ASHLAND, Neb. — By 7:00 a.m., Barrett Kitrell is already in the weight room. Fortunately, he doesn’t have far to go; the 6-foot-4, 270-pound offensive lineman lives right across the street from Ashland-Greenwood High School. Waking up at 6:40 a.m. to stack days in the trenches has become his everyday life.
But this summer, the standard offseason grind has a major twist. The elite Nebraska commit is currently sporting a broken wrist. Yet, true to the grit that caught the eyes of the Husker coaching staff, Kitrell hasn’t stopped working—he has simply adjusted.
Overcoming the Cast: Innovation in Training
As part of Nebraska’s 2027 recruiting class, the three-star prospect has refused to let a heavy cast stall his development. While the injury temporarily halts his bench press and dumbbell reps, it hasn’t touched his lower-body power or explosiveness.
«When we’re doing hang clean days, I’ll just do other plyometrics, like we have VertiMax and I’ll do other jumps, so still trying to get more explosive,» Kitrell said. «And then on squat days, I can hold the bar, I can squat, so I can do legs.»
The real secret weapon in his modified routine lies inside Brick House, the local gym owned by his father, Barry Kitrell—a former Husker walk-on who earned a varsity letter on a Big Eight championship team. To bypass his immobilized wrist, Kitrell bought specialized straps on Amazon that fit directly over his cast. By attaching them to the gym’s cable machine, he has successfully maintained his muscle groups throughout the summer.
A Family Tradition of Athletic Excellence
Kitrell is the youngest of five highly competitive brothers. Athletic excellence is a household expectation, but it’s one fueled by self-motivation rather than pressure. His brother Brett, a former Division I offensive lineman, trains with him on technical pass protection three times a week. Another brother, Bryce, spearheads his speed and agility training.
This multi-sport athleticism is exactly why the Huskers prioritized keeping him in-state. A 4.0 student, Kitrell plays tackle in high school but projects as a dominant interior guard or center in Lincoln. He famously broke his brother Brett’s school discus record earlier in 2026 and leans out to 250 pounds during basketball season to protect his knees and maintain quick feet.
To fuel this elite workload, nutrition and recovery are treated like part of the job. «Last night for dinner I had four chicken breasts,» Kitrell noted, emphasizing his strict nightly routine of deep lower-body stretching to maintain maximum elasticity at the line of scrimmage.
Why Nebraska and Coach Geep Wade Were the Perfect Fit
Kitrell officially committed to the Huskers on June 22, 2026, choosing them over a tight battle with rival Iowa and a late push from Tennessee. He will become the third member of his family to wear the historic Nebraska uniform, following his father Barry and his brother Bo.
A monumental factor in his decision was his relationship with Nebraska offensive line coach Geep Wade. Kitrell, who went on five visits to Lincoln, appreciated Wade’s transparent, «no bull crap» approach to recruiting and player development.
«I can just ask super hard questions and he’ll tell me the honest truth,» Kitrell shared, citing Wade’s incredible past success with limited resources at Georgia Tech. «I just think that, you know, he’ll bring the Pipeline back.»
Still Finding the Time to Just Be a Kid
Despite the Division I expectations, the rigorous recovery schedules, and a bone stimulator strapped to his wrist, Kitrell makes it a priority to stay grounded in his tight-knit hometown.
Once his training wraps up around 1:00 or 2:00 p.m., the future Husker transitions right back into being a normal 17-year-old. He spends his summer afternoons fishing, playing pickleball, swimming, or heading to Ashland’s 18-hole course for a round of Frisbee golf with his friends. And when the summer heat gets too intense, he is just like any other teenager—hopping online for a two-week phase of Minecraft, Fortnite, or Star Wars Battlefront II.
His path to Lincoln is already paved with hard work, faith, and family legacy. But for now, Barrett Kitrell is focused on dominating his senior year at Ashland-Greenwood, proving that a broken wrist is nothing more than a minor speed bump on his road to the Big Ten.