Some key Huskers continue to mend after season-ending injuries in 2024.
During a Saturday morning press conference, Matt Rhule offered updates on the status of some players while hitting on an array of topics.
Turner Corcoran had surgery from a specialist a couple weeks ago after dealing with a hamstring injury that never quite healed. «So we’re hopeful that he’ll be back at some point.»
Another tackle who was injured was Teddy Prochazka. «He’s right on pace,» in his recovery. Others on the O-line who had work done after the season were Gunnar Gottula and Henry Lutovsky. Tyler Knaak also had surgery but should be back for the spring, according to the coach.
Others who had offseason procedures were Carter Nelson (hip) and defensive lineman Conor Connealy.
The latest on wide receiver Demitrius Bell? Coming back from that injury in last year’s Spring Game, Rhule said he «is a little bit behind, but trending in the right direction so we think he’ll be full go this summer.»
Rhule said overall it’s «kind of run of the mill» as to the amount of offseason fix-ups.
Some of those O-linemen recoveries will of course open up some important spring snaps to other younger guys in the program. «To win in college football, you’re going to have to grow your own offensive lineman. We’ve recruited a lot of really good players that have gone through the rhythm of redshirting and kind of being a backup.»
Rhule mentioned Grant Brix and Preston Taumua were on the two-deep during bowl practices in New York.
«Now it’s their time to make their move,» the coach said of those linemen who are second- or third-year guys. «They have all the opportunities they want this spring. I’m excited to see them.»
Latest on special teams coordinator search
The Huskers haven’t filled the special teams coordinator position yet. The coach hired probably won’t be one of the 10 recruiters so Rhule said he’s taking time with the decision as interviews go on.
Associate head coach Phil Snow has been leading a lot of those special teams coordinator interviews. «I’m in the room but he’s asking things again from maybe a different perspective than I have. I think you guys will find I trust Phil immensely because he always goes back to the same core values of technique, fundamentals, effort, preparation. So just looking at everything in that perspective.»
No Spring ‘Game’ showcase for others to see
Rhule highly doubts there will be the usual scrimmage for that Spring ‘Game’ weekend on April 26. He hates that it’s like this but he said last year he dealt with a lot of teams offering Husker players after the game was televised last year. So he doesn’t want to showcase his players for other schools to try to steal. «That doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. The word ‘tampering’ doesn’t exist anymore. It’s just absolute free open common market.»
What exactly the Husker football presentation will be on that day he’s not sure of yet. «I have not worried about anything other than recruiting yet – both portal and then the 2026 class. So now I kind of have to turn my attention to those things.»
‘Protecting the roster’
Rhule downplayed dwindling roster size and potential injuries being a part of not having the usual Spring Game format.
«We’re still going to scrimmage in the spring, we’re still going to tackle in the spring,» he said. «However, last spring was really unfortunate. We lost D Bell, who we thought was probably going to be one of our best receivers to a non-contact injury on the turf. Or semi-non contact I guess. And then Blye Hill, who we thought was going to be our starting corner, then those guys never quite came around.»
So you do think about that in this conversation. «Yet at the same you have to get good,» he added of maintaining a physical spring overall. «Honestly, to me it’s about protecting the roster (from others), and protecting through that portal period.»
Who takes over at center? No forecasting by Rhule yet
Rhule said there’s a lot of guys that could do it as NU replaces Ben Scott in 2025.
«We have Sam Sledge, we have Jason Maciejczak, Justin Evans has always gone over there.»
Rhule trusts Donovan Raiola to get the best five guys out there. «But I think one of the main things for our guys is not to forecast things. You’ve heard me talk a lot about, let’s not forecast our record next year and let’s not forecast the lineups right now. Let them all go compete.»
Rhule said NIL compensation won’t dictate starter status
The coach knows some will assume that certain players will be a starter because of what they are getting paid.
«We’re never going to operate off that. The best players are going to play,» he said.
Rhule pointed out last year some of the most highly compensated players on the team didn’t play as much as others . «That’s just football. All of our guys are going to have an opportunity this spring to either battle for the 105 or battle to be a starter. It’ll be a long, physical season next year, so if you’re a 2 you have to be ready to be a 1.»
The first ’57’
Rhule’s NFL coaching experience is a help when it comes to roster management. He’s used to having a 53-man active roster.
As Nebraska decides on its first tier of guys for the 2025 season with the 105 roster, the coach said Nebraska will have «a first 57» built basically like an NFL roster would be by the numbers at position. It’s just slightly tweaked from his NFL experience.
As one example, the 57 would include three quarterbacks on that list instead of two most NFL teams have active for a game.
Room for players like Roman
After that initial 57, there are players developing in that next group. And then Rhule mentioned specifically the last 10 who will fill out that 105.
Those players 95 through 105 can’t necessarily be just about position group numbers balance.
«To me there’s going to be guys that bring a lot to the culture of the team. There’s going to be guys that are flexible at practice. Like Roman Mangini, he could be a starter next year, or I don’t know, but he’s going to be on the team. Because there’s nobody that makes practice go better than Roman Magnini.»
He said a player like him «raises the level of everything around us.»
He’s not sure exactly how the rules will come out in when teams must finally set their 105 roster. «We think it will be the day of the first game so you might go into camp for more and if a guy is out for the year he won’t count for the 105 so you can replace him with someone else, but it has to be before that first game.»
Honest with player status before spring ball
«We made a conscious decision to tell every guy on the team if we did the 105 right now would they make it or not. So they had a chance to move on.»
Some did. Some have told Rhule they want to stay until they are told they didn’t make it.
«We’ll compete it out all the way to the end and see how the numbers play out. Maybe if we have 115 in camp…»
Rhule and Dr. Susan Elza, Nebraska’s football chief of staff, said there are 126 on the roster right now.
Singleton’s and Wright’s return
Rhule said DeShon Singleton had somewhere around a 3rd-round grade and was probably going to the Senior Bowl. But a recent ruling allows a former JUCO player like Singleton one more year of eligibility if he wanted it. Singleton saw the potential of backing up his 2024 work and «hopefully (he’ll) have the same results that Ty had, knowing that there’s always a risk of coming back.»
Singleton also really likes Lincoln and his brother DJ is on the team.
«So that’s awesome. He’s a really good player that is going to be an even better player next year.»
Javin Wright basically had to conduct walk-throughs before games last season without practicing – due to his recovery from blood clots.
He has definite NFL talent, Rhule said. «So we’re hoping that as we work with the doctors next fall he’ll be able to practice and then play … I think his game will elevate if he can practice more.»
No ‘woe is us’ but it’s been busy
Rhule said there’s no ‘woe is us’ about the last couple of months of business «because we have the greatest job in the world.»
But there has been no rest time since the 20-15 Husker Pinstripe Bowl win over Boston College. He said he had a laundry day Sunday after that Saturday win and then was in the office Monday.
«There was no break. Some of the auxiliary staff like Corey Campbell, Kristin Coggin – like they were in the office for portal visits starting on (January) 1. So we’ve worked straight through.»
It’s a collective effort, he added, that goes beyond even those on the football staff.
The schedule ahead
Players will keep rolling through winter strength conditioning workouts that started two weeks ago. Corey Campbell is running that show.
Rhule was also going straight from the press conference to talk to recruits visiting this weekend for Nebraska’s Elite Day recruiting weekend.
«But we’ll take a couple days off here,» he said of giving coaches a brief pause after this weekend. «Corey is running the program for the first four weeks (back this semester). We just believe in strength for the first four weeks. So people will take a little time off these next two weeks probably and then we’ll get back and start the mat drills, and get them to spring football.»