Huskers Set To Officially Announce New Defensive Backs Coach

The Friday night bombshell that Nebraska’s defensive backs coach Evan Cooper had quit for personal reasons came less than a week ago.

John Butler, a coach who spent the previous season in the NFL, has been hired by Nebraska to fill the same role as secondary coach and passing game coordinator.

Butler has coached the Buffalo Bills’ secondary for the past six seasons. In 2022, he took on the role of passing game coordinator. The Buffalo Bills defense is among the finest in the National Football League, and it seems like a perfect fit for the Huskers. An update, perhaps?

Some may be perplexed as to why John Butler would accept a reduction in status from his NFL position to one at a college with equivalent duties. It appears like he may be holding out for Tony White to take a new position, which is to be expected if he has another repeat season like the one he had last year.

The Athletic Department has released the following statement:

Butler Becomes a New Coach for Nebraska Football

John Butler, a senior assistant coach with experience in both college football and the NFL, has joined the Nebraska football coaching staff. Butler will work as a secondary coach and pass game coordinator for the Husker staff under head coach Matt Rhule.

Butler joins Nebraska having played for the Buffalo Bills for the previous six seasons. With nine seasons spent in the NFL and nine years spent coaching college football, Butler has a total of 29 seasons of coaching experience.

According to Rhule, “John Butler is one of the best defensive backs coaches in football.” “He has a varied coaching background and a track record of leading elite defenses at the highest level of football and winning organizations.” He will be a fantastic complement to our defensive line and the Nebraska football program.

The Bills have made the AFC playoffs the last five seasons because to the play of defensive backs for Butler in Buffalo. The team has also won the AFC East divisional title the last four years.

Butler remarked, “I am thrilled to be a part of Coach Rhule’s team, this staff, and the legendary Blackshirt Defense of Nebraska Football.” “I’m excited to work with our players to help them grow every day as athletes, learners, and young men!”

Butler was the defensive backs coach during Buffalo’s first four seasons (2018–21) before taking on the role of passing game coordinator for the last two. Safety Jordan Poyer and cornerback Tre’Davious White were selected as All-Pros during his six seasons leading the Buffalo secondary, while nickel Taron Johnson and safety Micah Hyde were named to the second team.

Butler has been a member of the coaching staff in Buffalo, and the team boasts one of the best defenses in the league. The Bills defense led the NFL in overall yards per game, passing yards per game, yards per attempt, yards per completion, opponent passer rating, touchdown passes allowed, and passing first downs from 2018 until the end of the previous year. Buffalo has ranked second in the NFL in points allowed over the last six seasons because to their formidable pass defense, which has helped the Bills win at least 11 games four times.

Butler served as the Houston Texans’ backup coach under Bill O’Brien from 2014 until 2017 prior to moving to Buffalo. In the two AFC South titles that Houston won during his four seasons in charge of the Texans secondary, the defense gave up the fourth-fewest passing yards per game (238.1 ypg). Houston had the second-lowest passing yards allowed per game in 2016 while ranking #1 in total defense.

Prior to joining the National Football League, Butler coached at the collegiate level for 19 years. His most recent college job was working for O’Brien at Penn State in 2012 and 2013. Before taking over as the Nittany Lion defensive coordinator in 2013, Butler was the team’s secondary coach in 2012. The Nittany Lions placed second in the Big Ten and sixteenth nationally in scoring defense during his first season at Penn State.

In addition, Butler has 11 seasons of experience as a collegiate special teams coordinator. In 2011, he guided the South Carolina Gamecocks to a top-10 national ranking while serving as the head coach of the outside linebackers and special teams. At Minnesota, he oversaw the special teams and coached the linebackers for four seasons (2007–2010).

Butler made trips at Harvard (2003–06), Texas State (2001-02), and Midwestern State (1999–2000) prior to joining Minnesota. In 1997 and 1998, he worked as a graduate assistant at Texas for two seasons. Butler started his coaching career at his alma school, Catholic University (Pa.), in 1995 and 1996. Butler attended Catholic University and played basketball and football before graduating in 1995.

