It’s always been common knowledge that to win you must have a talented QB, and nobody knows that better than Nebraska fans. When Rhule arrived the cupboards weren’t bare, but it was obvious to everyone that a serious upgrade was needed. With the help of Glen Thomas and Dana Holgorsen, Rhule has done that.
We also recently learned why highly ranked QBs are so coveted. Because there seems to be a hidden rule out there that says once you sign one, another will follow. Matt Rhule recently suggested that Dylan Raiola choosing Nebraska over Ohio State and Georgia set the tone for things to come. There is now a path to follow.
It’s hard to argue with Rhule. If you stop and look at the quarterback position, it surely applies. Nebraska is set at QB for the next six to seven seasons if they take care of business. The Huskers currently have Dylan Raiola and TJ Lateef on the roster, with Dayton Raiola being part of the 2026 class and Trae Taylor joining in 2027. After Lateef’s performance at UCLA, Husker fans immediately started worrying about the future of the position. How do you retain two starters in today’s NIL world and keep the young talent on the way. That is the biggest hurdle Rhule and Nebraska face, keeping everybody happy and in place. If General Manager Pat Stewart can make that happen, it will be one hell of a feat.
But there are several variables involved in making Stewart’s job easier. Go ahead and mark the first one off the list. Retaining Matt Rhule as head coach. It was imperative to keep Rhule from leaving for Penn State. Too much progress has been made with the program moving in right direction to start over again. Kudos to AD Troy Dannen for recognizing that.
Rhule is still working towards the second item on the list. Winning. I don’t care what your blue blood status is, what kind of facilities you have, or how much money you throw at players, nobody wants to be a part of a losing program. Let’s face it, being part of a losing culture is a soul sucking experience. That’s why it’s important for Rhule and this 2025 team to finish the season no worse than 8-4. But 9-3 with a bowl win to get to 10-3 would be even better. It’s all about a winning culture, look at Ohio State and Georgia.
Nebraska has already achieved the third item on the list. Academics, facilities, a football crazed fan base, and a support staff that almost makes it impossible to fail. Just go down the list of football staff members, from Dr. Susan Elza to equipment manager Zach Smith, there is someone to facilitate your needs that will lead to success. The football facility is second to none, the training table can’t be matched, and nutrition and recovery is extraordinary, and as a Husker player you’ll receive rock star status from the fans, who live and breathe Husker football. The fans continue to add to the home sellout record and travel like no others. Nebraska has all the tools needed.
Fourth on the list – money. Rhule recently stated that they now have everything they need, that there is no longer a wish-list to give Troy Dannen. He even went so far as to suggest money is no longer a factor. What changed is unsure. It’s only been a few weeks since Rhule stumped for greater resources concerning NIL. Now, he suggests it’s no longer an excuse, they can pay whatever is needed to retain and bring in top-tier talent. Let’s hope that is true, because Nebraska’s QBs are going to need paid to stick around.
But with this QB list there is something else that will lock them in. It’s OC Dana Holgorsen and QB coach Glen Thomas. They aren’t the only coaches who have built relationships with these QBs, but they have the strongest connection. OC Dana Holgorsen once said he was here if Dylan Raiola was here. But TJ Lateef looks more like a Holgorsen QB than Raiola. Does Holgorsen rethink things? Maybe he’s here as long as Dylan, TJ, Dayton, and Trae are here. He’d be hard pressed to go anyplace else and see a brighter future. That goes for Thomas as well. At the top of Rhule’s to-do list is keeping these two coaches on staff and seeing they are compensated appropriately.
It’s also important for this group of QBs to see they are being surrounded with talent on the field. Each of these guys has confidence in their ability, but they are all smart enough to know they can’t do it alone. They need to see five-star offensive linemen, wide receivers, tight ends and running backs around them. And they need to know they have a Blackshirts defense that has their backs.
It all requires trust, unity, and teamwork, something that both the players and coaches need to recognize. There is no single puzzle piece that completes the picture. The coach’s and player’s success depend on each other. Would TJ have had success at UCLA without Holgorsen or Thomas? Would Holgorsen or Thomas be getting the recognition they deserve without Lateef? Would Nebraska be winning if the pieces didn’t fit?
If you are a player or a coach, recognize what Matt Rhule has, there is no place like Nebraska and it’s the place to be. Because there is a path to follow and there is success to be had.
GO BIG RED!!
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