OL Jaimes talks Nebraska commitment
It didn’t take long for 2017 Austin (Texas) Lake Travis offensive tackle Brenden Jaimes to know he wanted to commit to Nebraska this weekend.
The 6-foot-6, 260-pound lineman arrived in Lincoln Friday evening which is when he started to get the feeling he wanted to call it his future home. After touring the facilities, meeting with the academics and life skills departments and experiencing the spring game, Jaimes knew he wanted to be a Husker.
“My visit officially began today, this morning around 8:30,” Jaimes said about his unofficial visit to Nebraska. “I got into town Friday night around 6:30 and me and my dad drove around campus just to check everything out and that was pretty cool.
“Then I woke up this morning and texted Coach Cavanaugh and he showed me around a little bit before the tour started and that was pretty cool. Then we just got to tour the academics and the football facilities then watch the game.
“The spring game was amazing. Having 73,000 people show up for a practice? I mean, there’s nothing like it.”
Jaimes said he officially committed to offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh and head coach Mike Riley in meetings after the spring game.
“Coach Cavanaugh wanted me to meet him in his office after the game so that’s what we did,” Jaimes said. “We talked a little bit about just some things that they do specifically there. I talked to my dad a little bit and I talked to my mom and I just said that I was ready, I was ready to commit.
“Their reactions was just awesome, they were all very excited. I was in a meeting with Coach Riley and talked with him about the commitment. All of them were excited.”
Jaimes said he started to get the vibe that he might commit early on in his visit, but his meetings with Nebraska’s academic support and like skills programs put things over the top for him.
“I knew pretty much as soon as I got on campus,” Jaimes said about making his commitment. “I thought it was the most amazing thing. Then when they took us into the academics and life skills parts, that just showed me that they’d take care of me in life after college and football.
“That was an important thing for me, not only playing football, but what’s after football. I think that going to Nebraska really sets me up for the rest of my life.”
Another big factor in Jaimes’ decision was his relationship with Cavanaugh. The connection was good prior to this weekend, but is as strong as can be following his visit.
“I think now that we’ve visited and now that we’ve met in person that my relationship with Coach Cavanaugh is already through the roof,” Jaimes said. “I’ve already learned so much about him and how he treats his players. He’s going to coach you hard, but he’s also going to love you hard, and that’s what I like about him.”
The big offensive tackle gave his pledge to the Huskers over offers from 12 other programs and says even if more offers come his way he’s completely done with the recruiting process.
“Truthfully, I’m going to stay with Nebraska,” Jaimes said. “I’m going to stay loyal and humble to them. I committed for a reason and I’m not going to play any games about visiting other schools. Nebraska is where I want to go.”
The commitment of Jaimes now gives the Huskers six total pledges for its 2017 recruiting class. He becomes the first offensive linemen and the first commit from the state of Texas in the class.