Josh Williams thought he recognized a familiar face among the recruits at Kentucky’s home football game Saturday.

“It was kind of weird, because when I saw him I thought, ‘Man, I know that guy’s face from somewhere.’ I asked (Shaun Mohler), and he told me he was committed to Nebraska,” said Williams, who first met Mohler at the Nebraska-USC game on Sept. 15.

Really, though, not much during this wacky season seems that weird anymore — especially not the state of a recruiting class that was once ranked among the nation’s best.

Williams, a high school defensive end from Denton, Texas, and Mohler, a California junior college linebacker, have been among the Husker recruits that have continued to make college visits. They’ve also been paying attention to the happenings at Nebraska, and several of them reached Sunday hope to feel wanted by and comfortable with a new coaching staff.

This Nebraska recruiting class was once well-known for keeping in contact with each other. Denver area offensive lineman Bryce Givens and Missouri linebacker Will Compton are among those Williams has kept in touch with.

The general mood among the recruits?

“Everybody’s hanging in there,” Williams said. “But we’re also keeping our options open, looking around and having a Plan B in case they want to change their minds.”

At least four players have already decommitted, including touted quarterback Blaine Gabbert and running back Jonas Gray. Nebraska hasn’t received a commitment  since defensive lineman Simi Kuli on Oct. 24, but several recruits say the Nebraska coaches remained in contact the past month.

A new recruiting period in which coaches can visit players in person began Sunday, and that’s what at least one Nebraska assistant coach planned to do. Recruiting coordinator and receivers coach Ted Gilmore was to visit with California junior college wide receiver Adrian Hilburn today, and Williams on Tuesday.

“It means a lot that he’s flying out here to talk to me,” Hilburn said. “It means they’re still serious about me wanting to come to school there.”

Gilmore called Williams on Sunday to schedule an in-home visit.

“It didn’t sound too good, but I want to wait until we talk to see where his mind is at, as well as get my mind together,” Williams said.

“With him not wanting to talk to me over the phone, I can respect that. But I’ve built a relationship with Coach Gilmore, and you can tell by the sound of someone’s voice when something sounds bad, and when something sounds good.”

Williams is also looking at Texas and Missouri. Kentucky, Oregon and Kansas State are among schools Hilburn may later consider.

At some point, recruits will need to make a decision, as recruiting classes fill up. Also, new offers may come when schools’ primary targets look elsewhere.

“Obviously, schools like Texas and Missouri — people are going to be scratching at the door to get in those places,” Williams said. “I’m just kind of lying back. All the places that I’m looking at are all good schools, and if one chance closes up, I’ll still have a chance to go somewhere else and play.”

Both Hilburn and Williams will wait to make a final decision until they have met with the new coaching staff.

While the relationship a player has with a coaching staff isn’t everything, it is of utmost importance. Many of the schools hoping to lure the best players have great facilities, academic programs and tradition. A comfort level with a coaching staff is key, Williams said.

The same names that many NU fans are  going gaga over — Bo Pelini and Turner Gill — seemed to impress Williams.

“I know both of those guys, and those are big names to come in and coach,” Williams said. “If either one of those guys comes I want to talk to them and get to know them. I still feel good about the school, and if I feel good about the coach, then maybe that’s the place for me.”

As a defensive end, Williams recalled watching the play of the Oklahoma and LSU defenses and wondering who was the defensive coordinator.

Hilburn wasn’t as concerned about having a big-name coach as what offense he would bring. The wide receiver favors a spread offense.

“I just want an equal run-pass coach,” Hilburn said. “I don’t want a school like Texas A&M that runs it all the time. I blocked all the time in high school. I don’t want to do that again.”

Reach Brent C. Wagner at 473-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com.