RJ Cruz III, a 2028 three-star defensive lineman from Owing Mills (Md.) McDonogh School, made his first visit to Nebraska on Saturday. The Huskers have been steadily making a move up his list of contenders since offering late last spring.
“Me and Coach [Corey] Brown, I feel like we’re getting really close,” Cruz told Hail Varsity. “At the end of last school year, he came through and offered me in person. I’ve been in contact with a bunch of members of Nebraska’s staff since then.”
Cruz got a better feel for Brown as a person and a coach over the weekend. He describes the first-year Nebraska assistant as a “pretty chill guy” who can “turn it up” when he needs to.
“I like Coach Brown’s story a lot,” he said. “I’m pretty sure he started at a community college and kind of moved up the ranks. Also like the way he looks at things, his attack scheme. I feel like it fits me really well.”
Standing 6-foot-3 and 285 pounds, Cruz could play a few different positions along the defensive front. He’s been keeping tabs on Nebraska defensive lineman Jahsear Whittington since Whittington was a high schooler in Philadelphia, and the Huskers see Cruz playing a similar role along the interior.
“I can really rotate anywhere,” Cruz said. “I can rotate three-tech, one-tech, nose guard, i doesn’t matter, especially since my frame fits it all. To them, I’m pretty sure right now it sounds like three-tech.”
Cruz originally hails from Lancaster, Penn., but plays his high school football in the DMV. Getting around Lincoln and Omaha for the first time, Cruz was surprised by how much Nebraska reminded him of his home state.
“Honestly, I was pretty surprised,” he said. “I thought it was just going to be a bunch of cornfields, but turns out there’s a bunch of wilderness and woods; it’s actually really cool. I’m a big outdoors guy, so camping and fishing and all that, they actually have a lot of that there.”
The energy in Memorial Stadium was not lost on the junior, who’s seen some big games in electric atmospheres over the years.
“Obviously, the fan base is insane there,” he said. “I mean, it was probably, I’d definitely say top three loudest stadiums I’ve been in.”
With his first trip to Nebraska in the books, Cruz is certain it won’t be his last. Closer to home, programs like Virginia Tech, Penn State, Maryland and more are among key contenders for the interior defender. The Huskers are firmly in the mix.
“I’m excited to keep growing my relationship with them,” he said. “I definitely have plans to get back there. They’re definitely a big priority for me as I keep finding schools and see where I fit best. I’m excited to get back out there to Lincoln.”
