at all; I am pacing back and forth with excitement."
Betts said he is in no rush to make a commitment and wants to focus on finishing his sophomore season as strong as possible. He has 47 receptions for 847 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. The Class A record for receiving yards in a season is 1,364, held by Bellevue West graduate and Wyoming wide receiver C.J. Johnson.
"Anywhere I can play college football is everything to me and furthering my education," he said. "I am in no rush to make a commitment. I want to finish out the season and play out the majority of my high school career."
Close10. Shane Smith, WR, Bellevue West
Evaluation: Smith has great football instincts with the speed and quickness to take every touch to the end zone. He is particularly good in the screen game. Smith has a smaller frame — 5-foot-9, 155 pounds — but he is a physical athlete and a good run blocker in space.
9. Cedric Case, QB, Lincoln High
Evaluation: Case has a strong arm and can throw on the run. He has nice touch on deep throws and throws the seam and slant routes with some zip. Case also has good mechanics and is an accurate passer outside of the pocket.
8. Caden Johnson, OL/DL, Wahoo Neumann
Evaluation: Johnson is a physical lineman that can get to the second level quickly. He is a tough and physical tackle that plays with an extra level of aggression. Johnson can play both the guard and tackle positions.
7. Ryan Bena, OL, Omaha Creighton Prep
Evaluation: Bena is a very good run blocker and a good athlete. He moves his feet well when pulling as the lead blocker and can block in space on screen plays. Bena has a high motor and rarely gives up on a play.
6. Zander Gray, RB, Omaha North
Evaluation: Gray has a devastating stiff arm and enough quickness to make defenders miss. He has enough speed to separate from defenders and uses his angles well to break long runs. He is a power back that isn't afraid to lower his pad level and run through defenders.
5. Garrett Snodgrass, TE/LB, York
Evaluation: Snodgrass is a true throwback. He can play multiple positions and is a special teams ace. At tight end he is a great in-line blocker with good hands. He has a high motor and a nose for the football at linebacker. He'll line up as the Dukes' wildcat quarterback and is a punishing runner.
4. Dylan Kautz, RB, Norfolk Catholic
Evaluation: Kautz has the ability to score every time he touches the ball. Not only does he have speed — evident by his 4.38-second 40-yard dash and 10.53-second 100-meter dash — but he also has great balance and is not afraid to lower his head and take on tacklers.
3. Chris Hickman, TE, Omaha Burke
Evaluation: Hickman is strong enough to be an in-line blocker but is also athletic enough to stretch the field and catch passes on the outside. He's a tremendous athlete that catches with his hands and is a true red-zone threat.
2. Garrett Nelson, DL, Scottsbluff
Evaluation: Nelson has great measurables and is a quick-twitch athlete. He plays with great intensity and has great punch with his hands to shed blockers.
1. Nick Henrich, LB, Omaha Burke
Evaluation: Henrich is a leader on and off the field. He is a sideline-to-sideline linebacker with great instincts and runs to the ball on virtually every play. He has the frame to add good weight and should as his high school career progresses.
10. Shane Smith, WR, Bellevue West
Evaluation: Smith has great football instincts with the speed and quickness to take every touch to the end zone. He is particularly good in the screen game. Smith has a smaller frame — 5-foot-9, 155 pounds — but he is a physical athlete and a good run blocker in space.
9. Cedric Case, QB, Lincoln High
Evaluation: Case has a strong arm and can throw on the run. He has nice touch on deep throws and throws the seam and slant routes with some zip. Case also has good mechanics and is an accurate passer outside of the pocket.
8. Caden Johnson, OL/DL, Wahoo Neumann
Evaluation: Johnson is a physical lineman that can get to the second level quickly. He is a tough and physical tackle that plays with an extra level of aggression. Johnson can play both the guard and tackle positions.
7. Ryan Bena, OL, Omaha Creighton Prep
Evaluation: Bena is a very good run blocker and a good athlete. He moves his feet well when pulling as the lead blocker and can block in space on screen plays. Bena has a high motor and rarely gives up on a play.
6. Zander Gray, RB, Omaha North
Evaluation: Gray has a devastating stiff arm and enough quickness to make defenders miss. He has enough speed to separate from defenders and uses his angles well to break long runs. He is a power back that isn't afraid to lower his pad level and run through defenders.
5. Garrett Snodgrass, TE/LB, York
Evaluation: Snodgrass is a true throwback. He can play multiple positions and is a special teams ace. At tight end he is a great in-line blocker with good hands. He has a high motor and a nose for the football at linebacker. He'll line up as the Dukes' wildcat quarterback and is a punishing runner.
4. Dylan Kautz, RB, Norfolk Catholic
Evaluation: Kautz has the ability to score every time he touches the ball. Not only does he have speed — evident by his 4.38-second 40-yard dash and 10.53-second 100-meter dash — but he also has great balance and is not afraid to lower his head and take on tacklers.
3. Chris Hickman, TE, Omaha Burke
Evaluation: Hickman is strong enough to be an in-line blocker but is also athletic enough to stretch the field and catch passes on the outside. He's a tremendous athlete that catches with his hands and is a true red-zone threat.
2. Garrett Nelson, DL, Scottsbluff
Evaluation: Nelson has great measurables and is a quick-twitch athlete. He plays with great intensity and has great punch with his hands to shed blockers.
1. Nick Henrich, LB, Omaha Burke
Evaluation: Henrich is a leader on and off the field. He is a sideline-to-sideline linebacker with great instincts and runs to the ball on virtually every play. He has the frame to add good weight and should as his high school career progresses.
Source: Recruiting: Nebraska offers scholarship to 2020 Bellevue West wideout Zavier Betts
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