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New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Five things to know about Nebraska as Huskers open camp
LINCOLN, Neb. — Minus the triple-digit heat index, it felt like fall Monday at Nebraska. Before the first practice of preseason camp, some 120 football players awoke at Selleck Hall. They were reintroduced last weekend to the dorm life that has become tradition for Matt Rhule-coached teams in Lincoln. Advertisement A difference this year? The Huskers voted their coaches out. 'They want it to be their thing, their team,' Rhule said. 'So as much as I love staying in the dorm, I was happy to oblige.' The Day 1 revelation advances a player-driven push toward independence. 'It's been a long offseason of not just football, but also of learning and understanding my teammates,' said sophomore QB Dylan Raiola, the returning starter. 'And in order for that to happen, it's a two-way street. I commend them for putting up with me.' Nebraska is 12-13 in two seasons under Rhule. It punctuated 2024 in the Pinstripe Bowl, the Huskers' first appearance in the postseason — a victory against Boston College — since 2016. They're intent in 2025 to take a big leap. The primary offseason storyline at Nebraska has involved one question: Does this group possess the ability to jump similarly to Rhule's former teams in this spot at Temple and Baylor in 2015 and 2019, respectively? Both programs added four victories from their second seasons led by Rhule to the third. The coach believes. 'We've got enough good players,' Rhule said. 'We have an excellent roster. We're fast. We're explosive. We've got veterans where we need them. We're good on the lines. We've got great coaches. But we're going to have to go perform.' One month ahead of the Nebraska opener against Cincinnati, here are five more of the most interesting storylines about the Huskers as they begin training camp: Nebraska started camp Monday with 125 players. That's 20 over the eventual limit of 105 negotiated as part of the House v. NCAA settlement terms. Pressure applied by the judge in the case this spring forced the NCAA and power conferences to allow programs to grant exemptions to all players who would have been cut if roster limits had been implemented this year. Advertisement 'I don't know how I could have told some of these guys, 'Hey, you're not on the team,'' Rhule said. 'They're paying to go to school … and a lot of them are good players, developing into good players.' The roster exemptions allow Nebraska, which carried approximately 150 players last year, to ease into the era of roster limits. In the meantime, its depth fosters competition and practice flow, Rhule said. The last time Holgorsen spent an entire season focused solely on coordinating an offense, it was 2010 at Oklahoma State. Brandon Weeden threw for a Big 12-best 4,277 yards. Justin Blackmon led the FBS with 20 touchdown receptions. And the Cowboys scored 44.2 points per game. They scored 41 apiece in their lone losses — against Nebraska and Oklahoma. Holgorsen, 54, spent the next 13 seasons as a head coach. He joined the Huskers in November last year as OC. In his second game, Nebraska beat Wisconsin 44-25, posting its highest point total in more than three years against a Big Ten opponent. After an offseason to get comfortable with the personnel and implement his offense, Holgorsen looks set to push Nebraska to a new level after it averaged 5.19 yards per play over two seasons, ranking 104th nationally in 2023 and 2024. The bar is not especially high. USC coach Lincoln Riley described the Holgorsen addition as a 'big win for Nebraska.' 'He's a phenomenal offensive coach,' said Riley, who worked alongside Holgorsen at Texas Tech and matched wits with him when Riley coached at Oklahoma. 'It was a home run offensive hire for Matt, and Matt knows it.' No tight end in two years under Rhule at Nebraska has caught more than 36 passes or four touchdowns in a season. The Huskers' returning production is limited, with three tight ends back who combined for 31 catches and one TD in 2024. Advertisement But look deeper. 