Nebraska head football coach Matt Rhule addressed the media on Saturday for the first time since the Huskers’ Pinstripe Bowl victory over Boston College. There was a lot to cover. Rhule was able to answer questions for 30 minutes, before having to leave for the junior day visitors.
Here are four takeaways from Rhule’s press conference:
Huge opportunity in the trenches
Although the transfer portal acquisitions have made the biggest boom thus far, many returning players have the chance to climb the ladder over the offseason; the offensive and defensive line specifically.
Several offensive linemen are all recovering from injuries. Teddy Prochazka is going to give it another go, after suffering his third season-ending knee injury before last season. Turner Corcoran had a setback in his hamstring recovery that he suffered against Illinois.
“Teddy Prochazka is right on pace,” Rhule said at Saturday’s media availability. “Turner [Corcoran] had surgery and that was a hamstring that never quite healed.”
Others among the offensive line that will miss the spring include tackle Gunnar Gotulla and guard Henry Lutovsky.
“Gunnar [Gottula] had his shoulder done, Lutovsky had surgery,” Rhule said.
Even with the addition of Alabama’s starting offensive tackle Elijah Pritchett and the potential addition of Notre Dame’s starting guard Rocco Spinder, underclassmen have a golden opportunity. Sam Sledge, Jason Maciejczak, Grant Brix, Brock Knutson and Preston Taumua are a few examples.
The defensive line is another. Riley Van Poppel and Keona Davis are poised to be in the mix to become starters on the interior. Cameron Lenhardt is the only returning defensive lineman that has started for the Big Red.
Williams Nwaneri is the one that everyone will have their eyes on. The former 5-star plus recruit has all the intangibles to be the next Randy Gregory. Dasan McCullough is the other who can play edge, linebacker and rover.
“McCullough is a great athlete that people have tried in a lot of different spots,” Rhule said. “I think you see a player that hasn’t really found his home. We could be 3-4, we could be 3-3-5 or go four-down and rush. I think McCullough gives you someone who can play in all three of those packages.”
Rhule wants to get the right guy for special teams
It’s been nearly a month since it was announced that Ed Foley would not be retained as special teams coordinator. Rhule confirmed on Saturday that he still is in the process of deciphering who to hire.
“It’s not filled yet,” Rhule said. “We’re doing some interviews and taking our time.”
One thing that stood out is that Rhule is not conducting the interviews. Associate head coach Phil Snow is. Snow is going to have a ton of say within the Nebraska football program.
“Phil Snow is leading a lot of interviews for me,” Rhule said. “I’m in the room but he’s asking things from a different perspective than I have. I think you guys will find that I trust Phil immensely.”
No spring game is not only due to injury concerns
Nebraska is scheduled the have an event on April, 26, but it won’t be a game. Many assumed this was solely because injuries can occur to the top athletes on the team.
Although they don’t want their NIL investment to go down the drain, it’s not the only reason. Tampering within the spring window has led to Rhule being skeptical about a televised spring event.
“We were one of the more televised spring games last year,” Rhule said. “I dealt with a lot of people offering our players a lot of opportunities after that. To bring in a bunch of new players and showcase them for a bunch of schools to watch doesn’t make that much sense to me.”
They will still have an event, but it won’t be televised. The spring game in Nebraska is as big as it gets. Rhule understands that and is looking at a way to carry on the tradition.
“At the same time, I still want to show off our players in some way,” Rhule said.
Walk-ons are willing to fight for a spot
Nebraska currently has 126 players on its roster. They will have to cut it down to 105 by its first game against Cincinnati on August, 28. Rhule has always been honest with his players and told each of them where they stood if they had the 105-player limit now.
“We made a conscious decision to tell everyone on the team if we did the 105 right now would they make it or not,” Rhule said. “Some guys have moved on and found spots, which I’m really happy for. Some guys have said ‘Coach I’m staying here till you guys kick me off, I’m a Husker.’ That’s hard for me to sit there and say they’re not gonna make the 105.”
It will be fascinating to watch all this unfold. Do not be surprised to see some walk-ons beat out scholarship players for a role on the roster. The in-state red they bleed might be enough for a few to remain on the team. It just means more for the Husker walk-ons.