Nebraska Players Set to Make an Immediate Impact on Defense This Season

With the college football season just weeks away, the Huskers and third-year head coach Matt Rhule are ready for what promises to be an exciting season. Following a strong recruiting class and some big pickups through the transfer portal, this new-look Nebraska roster looks ready to compete in a tough Big Ten Conference.

After a Pinstripe Bowl win over Boston College last season, Rhule and newly appointed coordinators–Dana Holgorsen on offense and John Butler on defense–will look to build on that momentum and start the season strong in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bearcats.

In 2015, Rhule led Temple to an improved 10-4 record after going 6-6 the previous season, ranking No. 20 in the AP Poll. After four years in Philadelphia, Rhule spent the next three years at Baylor, and in 2019 he led the Bears to an 11-3 record in his third season, earning a No.8 ranking in the AP Poll and Big 12 Coach of The Year honors. Rhule will look to continue his history of year-three leaps as Nebraska enters the season with new faces on both sides of the ball, and with hopes of not only contending for a Big Ten Championship, but also for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Despite the expectations surrounding this revamped Nebraska team, Rhule's standard remains the same. “It’s time to go perform,” he said at Big Ten Media Day in Las Vegas, emphasizing “The standard is the standard”. New and returning Huskers are expected to perform, make plays, and win, this roster is full of talented players on both sides of the ball, and Rhule's high expectations won’t settle for anything less than winning.