'I'm not going to spoil the eggs on what we're going to do with those guys,' Raiola said, 'but they're all special athletes.' Holgorsen is bullish on the position group, perhaps the Huskers' deepest and most talented on offense. And despite his history with the Air Raid offense, the coordinator plans to make use of a four-pronged weapon at tight end for Nebraska that includes Luke Lindenmeyer, Heinrich Haarberg, Carter Nelson and Mac Markway. According to Lindenmeyer, Nebraska's ready to take the throne as 'Tight End U.' That's a bit aggressive, but Haarberg and Nelson likely deliver as much talent at the spot as any duo in the Big Ten. Haarberg, a converted quarterback, rates as impressive as any athlete Rhule has coached, he said. Nelson, who played receiver as a freshman last year, is a former top-100 recruit with high-end skills. Markway, the LSU transfer, and Lindenmeyer are equally adept on the edge in the run game and as pass catchers. Observers on Monday at practice caught a first glimpse of Archie Wilson, the rugby-style freshman punter from Australia who arrived in Lincoln this summer. The Huskers changed course on their punting plans under the direction of first-year special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler, who used rugby-style punter Jackson Ross at Tennessee over the past two seasons. Like Ross, Wilson can punt traditionally or while rolling out — and with both legs. He was booming kicks with his left leg on the turf in the shadow of the Osborne Legacy Complex early Monday. And there's more. 'I think what he can do is fantastic,' Rhule said. 'He can roll left. He can roll right. He can really run. He's fast. He can throw. … That could put defenses really, really at a disadvantage.' For a program that's struggled to win with special teams and has lost 23 of 28 games decided by one score over the last four seasons, Wilson can flip the field in more ways than one. Advertisement Nebraska teams for longer than a generation established a standard of greatness on the offensive line. The Huskers produced 18 first-team All-Americans on the O-line over 20 years. But since 2001? Not one. And worse yet, the Huskers have rarely leaned on their line to set a physical tone in 14 seasons of Big Ten play. 'I want to walk through the hallways and be a little bit physically intimidated by our O-line,' Rhule said. 'That's how it's supposed to look — and not by their height, but their girth.' Could this be the year? Left to right, Nebraska features Alabama transfer Elijah Pritchett, Henry Lutovsky, Justin Evans, Notre Dame transfer Rocco Spindler and a battle at right tackle that includes Tyler Knaak, Gunnar Gottula and Teddy Prochazka. The line has experience, size, strength, depth and versatility. 'That's a group I'm extremely proud of,' running back Emmett Johnson said. 'They're really buying in. They're probably the hardest-working group on the team.' Lutovsky represented Nebraska last week at Big Ten media days. A fifth-year senior, he switched in the spring from right guard to the left side. He said he'd play anywhere up front that best suits the squad. This season marks the final opportunity for Lutovsky to realize a dream from before his time at Nebraska arrived. 'I fell in love with the idea of bringing it back.' (Photo of Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola: Dustin Satloff / Getty Images)
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nebraska Football: 2025 Cornhuskers Season Preview and Prediction
Nebraska Football: 2025 Cornhuskers Season Preview and Prediction originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Nebraska took an important step last season, ending a seven-year bowl drought. Year 3 was an important benchmark in Rhule's stops at Temple and Baylor, going 10-4 and 11-3, respectively. With veterans at key spots and important additions from the transfer portal, Nebraska should improve on its progress made in 2024. Advertisement [Editor's note: This article is from Athlon Sports' 2025 College Football Preview print magazine. Order your copy today online, or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.] More Big Ten team previews: Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Maryland | Michigan | Michigan State Minnesota | Northwestern | Ohio State | Oregon | Penn State Purdue | Rutgers | UCLA | USC | Washington | Wisconsin Nebraska 2025 Season Preview and Prediction Previewing Nebraska's Offense for 2025 Dylan Raiola returns for a highly anticipated sophomore campaign after completing 67% of his passes with 13 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. Raiola showed flashes of his elite arm talent in 2024 and dropped weight this offseason to be more of a threat with his feet. Advertisement Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen will guide Raiola and the Cornhuskers attack full-time in 2025. Holgorsen's relationship with the Air Raid is a thing of the past, but unlocking big plays for the Husker offense will be near the top of the to-do list. Nebraska will feature running back Emmett Johnson as both a runner and receiver. Johnson was a favorite of Holgorsen's in November, when the back averaged more than five yards per carry and caught 23 passes in four games with Holgorsen calling plays. At wide receiver, Nebraska added Dane Key from