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by | Apr 8, 2024 | Uncategorized

Spring is here and all eyes are on practice and the upcoming Spring Game. Commotion and hype drawing our attention to the current roster has not stopped this Rhule led coaching staff from keeping one eye on next years’ recruiting class. Rhule and company are aiming to bring in a Top 10 recruiting class in 2025, which is something the Huskers have not been able to accomplish since 2007 and before that you will need to go back to the 90’s to find a top ten class calling the Cornhusker State home.

Signing a major recruit early on in the process is of utmost importance. It can be a domino effect that leads to more high caliber players feeling comfortable signing with a school that is in Nebraska’s current situation. Football is highly tied to momentum both on and off the field and recruiting is no deviation here. A trend setter signing with Nebraska early on in this upcoming recruiting cycle would be huge for Nebraska to help lure in some players who are considering Nebraska but have not fully bought in yet. Keep in mind that Matt Rhule is known for developing 1 star recruits into NFL caliber talent, that being said this is the first situation where he may be able to regularly bring in 4 and 5 star recruits and develop them into the type of talent Husker fans have been longing to see on the field.

Even when focusing only on players that have already taken visits to Nebraska, the recruiting class is looking very promising. Ten players with four star rankings who are leaning heavily towards Nebraska have already made a visit to campus or are set to make a visit this month. With an average of 330 four star rankings given out each year, Nebraska is looking to take home its share in 2025. From in-state recruits to heavily targeting Texas and other key pipeline states, this staff is doing their job on the recruiting trail.

Over the weekend Rhule and company hosted a rather large group of recruits led by Nebraska native Chase Loftin, a 4 star recruit from Millard South. Three star’s Jackson Carpenter out of Lincoln Southwest, Tyson Terry from Omaha North, Caden VerMaas from Millard North, Conor Booth from Bishop Neumann and Malachi Goodman from New Jersey.

This week Nebraska will be hosting 4 star recruit Adonyss Currie and 3 star offensive lineman John Mills. Currie, a 6’2” 160 pound cornerback out of California is leaning heavily towards Nebraska. While Texas is edging the Huskers out with offensive lineman John Mills, a 6’5” prospect also hailing from the Golden State.

With a seemingly great start to the 2025 recruiting cycle, the Nebraska Cornhuskers are attracting attention to themselves for not only what is happening on the practice field in Lincoln, but also for the work that has been put in on the recruiting trail. Even with a pickup of just the recruits who are leaning Huskers at this moment, Nebraska would be able to secure its first top 10 recruiting class in over a decade.

 

New Look Offense During Spring Practice

by | Apr 1, 2024 | Uncategorized

In 2023 we saw an offense that was controlled by the parts of the sum and not the sum of its parts. While we saw flashes of an explosive run game, there was not the ability for Nebraska to be able to maintain that run game at a level needed to win consistently due to the lack of an air attack. Even in battle, all of our greatest military generals understand the need for a distraction or a slide of hand. After all, it is of importance to keep defenses honest and guessing. Most teams this past season were able to play man defense on Nebraska while loading up eight or nine men in the box to stop the run. While Nebraskas’ talented running back room and athletic quarterbacks were still able to make plays there was never any real sustainability. 

This year it feels as if the sum of the parts fit together properly. With a plethora of new pieces on offense, most are well experienced. A quarterback room in which is projected to be led by a true freshman and an unsurety on the left side of the offensive line, Nebraska seems to at least have all the parts this year to compile a complete offense. With the defense Nebraska has in place, a complete offense in 2024 may be enough for eight wins. 

The major setback of Nebraska’s offense for the last decade has been consistency. Under the past coaching staff it felt we had the skill players but lacked leadership, unity and that ever so important toughness on the offensive line. Last year our offensive line held their own against defenses who were able to guess with a high level of confidence whether it was going to be a run or pass. The Leadership from the sidelines was almost stoic as the players seemed to know and understand that Rhule and company would not lead them into situations that would result in a bad outcome. One piece seemed to be missing and that was depth and experience at skill positions.

In 2024 the Huskers ability to stretch the field will be a difference maker. With both speed and size at the receiver position, and quarterback room in which can make on target, downfield throws. An offensive line that will be improved over last year, a year in which I was pleasantly surprised by their play. Paired with a running back room that is a stable of quality backs. This years Huskers have all of the parts needed, let’s just see how smoothly they run. With a serviceable offense, Nebraska reaches 7-8 wins. If Nebraska comes out with a competitive offense and another top 10 defense we could be looking at a 9-10 win season and a top 25 ranking. This is college football. I’ve seen crazier things happen. 

