Gabe Ervin on first spring with Matt Rhule: ‘I feel like the old me’

A change in a coaching staff can make a ton of difference for a program, whether that’s good or bad. In Gabe Ervin Jr.’s case, the hire of Matt Rhule and how that choice has impacted his latest spring at Nebraska has been nothing but positive.

Ervin explained where he feels he is at as a player during a press conference after the Cornhusker’s spring game. He said he feels the best he has since high school and like he’s ‘an alpha’. Now, with that foundation set for him, Ervin says he is pumped to get to work this summer and build on where he finds himself at the moment.

“I felt great out there. I just feel like the old me. And I’m just trying to pursue my dreams, take a step forward, get better each and every day,” Ervin said. “I’m not going to take this summer for granted. I’m gonna take it, work hard, and get ready for the season.”

“Old me? Probably like in high school when I was injury-free, nothing was wrong with my knees, and everything was healthy,” said Ervin. “Now I feel bigger, faster, stronger. I just feel like an alpha on that field.”

Ervin arrived in Lincoln as a three-star prospect and Top-40 running back in 2021 per On3’s Industry Ranking. His freshman season was then cut short due to a knee injury that caused him to miss all but four games. He then returned to play in eight games this past season and rush for 124 yards and two touchdowns on 37 attempts.

Now, fully healed and under management, Ervin is ready for a full campaign for the first time in his career. Nebraska should be in for something good with him in the backfield too based on his previous sample sizes and current confidence heading into the summertime.

Rhule thankful for buy-in from Nebraska players during spring practice

Nebraska football underwent a big coaching change this offseason, and as always with such an overhaul, the players needed some time to adjust to the new leadership.

According to the guy who took over the Cornhuskers, Matt Rhule, the team has really taken well to his style of coaching. He said after the spring scrimmage this past weekend that the players are buying in.

“Well, I’m grateful to the players for how hard they’ve tried to buy into what we’re asking them to do,” said Rhule. “This will be so much easier for them next year. Like every day is hard for them. Because it’s hard for the new coaches. Everything’s so new, you know? When I say like, ‘Hey, we’re gonna do this drill’? It’s like they don’t know what the drill is. Next year they’ll know what to expect. So, I just really appreciate that part about them and they’re going to just get better and better and better.”