Mitch Sherman of The Athletic has a story up today called
"Matt Rhule's revealing first week recruiting for Nebraska — from passion to ping-pong."
Some excerpts:
Matt Rhule’s recruiting work in his first week on the job revealed a kind of humility that will assuredly endear him to Nebraskans: his willingness to drop into a brewery toward the end of a long day and a strong set of ping-pong skills.
Between
showing up to work at 5 a.m. and monitoring the opening of transfer portal season, the new Nebraska coach got busy close to home last week, connecting with prospects and their families.
Rhule and Satterfield flew 300 miles west to Scottsbluff, near the Wyoming border in the panhandle. Before visiting offensive lineman Brock Knutson, a solid commit in the 2023 class, the coaches stopped at the aptly named Flyover Brewing Company in downtown Scottsbluff.
From 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Rhule and his under-construction Nebraska staff hosted about 20 recruits in Lincoln. The meet-and-greet featured a lunch of pulled pork and ribs alongside competition in cornhole, air hockey, Madden NFL and, yes, ping-pong.
Mason Goldman, a three-star prospect, said he’s unsure if he would play offense or defense at Nebraska. The Huskers, after offering Goldman in October, targeted him on the offensive line. Rhule has yet to hire an offensive line coach, though, and defensive line coach Terrance Knighton hit it off with Goldman on Sunday.
Satterfield visited Goldman and Nebraska walk-on pledge Korver Demma last Thursday at Gretna High. The visit Sunday in Lincoln provided recruits with an opportunity for more than a quick greeting.
Of Rhule, Goldman said, “It’s nice to know that he really has a passion for the recruiting process.”
Wide receiver Isaiah McMorris of Bellevue (Neb.) West, another Sunday visitor to Nebraska, said he likes Rhule “a lot” after his first impression.
“I look for a coach who’s been successful — how he presents himself, if he’s genuine,” said McMorris, a 2024 recruit with offers from
Penn State,
Texas Tech and K-State in addition to the Huskers. “I don’t want a coach to sugarcoat it.”
Among the other uncommitted visitors Sunday with
Nebraska offers: 2023 kicker Tristan Alvano, 2024 athlete Caleb Benning and 2025 linebacker
Christian Jones, all of Class A champion Omaha Westside; 2023 wide receiver Malachi Coleman of Lincoln East; 2024 quarterback Danny Kaelin of Bellevue West; 2025 lineman Tyson Terry of Omaha; and 2025 athlete Caden VerMaas of Millard North.
Commits for 2023 in attendance included Noonan, who got a follow-up visit at his school Monday from Rhule, and linemen Sam Sledge of Omaha Creighton Prep and Gunnar Gottula of Lincoln Southeast.
• VerMaas said he noticed a difference immediately in how the new coaches “welcomed” recruits on campus.
“They’re talking to you right away as you get there,” VerMaas said. “Just great people to be around.”
He lost a game of cornhole against Ed Foley, the Huskers’ new special teams coordinator.
According to VerMaas, Foley paid special attention to Alvano. The kicker connected on five field goals in the state championship game — including a 45-yard game winner as time expired — to propel Westside 43-41 against Goldman and Gretna.
“You could definitely tell they liked Tristan a lot,” VerMaas said. “I don’t know how you couldn’t. I was talking with my mom and dad, and I said, ‘This is the No. 1 kicker in the nation, in my opinion.’ I just call him Justin Tucker Jr.”
Nebraska has added at least two staffers aside from the announced on-field coaching hires.
Omar Hales entertained prospects Sunday in Lincoln and appears set to fill a role in the recruiting or personnel departments. He’s been active already in extending scholarship offers.
Adam DiMichele has been at work, too, in
recruiting for the Huskers. He played at Temple and has coached at the school since 2014.
