Matt Rhule backs decision to recruit Jeff Sims from transfer portal

Going into his first season at Nebraska, Matt Rhule brought in quarterback Jeff Sims from the transfer portal. However, things clearly didn’t work out, with the offense struggling in 2023.

Now, Rhule has looked back on that decision and praised Sims while he also spoke about the challenge of taking players out of the transfer portal.

“I’m never going to say something that sounds at all disrespectful toward a player,” Matt Rhule said. “I think Jeff is an amazing, amazing young man and amazing human that was there for his teammates every step of the way. Had we started off with a couple of layup games where he could have gotten some confidence, maybe things would have gone better.”

Jeff Sims played in five games. He struggled in those games that he did play in, with a 59.6 completion percentage and 282 passing yards. He threw only one touchdown to six interceptions. He also ran for 189 yards and a touchdown, while losing four fumbles.

“You know, he’s really talented. Can run, dynamic, can make all the throws. We just turned the ball over too much. But I love who he is. I love the person that he is.”

Ultimately, in all of this, Matt Rhule felt there is a lesson that needs to be learned.

“So, in terms of kind of what’s the lesson from it? I just think it’s true for everyone. I worked for a guy named Marty Hurney, who was a long-time general manager of the Panthers and got fired after one year and went to the Washington Commanders, and he said to me, ‘Hey, Matt. Just remember they’re all fourth round picks.’ When you bring players in like sort of this explanation that they’re all fourth round picks and they need time,” Rhule said.

“You look at some of the portal quarterbacks that are having a ton of success, [Michael] Penix and [Bo] Nix and all those guys, like they’ve been there for a while. They’ve had a couple years to develop in that system. So, I think there’s a lot of things to it but I don’t regret taking Jeff. I think Jeff is an amazing teammate and I’ve loved having him here, I think he can do a lot of things to help a football team. I wish we would have done a better job by him, maybe, helping him in some ways more.”

Since the season ended, Jeff Sims once again entered the transfer portal. Nebraska, meanwhile, is on the hunt for a new quarterback. That includes Kyle McCord, who is visiting the Cornhuskers after starting for Ohio State last season. On top of that, Nebraska is in a position to sign top quarterback recruit Dylan Raiola.

“But I do think that we have a tendency sometimes to, and this isn’t about Jeff, just in general, to forget that if some of the guys that we have went into the portal, people would be going nuts trying to get them. You know? So, you have to make sure you value your own roster with as much respect as other people would, if those guys were in the portal, if that makes sense,” Rhule said.

“So, we’re just trying to learn as we go how to manage the portal plus high school recruiting.”

Matt Rhule raves about Nebraska culture in first season, promises improvement

At the end of his first season, Matt Rhule praised the Nebraska program’s culture and promised improvement moving forward.

“I’ve never walked down the street or gone somewhere and seen someone or someone be rude to me. I’m gonna live my life, I’m going to be a father, I’m going to be a coach. If anyone’s mad at us with as hard as we work, so be it. We’re doing everything we can to get this moved in the right direction. And if anyone thinks that this is a one year deal, then you know, God bless them right?” Rhule said.

“This is a build like this is a complete and total build, not saying rebuild. I’m just saying we got to build this thing the right way and build the program. So I’m proud of what we’ve done. I’m proud of the work that all the coaches and players have put in. I think it’s awesome that there’s so much coverage and I think it’s awesome, but you know, at your darkest moments … I wake up the next day and I’m just crushed for those seniors, I think we’re doing it the right way. So I think the amount of people that care, I mean, the fans are awesome. I think the support is awesome. I think everything about it is great. It’s what we signed up for.”