Big Upgrade as Matt Rhule Makes a Mark in the Big Ten with Nebraska Enhancing a Crucial Position
Nebraska’s got their QB1 in Dylan Raiola, but a quarterback is only as good as his targets. That’s Matt Rhule’s biggest headache on offense, and he knows it. In 2024, his receiver room flashed potential but couldn’t consistently put it all together. Every offseason, the hype train was rolling about their depth, but game day told a different story.
Dane Key is a reliable player, but the unit needs more game-breakers. They’ve got some intriguing pieces like Keelan Smith and Hardley Gilmore, who, after just one season at Kentucky, decided to rock the red and white. On paper, this WR room looks like it could be a whole different animal. But in the transfer portal era, roster stability is a pipe dream—players are always on the move. Rhule isn’t just tweaking things; he’s making some power plays. His latest roster shake-up is sending ripples throughout the Big Ten.
On Feb 17th episode of the Husker247 Podcast, Mike Schafer, Michael Bruntz, and Brian Christopherson took a deep dive into Nebraska’s new coaching hires. But the real shocker came when Bruntz threw out a bold question: “Are you willing to stand on the table and say that Nebraska’s wide receiver room is going to be better in 2025 than it was last season?” And the response? It wasn’t just talk; they seemed genuinely confident, maybe even a little defiant.
Brian Christopherson didn’t hesitate—he got straight to the point. “Yeah, it’ll be better; I think they have a couple of guys who could stretch the defense better,” said the Huskers insider. But he wasn’t handing out guarantees. “Although, in fairness, we thought like Jaylen Lloyd was going to be that last season. So, again, it goes back to here we are in our offseason, you know, talk-it-up period, and we’ll see if they can actually do it,” stated Christopherson.
Christopherson didn’t shy away from addressing the struggles, either. “But I do think, at times, you know, especially when Raiola struggled in that middle half of the season, some of it was him not getting the ba-l out quickly. And I do think the receivers struggled at times to get separation as well. So, it’s on this crew to win against press coverage,” he said.
In fact, the Huskers HC himself acknowledged his worries about their receivers struggling against press coverage back in the summer, and that concern, unfortunately, became a recurring theme throughout the season. The big question now is whether Matt Rhule’s revamped receiver room can finally turn things around in 2025 and deliver the consistent performance they need.
It’s a valid question, given their struggles in 2024. But there’s a major shift happening in Nebraska, and it starts up front. Terry Bradden takes over as defensive line coach, injecting new energy into the unit. Offensively, Marcus Satterfield has transitioned to coaching tight ends, paving the way for fresh blood. But the biggest change?
A new offensive philosophy. And Mike Schaefer didn’t mince words reflecting on last season. “Yeah, I mean, as the ring leader of ‘Nebraska’s wide receivers in 2024 are going to put up prolific numbers,’ I feel like I have to eat some crow for sure,” Schaefer admitted. “And yet, at the same time, Nebraska’s wide receivers in 2025 are going to put up some prolific numbers, and here’s why it’s gonna go better.”
Schaefer believes Nebraska is finally addressing key issues. The reason? Dana Holgorsen. “Dana Holgorsen is opening up that offense in a way that I don’t think Marcus Satterfield could,” Schaefer explained. “I mean, when you’re talking about how things had gone bad in the middle of the season, Nebraska started throwing so much horizontally.”
Schaefer pointed to a glaring problem. “I mean, that entire Indiana game was a testament to throwing behind-the-line-of-scrimmage passes or passes that didn’t travel across four yards vertically. But you’re not gonna—I understand they couldn’t beat press coverage, I understand that you were trying to help against some issues maybe you were having on your offensive line, and I understand that you had a freshman quarterback who couldn’t see everything. He was not being put in a position to push the ba-l downfield. Your receivers aren’t going to be successful because of that.”
With Holgorsen at the helm, Nebraska is hoping for a more explosive and vertical passing game. Can this offensive overhaul finally unlock the potential of their receiver room?
Can Matt Rhule’s O-line deliver?
The offensive line must be more resilient, more unified, and prepared to fight in the trenches each week if Nebraska hopes to advance in the Big Ten. Donovan Raiola, the offensive line coach, has had a significant impact on the improvement by emphasizing discipline and physicality in the trenches. In order to increase depth and competition, the Huskers have also added new players through the transfer portal and recruiting. A more aggressive and vertical passing game will necessitate more communication up front and better pass protection, with Dana Holgorsen leading the attack.
You know, Holgorsen is a skilled coach and QB developer, despite his quirks and subtleties. Matt Rhule was aware of his need for that. Dylan Raiola‘s growth and success will determine a lot of Lincoln’s near future. On top of that, Holgorsen was hired as a consultant towards the end of the previous season and received a summarily upgraded status at the end of the season. However, he has coached several well-known QBs and has a 92-69 lifetime record as head coach. Now, looks like he and the Huskers both benefit from this decision.
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