Kentucky and Cal's Nyziah Hunter from the transfer portal. Jacory Barney Jr. caught 55 passes last season. Up front, Nebraska supplemented a deep group with Notre Dame guard Rocco Spindler and Alabama tackle Elijah Pritchett out of the transfer portal. Head coach Matt Rhule called the offensive line one of the 'highlights' of spring practices. Related: Big Ten Predictions for 2025 Cornhuskers QB Dylan Raiola | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Previewing Nebraska's Defense for 2025 New coordinator John Butler will force the issue with pressure and has been tasked with improving third-down and red-zone defense for a group that was a top-20 unit overall in 2023 and 2024. Advertisement Nebraska will miss Ty Robinson's 7.0 sacks and 12.5 tackles for a loss, but the Husker defense got a boost with the return of safety DeShon Singleton, who finished second on the team with 71 tackles, and Javin Wright, an athletic linebacker returning for a seventh season. Adding to the experience are transfer linebackers Marques Watson-Trent, the reigning Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year for Georgia Southern, and versatile Dasan McCullough from Oklahoma. Nebraska linebacker Javin Wright | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Previewing Nebraska's Specialists for 2025 Nebraska's shaky special teams units are in the hands of former Tennessee special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler. Ekeler must improve a group that allowed 10 blocked kicks last season. Kicker John Hohl, 10-of-15 on field goals, returns. Improving the Husker punt return game (4.9 yards per return last season) will be a priority. Advertisement National Ranking: 28 More Big Ten team previews: Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Maryland | Michigan | Michigan State Minnesota | Northwestern | Ohio State | Oregon | Penn State Purdue | Rutgers | UCLA | USC | Washington | Wisconsin Related: Big Ten Football 2025 Predictions Related: College Football Rankings: Projecting the Top 25 Teams for 2025 Related: Athlon Sports 2025 College Football Preview Magazine Available Now This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
11-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Which Nebraska offensive players are trending during spring practice?
LINCOLN, Neb. — This spring on the practice field is part of the second stage in Dana Holgorsen's revamp of the Nebraska offense. Holgorsen arrived in November from the outside and coached three games as the play caller and coordinator. He hardly had time to learn names. In some cases, he did not. Nebraska managed its best offensive showing of 2024 in a 44-point outburst against Wisconsin, sandwiched between up-and-down moments at USC and Iowa. Advertisement The next step began ahead of the 20-15 Nebraska win against Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl. Through nine of 15 practices in the spring, Holgorsen's apparent comfort level around Osborne Complex has skyrocketed. He's happy with the Huskers' work this month. 'Everybody's getting reps,' Holgorsen said Thursday. 'Everybody's getting looked at. Everybody's getting evaluated.' Players are emerging at every level. Alongside coach Matt Rhule and quarterbacks coach Glenn Thomas, Holgorsen has noticed Dylan Raiola's development in leadership. 'Dylan is just next level, telling everybody what to do, making checks, changing protections,' Holgorsen said. The quarterback rates among the lowest of the Huskers' concerns. Here are four more Huskers on offense who are trending up with six practices left in the spring. Running back Kwinten Ives: Ives scored his first career touchdown on a 2-yard run against Boston College in December. And it triggered something in the sophomore from Beverly, N.J. 'He saw that he belonged,' Nebraska running backs coach E.J. Barthel said. 'He got that little taste in his mouth.' With Rahmir Johnson, the Pinstripe Bowl MVP, out of eligibility and Gabe Ervin and Dante Dowdell gone via the transfer portal, Nebraska needed a back to stand up behind projected starter Emmett Johnson. Ives has taken hold of the No. 2 spot. When Holgorsen got to Nebraska, he said, the Huskers couldn't rely on Ives. But in December, something clicked with the 6-foot-3 back. He has improved his physicality as a runner and in pass protection. And Ives has worked to maintain his weight between 208 and 218 pounds, according to Barthel. He weighed 214 on Thursday. 'He can run a route like a small back,' Barthel said. 'That's the uniqueness of the kid. He's got flexibility. He's got twitch. He's got speed. He's got power. I'm really impressed, but now he's gotta go do it. It's his time.' Advertisement Ives' development has stabilized the backfield. 