Matt Rhule explains key for young Nebraska players to adjust

Freshmen have a lot to learn. However, Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule believes his freshmen need one quality more than others.

“It’s just learning, knowing what to do, and then confidence. It’s just confidence,” Rhule said. “Billy Kemp is one of the most confident players I’ve ever been around because he’s kind of wired that way and he’s got pelts on the wall. He’s made a lot of plays.”

Confidence is a product of experience. Kemp joined Nebraska this offseason after spending five seasons with the Virginia Cavaliers. Kemp has no shortage of accolades. The 5-foot-9 senior finished fourth on the Cavaliers’ career receptions list and 10th in career receiving yards. He’s earned his confidence.

Now, it’s time for Nebraska’s freshmen to find their way. The Cornhuskers added 28 freshmen this season, including four four-star recruits. The program boasts the No. 30 recruiting class in the 2023 cycle, per On3’s Industry Rankings.

Rhule has no doubt his freshmen are talented enough to make an impact this season.

“Those young players are really, really talented, fast and explosive. It’s just going to take some time,” Rhule said. “Nobody’s faster than Brice Turner. Jeremiah [Charles] was back out there today, been injured. We have guys to play and that can play. It’s just they’re going to have to play with confidence. That’s why we practice the way we do.”

Matt Rhule has the confidence

Rhule has plenty of experience with developing products. He was the Carolina Panthers’ head coach from 2020-22. Although Rhule’s stint in Carolina wasn’t a massive success, he learned valuable lessons from the experience.

“As I come to Nebraska now, I know if I do something there will be be a lot of different opinions about [my tenure in the NFL]. And you know what? I respect everyone but I’m going to do what I think is right because I’ve seen what happens when everyone has an opinion,” Rhule said. “I’ve got to do what I think is right and be tough enough to just stand with it.

“Like if I think, you know what, guys, we’re going to wear this color cleats. We’re going to wear this color cleats. Someone’s going to be upset maybe, but I owe it to the University of Nebraska to go all-in. I can’t go half-in and gauge the temperature of everybody. I’ve got to go all in. I maybe wouldn’t have been able to do that if I had not gone through what I just went through.”