Rhule on radio: Nebraska coach praises true freshman class, especially the D-linemen. “I don’t know if we could’ve found a better group.”
Nebraska first-year head coach Matt Rhule often emphasizes the importance of the trenches as he builds the Husker program.
He painted a promising picture in that regard Tuesday night.
“That freshman D-line group, I don’t know if we could’ve found a better group,” Rhule said during an appearance on “Husker Sports Nightly.”
“We have guys at every position (along the line),” he continued. “Some will play this year. Some will maybe play the four games, then play in the postseason and use it as a redshirt year.”
The entire 2023 class has ample speed and explosion, the coach said.
“I think this will be a key, key recruiting class for us for awhile,” he said.
As for the true freshman D-linemen, Cameron Lenhardt already has put himself in position to be a game-one starter, Rhule said Saturday. Princewill Umanmielen enjoyed a strong spring season but has battled injury of late.
Other scholarship D-linemen in the class of 2023 are Riley Van Poppel, Sua Lefotu, Jason Maciejczak, and Vincent Carroll-Jackson.
Rhule also noted that true freshman offensive linemen Gunnar Gottula and Sam Sledge already are on the two-deep.
“It usually takes a couple years for guys to develop,” Rhule said. “Luckily, Gunnar was here in the spring, so he had a chance to get a head start. Sledge is right there in the mix with us in the two deep as well (as an interior lineman).
“With some of the bigger, longer guys — Brock Knutson (6-foot-7, 305 pounds — sometimes it takes them a little time.”
Rhule noted that Grant Seagren, a “preferred” walk-on from Oakland-Craig High School, has caught coaches’ eyes.
“I didn’t know him and saw his film and was like, ‘Man, he’s going to be a really good get for us,’” Rhule said. “I think he’ll play for us. He’ll play for the Huskers.”
Rhule speaks highly of Nebraska’s walk-on tradition. He understands its importance. Along those lines, brothers Alex Bullock (wide receiver) and John Bullock (linebacker), walk-ons from Omaha Creighton Prep, have risen to key contributor status.
“I remember when I first got here, Casey Thompson pointed out Alex and said, ‘That guy right there runs the best routes of anybody on the team,’” Rhule said. “He’s a dynamic guy. He’s explosive, he’s athletic, and he’s developing a quiet confidence and swagger to go along with that.
“And he’s made a lot of plays.”
Rhule “disappointed” Ted Carter leaving for Ohio State
University of Nebraska President Ted Carter, who on Tuesday was named to the same role at Ohio State, played a major role in hiring Rhule as Huskers’ coach.
Rhule made that clear Tuesday night.
“Obviously, I was disappointed when I heard it today,” Rhule said. “President Carter called me, which I appreciate. I’ll forever be grateful. He brought me here. He’s one of the big reasons I came here, just kind of knowing there was that leadership from Trev (Alberts) and him.”
Rhule said he has a high degree in trust in Alberts, the athletic director who brought him to Lincoln.
“The big thing for me is, having Trev Alberts as the athletic director is like the most important thing in the world to me because he’s been so great,” Rhule said. “He’s visionary. He’s strategic.”
The coach added, “President Carter bringing Trev here, bringing me here, I’ll be forever grateful. (Carter) will be here for the rest of the year, and I know he’ll make sure we get off to a great start.
“I’m excited for him and excited to meet who we have next.”
Other nuggets from the coach
***Rhule described Nebraska’s new $165 million training facility as being “absolutely beautiful.” The players moved in Monday.
The coaching staff will move in at a later date.
“The building we’re in, the Osborne Center, it’s the nicest building I’ve ever worked in,” Rhule said. “When I got here, I was like, ‘This isn’t good enough? We need to move over (there)?’”
He chuckled.
Make no mistake, he expressed ample gratitude for the new building.
***His main influence on the new digs has mostly to do with players’ recovery from workouts, practices and games. He’s talking about saunas, cold tubs, hot tubs, sleep pods … the gamut.
“Our job is to help them be the best they can be, and a lot of that is giving them these tools,” he said.
***Once a player earns a single-digit jersey, he won’t lose it, the coach said.
He also said he doesn’t get involved at all in the players’ vote.
Rhule wants players in single digits who are relentless, disciplined, great teammates and great in the community, among other traits.
*** Rhule said he thinks his players had a good experience staying in Selleck Quadrangle during the first couple weeks of preseason camp. “They won’t admit it, but I think they had a good time,” he said. “I think they enjoyed being around each other.”
Rhule noted he stayed a couple extra nights in the dorm after players and assistants departed.
*** He said his players “crushed it” during Saturday’s scrimmage despite the heat. “It was hot, hot,” he said.
But he said you couldn’t tell by how well the players competed.
***Rhule is thrilled by way his team came through camp health-wise. He said Teddy Prochazka and Marcus Washington practiced Tuesday, although it sounds like they’re still a bit limited.
***He addressed the balance between winning now and building for future. “The biggest thing is, we want to win right now, but we won’t take any shortcuts,” he said.
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