'I know we're in a different world with the portal,' Barthel said. 'Everyone's looking for an immediate fix-type deal. But traditionally, it's about development. And development comes from repetition.' Wide receiver Nyziah Hunter: The transfer from Cal made multiple plays Thursday in practice that Holgorsen had waited for weeks to see from these Huskers. Once, he got behind a cornerback on a go-route. 'That was encouraging,' Holgorsen said. But more than Hunter's explosiveness — evident as he caught 40 passes for 578 yards a year ago — Holgorsen has been looking for physicality. Hunter's got it, at 6-2 and 210 pounds. 'I've coached 210-pound guys that don't play physical,' Holgorsen said. 'Nyziah does. At this level, you're going to have to run through stuff. You're going to have to make contested catches with people on your back.' After Hunter, from Salinas, Calif., got to Nebraska, the cold weather tested him. And he had not experienced offseason work as hard as the Huskers' mat drills. Holgorsen noticed his struggles. But Hunter, a third-year sophomore, has elevated his performance to fit at the top of the wide receiver group with Dane Key, a transfer from Kentucky, and returnees Jacory Barney and Janiran Bonner. Freshmen Cortez Mills and Isaiah Mozee will fit in the playing rotation, Holgorsen said, but they need to get stronger. For Hunter, the initial attraction to Lincoln involved Rhule and the Nebraska brand. The Huskers' win over Colorado in September made a positive impact on Hunter. And when he entered the portal, Raiola reached out to him immediately. 'He's a dawg,' Hunter said. 'He's that guy, on and off the field.' Hunter, too, is making his mark at Nebraska with a personality that appeals to teammates. Offensive lineman Justin Evans: Nebraska needs a center to replace two-year starter Ben Scott. Evans, a 13-game starter at left guard last year, appears a fit. Advertisement 'I'm very happy with his mentality,' Holgersen said. 'He's taken over a leadership role.' Holgorsen said he didn't hear Evans speak for two months late last season. In making the move to center, Evans had no choice but to get vocal. He has taken well to the position and has built a sizable gap over the likes of Sam Sledge and Jason Maciejczak. 'He's always been kind of an undersized overachiever,' Holgorsen said. 'You've gotta get that mindset out of your head. You are a dude.' At 6-1 and 315 pounds as a junior from East Orange, N.J., Evans is poised to anchor the offensive line. Transfers Rocco Spindler (Notre Dame) at guard and Elijah Pritchett (Alabama) at tackle delivered experience through the portal. Four linemen with starting experience continue to rehab from injuries. But the center makes an offensive line hum, according to offensive line coach Donovan Raiola. 'He can be as good of a center that exists in college football,' Holgorsen said. 'I firmly believe that.' Tight end Luke Lindenmeyer: The early departures of Thomas Fidone and Nate Boerkircher left tight end as wide open as any spot on the offensive depth chart to enter the offseason. Lindenmeyer, a 6-3, 250-pound junior from LaVista, Neb., had the edge in experience. He has distinguished himself this spring, Holgorsen said, as Nebraska searches for options with Carter Nelson and Mac Markway out because of injuries. Converted quarterback Heinrich Haarberg gives the Huskers an elite athlete at the position. Lindenmeyer does everything well. 'I consider Luke a skill guy,' Holgorsen said. 'I just think he's a football player. He's another guy that is taking on a leadership role. Incredibly smart, plays with great pad level. He sees the whole field and knows exactly what is going on.' That's a recipe to earn him plenty of reps when Nebraska opens on Aug. 28 against Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium. (Top photo of Kwinten Ives (28): Vincent Carchietta / Imagn Images)
USA Today
28-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Nebraska coordinator Dana Holgorsen says it was 'an easy decision' to return for 2025