Butler’s Past Coaching Experience

NFL
Buffalo Bills 2018–21 Defensive Backs; Buffalo Bills 2022–23 Defensive Backs; Buffalo Bills Passing Game Coordinator
Houston Texans Secondary: 2014–17

UNIVERSITY
2013 Defensive Coordinator/Cornerback for Penn State
Penn State 2012 Secondary
Carolina 2011 Outside Linebackers and Coordinator for Special Teams
Minnesota 2007–10 Coordinator for Special Teams and Linebackers
Harvard 2003–06: Linebackers and Coordinator for Special Teams
Coordinator of Special Teams and Safety for Texas State, 2001–2002
Midwestern State 1999–00 Linebacker/Safety/Defensive Coordinator
Graduate assistant for Texas 1997–98; Catholic 1996 Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
1995 Secondary Catholic.

 

ALSO, Corn Nation Overreaction Revisits the 13-10 “L” to Maryland

Hoss and Greg revisit that fateful November 11th, when the Maryland Terrapins stormed Memorial Stadium and emerged victorious, 13-10, this week on Overreaction Revisited That might have been the season’s most crushing defeat.

For the Huskers, practically nothing went right. Three quarterbacks combined for four interceptions and a pitiful 86 yards of yardage. It was a bad day for the offense when you factor in a fumble that was lost.

In fact, two punts were more successful than 10 receptions.

With eight tackles, one interception, and a forced fumble, Javin Wright put on quite the show. However, as we frequently stated in 2023, the defense was due for improved.

Things improve. Not in 2023, exactly, but 2024 seems like a good year. GBR consistently.

RELATED: Husker newcomer Andrew Morgan’s work ethic instilled as a farm kid – with a hoop nearby to unwind

Andrew Morgan definitely possesses some of the “farm kid tough” mentality that Fred Hoiberg spoke of when asked about it in a recent interview on Huskers Radio Network. “That kind of came from growing up on a farm. You get injured and you kind of have to brush it off.

That kind of came from that,” Morgan said. “And then physicality, that really came from me wanting to be a football player growing up and then I got too big for that. I always wanted to hit people. So it’s just kind of evolved into something that I like to be physical, I like to play games physical.” This seems like the ideal mindset and 6-10 frame that Nebraska basketball needs as its new roster assembles this summer.

 

24 in ’24 Most Indispensable Huskers: Ben Scott at No. 3

Keeping up with our list of the 24 in ’24 Most Essential Huskers.

Next is a player who, in the 2023 season, served as the offensive line’s anchor and proved to be perhaps Nebraska’s most significant transfer portal addition.

Upon arriving in late 2022, Matt Rhule, the head coach of Nebraska, and his staff got to work immediately, not just filling out their recruiting class but also extracting pieces from the transfer portal.

Center Among the athletes Nebraska added was the adaptable Arizona State lineman, Ben Scott, who was chosen over Auburn and other candidates.

Last season, it was evident from the beginning just how crucial Scott would be to Nebraska’s offensive line. After a minor injury scare during the spring of last year, Scott spent some of the spring wearing a green uniform. However, once the season began, he proved to be a significant asset to Nebraska’s offensive line, starting 11 of the team’s 12 games.

Scott is near the top of the list among offensive lineman who have played a lot of football in their careers; before to coming to Lincoln, he had started 28 games for Arizona State.

Given that Nebraska may start a true freshman quarterback this season, having a firm hand at the center position will be even more crucial.

Team Husker247 casts its votes, with Schaefer coming in second, Christopherson third, and Bruntz fourth.

Depth surrounding him: Justin Evans was the starting center for the Huskers during the spring game since Nebraska decided to rest several of its sixth-year players and veterans for the Red-White game, including Scott. After Evans, the Huskers have identified many individuals who could eventually play center; this fall, freshman Jake Peters will also play center. In addition, experienced lineman Turner Corcoran—who missed the spring due to injury—has stated that he believes Corcoran could play center if necessary, according to Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule.

Scott stated in spring, “We were building so, so much last season and now we just have to build on it even more.” A lot of those men and I would chat to each other about it. “With all those guys coming back, I think we have a lot to work with and I think the sky’s the limit for us.”