Anybody that follows me will be tired of hearing this, but winning football games takes much more than athletic talent. For me, it’s more about X’s and O’s than Jimmy’s and Joe’s. And when I say X’s and O’s, I’m also talking about coaches who can develop, create a winning culture, and instill the right mentality. They must have the ability to make their players believe in themselves and what can be accomplished as a team. AKA Indiana.
Talent hasn’t been Nebraska’s problem. Do you think teams like Michigan, Oregon, and Miami would sign Nebraska players out of the portal that don’t have talent? That just happened with Houston Ka’aha’aina-Torres going to Michigan, Dylan Riaola to Oregon, and Keona Davis to Miami. And don’t forget Princewell Umanmielen at Ole Miss and now LSU. None of them left because of a lack of talent or being buried on the roster, they left because they felt they weren’t being developed and they had the talent to earn more money.
Numbers Talk and Not Just $ Signs
Last season at Nebraska the 6’5” 275lb Davis posted 3.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks for -9 yards and 1 PD. In 2024 he had 1.5 TFLs. Had he stayed at Nebraska he would have had his third different position coach which suggests instability. Now look at the stats of the guys he’s looking to replace in Miami.
Akeem Mesidor – 6’3” 280lbs, 17.5 TFLs, 12.5 sacks for -99 yards and 4 forced fumbles.
Ruben Bains – 6’3” 275lbs, 15.5 TFLs, 9.5 sacks for -57 yards, 1 INT, 1 PD, 1 FF.
On the season the Cane’s defensive line alone registered 61.5 TFLs, 33.5 sacks, 6 FFs. Mimai’s defensive line coach is Jason Taylor. He has been with the Hurricanes for three seasons. An NFL Hall of famer, he registered 139.5 sacks and 46 forced fumbles in his career. He played his college ball at Akron where he was a three-year starter. Taylor is an example of the perfect mix as a coach, NFL experience that was developed at a lower-level program. Tell me why Davis wouldn’t be attracted to Miami.
As for the 6’5” 245lb Princewell Umanmielen, in his two seasons at Nebraska he posted 7 TFLs, 1.5 Sacks, and 1 PD. In his first season at Ole Miss he had 13 TFLs, 9 sacks for -49 yards, 1 INT, and 1 PD. He’s now following Lane Kiffin to LSU. Talent wasn’t the problem.
First Step in Resolving the Issue
If Matt Rhule has failed anywhere in his first three years at Nebraska it has been his inability to hire the right coaches and create stability. You can go down the list of coaches that are gone, Tony White, John Butler, Evan Cooper, Terrance Knighton, Terry Bradden, Josh Bringuel, Jack Potenza, Garrett McGuire, Donavan Raiola, and Mike Ekeler.
Coaches that were demoted or reassigned, Marcus Satterfield, Josh Martin, and Ed Foley.
And then there were the additions along the way, Glen Thomas, Dana Holgorsen, Daikiel Shorts, Andrew Verboys, Phil Simpson, Addison Williams, Phil Snow, Jamar Mozee, Dave Tollefson, Brett Maher, and Nick Humphrey.
There is only one position coach that started with Rhule in 2023 and has held solid, linebackers coach Rob Dvoracek. Although, new DC Rob Aurich coach’s linebackers too.
With the hiring of Geep Wade, Lonnie Teasley, Rob Aurich, Roy Manning, Corey Brown, and Miles Taylor there are 17 contracted coaches including strength and conditioning coach Corey Campbell. From the coaching side of things there has been constant turnover, including schemes.
Call it the Husker fan in me, but in his fourth season as head coach I think Rhule finally has a chance to resolve the coaching instability. I think he has finally got the right guys. I really like this staff and now Rhule needs to let them go to work. His priority is to maintain the staff long enough to have success. He must start winning the games he is supposed to and consistently. And don’t even tell me or the Nebraska fan base he doesn’t have the talent to do so.
If there is one change that I feel needs to be made it’s weaning Rhule off Phil Snow. Cut the cord and turn him loose. Snow is a great coach and I’m sure he brings something to the table, but he’s also that shadow in the background that causes distrust and discord even if he doesn’t mean to. I see him as detrimental at this point.
Nebraska has Jimmy’s and Joe’s
Winning can be contagious in an athletic department. That bodes well for Nebraska football as several sports are competing for Big Ten championships and even National Championships. That puts pressure on Matt Rhule to produce. With the success of volleyball, women’s basketball, men’s wrestling, and especially men’s basketball, that pressure has intensified. Nebraska has forever been known for football, to think volleyball and men’s basketball could make football sit in third chair is something Husker fans could never imagine. Rhule needs to utilize his new staff and seize the day.
There are key portal additions this staff needs to elevate and players on the roster that they need to develop and take to the next step. Four names that jump out from the portal are Anthony Colandrea, Owen Chambliss, Dewayne McDougle and Anthony Jones. Chambliss and McDougle will be center pieces that new DC Rob Aurich builds this defense around.