Nebraska coordinator Dana Holgorsen says it was 'an easy decision' to return for 2025 Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen met with the media on Thursday following the Huskers' spring practice. Holgorsen is entering his second season with Nebraska after joining Matt Rhule's coaching staff with four games remaining in the 2024 season. Holgorsen will earn $1.2 million this season, but he won't be the highest-paid member of the offensive staff. Tight ends coach Marcus Satterfield will make $1.4 million in 2025, his salary as offensive coordinator before being replaced by Holgorsen. The Huskers won't play a traditional spring game this year. The Husker Games will take place on Saturday, April 26, allowing fans to preview Nebraska football, volleyball and soccer teams for the 2025 season. On the football field, the Huskers will feature 7-on-7 games and skills competitions similar to the NFL's Pro Bowl games. Nebraska greats of the past will also participate in various skills competitions. There will also be a women's flag football game between Midland University and the UNL all-star intramural team. Nebraska volleyball will also participate in the day's festivities. The Huskers will face the Kansas Jayhawks in a spring match with a 6:30 p.m. CT start time. The soccer team will host a spring exhibition match against the Wyoming Cowboys. The game starts at 4:30 p.m. CT with free admission. On figuring out an identity 'It was challenging to come in and dissect everything and figure out who we wanted to get the ball to and figure out what plays we wanted to run. I did narrow it down by about 50 percent and then came up with the call sheet. Over the course of those four games, every game I was calling it, I understood it more. January 2nd I came back. Coach (Matt) Rhule wanted me to come back on January 1, but I needed a couple of days off. I've never worked so hard in my life. It was good that I didn't go out on the road, so I sat here for a month, watched every cut-up, and figured out stuff I wanted to do and didn't want to do. On changes to the scheme "If there are subtle changes in terminology, sets or plays, a majority of it's going to stay the same. We have good coaches here. This is a good scheme. It makes sense to Dylan (Raiola). It makes sense to Coach (Dominic) Raiola. From an o-line perspective, it is incredibly important. I made some changes in the passing game and different sets that make sense. I came up with three good installs that we've been through a couple of times. I have to figure out what our team is and what our offense is regarding the direction it goes." On the importance of spring football "I can take the same offense we had. I can be comfortable with it, but I'll tweak it based on what I see as good and bad. That's what spring football is all about, so excited to be in it. I've been here working with them for four weeks, and in the offseason, mat drills and commitment week, but we got some football stuff. Now, it's just figuring out who our players are and what we are doing well.' On the value of coaching the last four games of the season 'Those four games were valuable. When I was here in January, I learned all of their names for the first time. I knew who they were and what they could do. I spent a lot of time recruiting on campus with all the guys coming in. I did a lot of that. Those four games were valuable. If I had just taken over and started rolling in January, my head would be spinning right now. I can't explain how valuable it was over those four weeks. Although it was challenging, I was so happy. I was glad Coach Rhule allowed me to do it. On the decision to come back "It was an easy decision to come back. Knowing the guys, we've got a pretty good quarterback and good coaches. The program's direction with Coach Rhule is that I'm growing as that coach. I learn new things every day, a new way of doing things. Nebraska is a great place. I wake up happy and walk my butt to work every day, even when it is minus 15, and I am walking to work questioning my sanity and decision for the 12 minutes it takes me to get here. On where the team is right now "It is an exciting time. The offseason was great. I learned a lot. And three days into spring, the effort and energy are excellent, so I am fired up about where we are right now.' On taking time off 'Nobody was here, everybody was on the road recruiting. The whole month of January is a challenging recruiting month. I think Coach was out for about two weeks, so he wasn't even in here. And a lot of the players weren't here. Then they started coming in mid-January, had a lot of meetings with those guys, and did a lot of recruiting dinners. Then, on February 1, we took two weeks off. That was cool. Then we came back for four weeks, and that is when the staff meetings started. That is when we started meeting as an offensive staff. I gave them all my thoughts. This is what we are going to do. On the changes to the coaching staff "You guys know, talking to the staff, this is what I have decided it is going to look like. They had no learning curve. They were with Coach (Daikiel) Shorts Jr. because he was the only new guy. We started meeting as a staff, and it made sense to everybody. This is what it is going to look like, and this is how we are going to do it, so they were fired up about it.' The Huskers will continue with spring practice on Saturday.
