There's some talent in small town Nebraska, but I'm not sure how much of it is overlooked anymore. I agree that Ott and Bazata should have gotten NU offers, especially given how difficult it is to recruit D-line talent. But when they are getting 3 stars from Rivals and offers from Iowa, it's hard to call them hidden gems anymore. All 3-star+ O and D line talent from Nebraska should probably get scholarship offers from NU.
It's my understanding that participation in 8-man football and just high school football overall is way down in Nebraska vs. 25 years ago. Beyond Nebraska kids taking scholarships elsewhere instead of walking on like the glory days, I wonder if there is just less talent period? There really were a ton of Nebraska kids on the 3-deep O-line back in the day. Where'd they all go? If they are being overlooked by NU and then lighting it up at Ohio or SDSU, I'm not hearing much about it.
No, you are right in many cases in a lot of small towns across Nebraska and the mid west in general football partisipation is down. So there will be less talent.
No Byzata and Ott were not "Diamonds in the Rough" They were just looked down apon because they didn't come from big time HS football by the previous staff. I mean look at the Englehaup kid out of Norfolk Catholic. He was given a plan C scholarship the weekend before signing day. He is going to play a lot this year as a Rfrosh. He was second on the TE list of receptions in the spring game. The Snyder kid out of Cali that was suppose to be great had 1 reception. I know he has been hurt a lot. But the plan C kid is going to play a lot this year and he was an afterthought.