Owen Chambliss in my opinion was the biggest get on the defensive side of the ball. The 6’3, 230lb linebacker registered 110 tackles last season with 9.5 for losses and 4 sacks. Considered a ball-hawk he was a huge part of new DC Rob Aurich’s defenses at San Deigo State and figures to be a key piece for the Blackshirts success moving forward. He will remind Husker fans of old days with big linebackers like Carlos Polk. He is just the kind of linebacker needed to back a young defensive line.
Safety Dewayne McDougle not only played for Aurich at San Deigo State but followed him there from Idaho. The 5’11, 208lb McDougle last season was 4th on the team in tackles with 55 and tied for the team lead in interceptions with 4. He played with Andrew Marshall at Idaho, and the defensive backs reuniting brings stability to a defensive backfield learning a new 4-2-5 scheme. He will play a big role in getting the Blackshirts up to speed.
There is some thought that portal addition Anthony Jones will fill the void left by Keona Davis. At 6’5”, 265lbs, Jones has the physical attributes to excel in new DC Rob Aurich’s scheme with edge coach Roy Manning guiding him. Jones has the potential to be the pass rusher off the edge that the Huskers have needed over the last three seasons. While Davis had all the potential in the world, Jones brings experience, having played at Big Ten schools Oregon, Indiana, Michigan State, and UCLA. He has seen action in 37 games over four seasons with 14 starts and has logged 58 total tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, and 10 QB hurries. His numbers may not blow you away but show what he is capable of. With Aurich being known for maximizing a player’s potential, Jones may have been pinpointed for a reason.
On offense Anthony Colandrea brings a new attitude to the Nebraska quarterback room. It is said Colandrea has that “It” factor and has been described as a gunslinger. He’s an explosive guy who can be a difference maker and brings something that has been missing at the position the last two seasons, experience. He has played 33 career games in three seasons and has passed for 7,500 yards with 49 touchdowns and 29 interceptions while rushing for over 1,000 yards and 12 TDs. He arrives in Lincoln with one full season to play plus a redshirt if needed. Voted the Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year after leading the Rebels to a 10-4 record, Colandrea was highly sought after in the portal. In his only season at UNLV, the 6’0” 205lb dual-threat QB completed 70% of his passes for 3,459 yards and 23 TDs with 9 interceptions. He was also the Rebel’s second leading rusher with 649 yards on 127 carries for a 5.1 yard per carry average and 10 TDs. A playmaker, his biggest attribute is his ability to move in the pocket and pass on the run. Husker fans should be elated with the fact they now have a quarterback with an arm and mobility. Colandrea could be exactly what this team needs if Glenn Thomas and Dana Holgorsen coach him up and utilize him correctly.
As for players this staff needs to develop, there are plenty with 11 true freshmen, 12 red shirt freshmen, 43 sophomores, 32 juniors, and 18 seniors. 117 players in total.
I anticipate all the guys I’m about to list will make big gains this coming season. Game wreckers on the defensive line look to be Riley Van Poppel, David Hoffken, Kade Pietrzak, and Willimas Nwaneri. Backing them will be linebackers Vincent Shavers, Will Hawthorne, Dexter Foster and Dawson Merritt. At the third level, it’s hard to imagine Andrew Marshall getting better than he is but Caleb Benning, Donavan Jones, and Danny Odem can make big moves. Every guy I mentioned has the potential to have breakout seasons and be difference makers if the new staff are the coaches I think they are.
On offense look out for Nyziah Hunter, Jacory Barney, Kwazi Gilmer, Luke Lindenmeyer, Luke Soresen, Mekhi Nelson, and Isiah Mozee to be playmakers and game breakers. The addition of Colandrea will bust things open and allow Holgorsen not to be one dimensional. The offensive line will look different, being much more aggressive and controlling the line of scrimmage They are a solid two-deep group with Elijah Pritchett, Paul Mubenga, Justin Evans, Brenden Black, Tree Babalade, Gunnar Gottula, Preston Taumua, Sam Sledge, Grant Brix, and Claude Mpouma.
These are just a few of the players on Nebraska’s roster that can make big strides under this staff. There are several others I didn’t mention that will play big roles this season. The question mark on this staff? Who is running the show on special teams. With the departure of Mike Ekeler, it will be difficult for there not to be a drop-off. The job to maintain falls on Brett Maher, Nick Humphrey, and Josh Martin. Rhule seemed to think Ekeler taught these guys the winning formula, but did he leave them the juice? In my estimation Nick Humphreys was key in retaining. He came to Nebraska with Ekeler from Tennessee. He’s spent more time with Ekeler than anyone on the staff.
The 2026 schedule isn’t favorable, but I feel Nebraska finally has what they need in both X’s and O’s, Jimmy’s and Joe’s.
Photo courtesy of The Falls City Journal
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Stats gathered from ESPN – Serving Sports Fans. Anytime. Anywhere.