 

Husker’s Spring Practice Outlook

by | Mar 25, 2024 | Uncategorized

Spring in Nebraska may not be able to make up its mind, but the Huskers seem to know exactly what direction they want to head this during spring practice. With over fifty percent of the roster being underclassmen Matt Rhule has his guys and a direction to take them. As Husker fans we have grown accustomed over the past few years to losing games in a close manner. With double digit games in the last two years being within a touchdown and most of those being by 3 points or less, Nebraska has developed a “Chasing 3” motto this off season. Ingraining in players that with a small change here or there the outcome could have been much different in 2023. In fact, if the Huskers could’ve just overcome that miniscule 3 point margin it would have placed Nebraska at 9 wins this past year. So let’s look into our spring outlook and see what is needed to catch those 3 points. 

Everyone understands that the Huskers quarterback room was a hindrance in 2023 so I wont go into too much depth on that subject. With 2 outstanding freshmen and a veteran presence with Haarberg, the QB room is already in better shape just based on the ceiling of these athletes and the ability to go three deep if necessary due to the toll a Big Ten schedule takes on a quarterback. Our defense is another one of those areas that I will skirt past just due to its player retention and outstanding performance in 2023. With room to improve and a few new parts I do believe business will continue as usual for the Blackshirts. Improvements on the defensive line will make up for the loss at linebacker and transfers will help fill in the necessary holes on the defensive side of the ball in 2024.

The receivers room looks imposing for the first time in a while at Nebraska. With the addition of transfer portal veterans Jahmal Banks at 6’4 and Isaiah Neyor standing at 6’3 these two will add much needed size to the receiving core, giving quarterbacks the ability to target them in short yardage and red zone situations. Also bring a veteran presence to this otherwise young room will be of immense help. With Malachi Coleman, Jaylen Lloyd and Alex Bullock all seeming to use this offseason to gain size and strength while maintaining speed there will be depth at the wideout position which is something we lacked greatly in 2023. If you include a tight end room that has Nate Boerkircher, Thomas Fidone II, Luke Lindenmeyer and possibly the occasional use of Haarberg as a flex. Nebraska stands not only to be able to stretch the field but also work the middle of the field and turn short west coast style passes into big gains. 

In 2023 the Runningbacks room was decimated by injury. A team in which at near the midseason point led the Big Ten in rushing yards seemed to be riddled with injuries and relied heavily on designed quarterback runs as its main source of offense, shall now have a bit more breathing room. With the addition of former Oregon, sophomore running back Donte Dowdell who adds size and depth to the running back room and current experienced backs such as Gabe Ervin Jr and Rahmir Johnson the depth will finally match the talent level at this position. With Dowdell possibly starting this fall in a three back heavy rotation, keeping fresh legs on the field will be less of a chore for the coaching staff this season.  

Now onto possibly the most important position group in my eyes for this upcoming season, the Offensive Line. A group which graded in the mid-level tier in 2023 will need to improve greatly with this different style of offense in 2024, and a lessened ability to scramble for QB1. The right side of our line will be strong with veteran tackle Bryce Benhart, and Florida transfer Michah Mazzccua at guard. Center will be the most stable position on the line with Ben Scott hopefully continuing or even improving play from last year. Then over on the left side of the line are guards Evans-Jenkins, and Buckly. Both have had valuable playing time and just need to put in the work this spring and hopefully we will have two solid options at the left guard position. At left tackle sits our two offensive linemen with the highest ceiling that neither has seemed to fully reach yet, and that is Turner Corcoran and Teddy Prochazka. Two very highly recruited lineman coming out of high school that just haven’t seemed to catch their stride yet at Nebraska, but could be very close.

With a solid off-season and a great spring practice, this team in totality has the ability to look completely different than we saw in 2023. Our quarterbacks have the skills, but can they keep themselves mentally stable in tough times? Our Receiver room is flush with talent but will the chemistry be there?  Running backs can march their way down the field, if they can stay healthy. And our offensive line looks unbalanced, but will it come along? This season sure will be a fun one to watch. I just hope catching three is a phrase that we can phase out quickly. 

 

New Husker AD Is “Building The Future Of College Athletics”

by | Mar 21, 2024 | Uncategorized

The Cornhusker staff is fired up about the new hire at AD. The fans seem to be unsure of who he is. But one thing is for sure, the impact he has already had on college athletics is immense. On Wednesday the University announced its surprise hire of now former Washington Huskies Athletic Director Troy Dannen. Seemingly four factors played into the new AD coming to Nebraska.

