Matt Rhule opens up on how Nebraska is perceived by in-state prospects

Matt Rhule is doing all he can to build Nebraska back up to where those feel it should be. That includes on the recruiting trail as brings in prospects, including in-state ones, to become future ‘Huskers.

Rhule spoke about recruiting in the university’s home state during his press conference on National Signing Day last week. He doesn’t doubt that Nebraska can become something with the players from their state considering their belief in Rhule’s program and the unknown substance when it comes to quality prospects.

“I mean people have been unbelievable since the day we got here,” said Rhule. “We go do a clinic? People are there.”

“I think the high school football here is really, really strong,” Rhule said. “If you think about it, we sign them? I did some national shows and they’re like, ‘Well, you signed eight guys.’ Well, Notre Dame signed a player out of here too, Illinois signed a player out of here. So it’s not like we got every one. There’s 10, 11, 12 Division I players here.”

In order to continue that pipeline, Rhule put a lot of emphasis on the clinics and camps for the program as they continue to evaluate talent. He wants to build a channel for players to develop and want to become Cornhuskers for as long as they can.

“What I would say was really special to us this year was, because of our camps, we have a lot of guys who we think are scholarship-worthy players that came as non-scholarship players,” explained Rhule. “They turned down Division I offers to come here.”

“I think the high school coaches have been great. Hopefully our camps will continue to catch on. A lot of players felt like you have to get invited to come to the camp? No, we want everybody,” Rhule said. “Like, I want, by the time you’re a senior, that you’ve been coming to my camps since the sixth grade. You know me, I know you. This has been your dream. That’s kind of our goal as we’ve gone around the state.”

Rhule’s first full class in Lincoln finished at No. 22 in the nation per On3’s Industry Team Rankings. It included one well-known five-star, QB Dylan Raiola, and six additional four-stars amongst it’s 26 signees. It also included eight total prospects out of their state, including all of the top-four and seven of the Top-10 for half of the state’s total of 16 ranked players.

After his first season, Rhule believes in-state talent are very interested in what they’re doing. Now, from here, it’s about continuing to cultivate those relationships into building a winner with players from Nebraska that are part of their success.

“It’s when you go to those towns, meet those people,” Rhule said. “You just realize – and I say this a lot. We have such a responsibility to produce a winner because people are really counting on it.”

“Going back into those towns, those people reciprocating the feeling and welcoming us is awesome,” said Rhule. “It makes recruiting Nebraska a lot of fun.”