After missing out on in-state linebacker Zach Schlager in 2018 due to scholarship limitations, Nebraska could be getting a second bite at the apple. The former three-star linebacker looks set to join the Huskers in the upcoming season.
According to the Coloradoan, Schlager has left Colorado State University and plans to join Nebraska as a walk-on. His father spoke to the Fort Collins publication about the move:
Linebacker Zach Schlager has left the CSU football program and is transferring to Nebraska, where he hopes to join the Cornhuskers as a walk-on, his father said Tuesday.
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Nebraska had recruited Zach Schlager out of high school — he was named to the Omaha World-Herald’s All-Nebraska team for players from all classifications at McCook High and was a Class B state champion hurdler — but the Cornhuskers did not have a scholarship available to offer him in coach Scott Frost’s initial signing class, Russ Schlager said.
Schlager confirmed the move from CSU on his Twitter this past Tuesday.
Life Changes pic.twitter.com/ppemekKu20
— Zach Schlager (@Zschlager21) August 13, 2019
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Per the report, Nebraska could not confirm whether he would be joining the team when classes begin later this month.
Colorado State head coach Mike Bobo confirmed Schlager’s move via a school spokesperson on Tuesday. He cited Schlager’s desire to play elsewhere as one of the underlying reasons.
“Zach Schlager has chosen to leave the team and pursue a chance to play elsewhere… We enjoyed having him as part of our program, and we wish him well in the future.”
As a prospect in 2018, Schlager was the No. 2,014 prospect in the country by 247Sports. He was the No. 141 outside linebacker in the nation and the No. 4 prospect from the state of Nebraska.
On top of offers from several Power Five programs such as Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas State, Schlager also had offers from Ivy Leaguers Harvard and Cornell.
But Schlager ultimately chose Colorado State, the same school where his older brother starred from 2016 to 2017.