Getting back to the midwest, Dannen and his wife are originally from Iowa and the move back closer to home seemed fitting for the new AD and his family. Monetary stability among the University. The University of Washington has seen some fiscal insecurities in comparison to Nebraska over the past few decades. Due to the fact that Nebraska has amazing support from its donors, Alumni, and fans its financial support seems strong and evergrowing. In this NIL era, that is a major concern for leaders. Branding undoubtedly played a major role in the hiring away of Dannen as well. No matter where you may travel across this beautiful country, the block “N” is unmistakable. Feared, loved or hated. A vast majority of those that follow college sports even on the smallest level, not only know who it represents but have a story to go with it. That is something that is currently not present at the University of Washington even with their recent successes. The final factor undoubtedly is the rise of Husker athletics in totality. From Rhule and staff changing culture and bringing hope to Husker fans, to both men and womens basketball making the NCAA tournament (1st time in a decade). Even wrestling and husker baseball seem to be picking up steam while volleyball continues its dominance. Overall the University of Nebraska is one of the most well rounded schools athletically in the country, and bringing Dannen on board seems to be a step forward.

Progressing into this new age of college athletics is something that will require a steady hand, a hair trigger and vast audacity. Dannen has served on the NCAA Division 1 Transformation Committee and the Football Oversight Committee giving him insight and expertise in the field. The Transformation Committee was tasked with “Building the future of College athletics”. On this committee Dannen was given the job of “identifying opportunities to modernize college sports and recommend forward looking changes for consideration by the NCAA”. This is going to be extremely useful as over the next few years the college football landscape is going to continue to change dramatically and now we have an individual with experience in the field.

New Husker AD Dannen is known as a “football guy”. Earning that title everywhere he has been. Looking at his previous jobs at Northern Iowa, Tulane and Washington all of those schools do have one thing in common and that is a meteoric rise in the football programs under his advisory. Football is not his only focus though. For instance from 2015-2023, under Dannen’s guidance Tulane racked up 21 conference championships and 41 post season appearances across all sports.

A proven commodity and a swing for the fences that I didn’t see coming. Hiring away a current Big 10 Athletic Director from a school in which was just in the College Football Playoffs seemed a bit of a stretch, but Nebraska made it happen. This is a hire in which I am fully confident in and as Husker Nation I think we will all look at it as a step towards securing Nebraska as an elite college athletics program.

 

Who Will Be The New Athletic Director At Nebraska?

by | Mar 18, 2024 | Uncategorized

Husker Coach Matt Rhule was “shocked” along with the entire fanbase with the announcement of former Huskers Athletic Director Trerv Alberts’ departure. The surprise however does come with the Huskers women’s and men’s basketball teams taking on former Huskers AD Trev Alberts new school in Texas A&M this upcoming weekend in the NCAA basketball tournament, almost as if it was fate.

As for Alberts’ replacement, I do believe he currently resides in the state of Kansas. Both Kansas and Kansas State have made huge strides on the football field these past handful of years, with Kansas State winning the Big 12 in 2022 over CFB playoff participant TCU. Both schools are strong in basketball and well rounded in most other sports. Working with much less as far as faculty, facilities and overall brand than they would get at Nebraska. A smaller budget and less backing from an NIL standpoint. I do believe both Travis Goff of the University of Kansas and Gene Taylor of Kansas State would both be a great fit.

With the college football world slowly gravitating towards two power conferences with the Big 10 and the SEC. AD’s, Schools and coaches alike will all be wanting to accomplish one of two things. Either hitch their wagon to a new school already located in one of the two “super conferences” or try and get their school into that conference. That being said, I do believe pulling an Athletic Director from a Big 12 or ACC school will not be as difficult as some believe. Kansas is much better positioned to end up in the Big 10 if it did come down to such a decision, due to branding and academics. While Kansas State is more likely to get left out of the “super conference” talks.

While I do feel Goff would be a good fit at Nebraska, definitely in my top two. Gene Taylor would be a clear number one target for the University of Nebraska due to his resurrection and continued growth of the football program, basketball program and a seemingly well defined overall vision of Kansas State athletics. Nebraska does not necessarily need a pathfinder but a CEO in the AD spot and Gene Taylor fits that mold.

So as we all buckle up for the “Alberts bowl” this weekend between both Husker mens and womens basketball teams competing against Texas A&M we shall start to hear news of who the new athletic director could be. There will be some big names thrown around, but the state of Kansas may just hold the top two prospects.