New York Times
17-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Nebraska coaching shuffle is complete: 3 superlatives and 3 questions for 2025
LINCOLN, Neb. — The end of the 2024 football season at the college and pro levels allowed Nebraska to put the final touches on its coaching staff in transition. Matt Rhule began to reconstruct the Huskers' lineup of leadership in early November, making moves that involved 13 coaches. The last piece falls into place this week as defensive line coach Terry Bradden arrives to work in Lincoln. He recently finished his eighth season with the Kansas City Chiefs at the Super Bowl, though he had been filling a limited role for Nebraska since December. All three coordinators are new to their jobs. Seven coaches have been hired — including four under age 40 — and three have left the program. Three coaches have seen their responsibilities shift in the past three-plus months. The roles of only four remain unchanged. Grateful for 8 unforgettable years with the @Chiefs. Thank you for the memories, the victories, and the family we've built. Looking forward to the next chapter in Lincoln with @HuskerFootball GBR!!! — Terry Bradden Jr (@CoachBradden) February 14, 2025 Thirteen assistant coaches fill the spots formerly held by 10. The removal last year of staff size limits allows the Huskers to keep 10 others in coaching spots. Included are senior football assistant Jamar Mozee and director of player personnel Keith Williams, key figures in on- and off-campus recruiting. Advertisement 'Matt made some changes with his coaching staff in (recognizing) that if we want to get to the top of the Big Ten, maybe we have to do something a little bit different,' Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen said in a recent interview with KETV. 'Not a lot of coaches are capable or willing to do that. Matt is both. 'To see him do that, I feel really good about how we've evolved this staff to compete. It's not just position players. We have to have a staff that can compete against the best staffs in the Big Ten.' Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, 53, signed a two-year deal for $1.2 million annually after arriving to coach the final three games of the regular season. Little debate exists that his hire as a play caller rates as the most significant change for the Huskers ahead of next season. Holgorsen's offense produced 473 yards and Nebraska scored 44 points, a 25-game high under Rhule at the school, on Nov. 16 against Wisconsin. Not including Holgorsen's addition, here are three superlatives within the 2025 coaching shuffle. Special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler. Ekeler, 53, brings instant energy. More than better players or a revamped scheme on special teams, Nebraska needs attitude, focus and intensity. Rhule seemingly could not have found a better coach for all of that, based on Ekeler's history at Tennessee and other stops since the Nebraska native left his first coaching stint with the Huskers in 2010. He's set to earn $625,000, a $50,000 bump over his 2024 pay at Tennessee — and a bargain for the Huskers if they can flip the special teams trends in performance that have cost Nebraska victories under Rhule. Associate head coach Phil Snow. The 69-year-old Snow won't likely travel for recruiting. And with an NFL-styled staff, he can coach the coaches as much as the players. Rhule's defensive coordinator at Temple, Baylor and in the NFL, Snow eases the burden on young defensive assistants Bradden and Phil Simpson, who will coach outside linebackers. And Snow provides a sounding board for first-year DC John Butler, elevated from secondary coach. Advertisement Snow already ran point in screening candidates for the special teams coordinator job. He'll assist Bradden, who has not coached in a full-time role at the college level, in running the defensive line. Wide receivers coach Daikiel Shorts. At age 30, he's the youngest assistant coach on staff. But unlike his predecessor, Garret McGuire, Shorts brings experience in coaching wide receivers at this level. He got results in three seasons with Holgorsen at Houston and last year at Kentucky. Transfers Dane Key and Hardley Gilmore played for Shorts last season with the Wildcats. Key arrives in Lincoln as the top candidate for the WR1 spot. At Houston, Shorts coached Tank Dell, a player to whom Holgorsen has compared Nebraska sophomore Jacory Barney. Shorts played for Holgorsen at West Virginia and was a team captain for the Mountaineers as a senior in 2016. Their long-standing connection carries the potential to pay dividends at Nebraska. Questions remain about the dynamics of Nebraska's rebuilt coaching staff. Here are three that the Huskers will begin to answer this spring. When Tony White left after the regular season for Florida State, Nebraska lost a defensive tactician and a coordinator who brought an effective scheme to the Blackshirts. It also lost a coach with a unique ability to relate to his players. White is on track to become a head coach in part because players are drawn to him. They want to learn from him and play hard for him. Butler, 51, had not coordinated a defense before the Pinstripe Bowl since 2013 at Penn State. The Nebraska defensive backs spoke highly of him last season, but how will Butler fare in his bid to motivate and organize a full unit? Holgorsen is not assigned to coach a position, but he'll undoubtedly work closely with Nebraska's sophomore quarterback. Where does that leave Thomas, the 47-year-old quarterbacks coach in his second season at Nebraska after he spent 2023 with the Pittsburgh Steelers? Advertisement Thomas is highly qualified. His title at Nebraska (co-offensive coordinator) and his pay ($800,000 in 2025) indicate that he'll be heavily involved in game planning and the daily coaching of Raiola and other QBs. But Holgorsen holds the cards. He's like a head coach of the offense with autonomy granted by Rhule. The Huskers' 40-year-old running backs coach is the only assistant without terms of a contract revealed for this year. His position group rates perhaps as the most unsettled on the roster. Nebraska returns junior Emmett Johnson as a clear No. 1. Will it look in the portal in April or bank on a pair of early enrolling freshmen to supplement the depth provided by Kwinten Ives and Mekhi Nelson? For now, the group looks thin with just one experienced runner after two backs transferred out. The spring figures to provide clarity. (Photo of Matt Rhule: Dylan Widger / Imagn Images)
