Matt Rhule shares where early enrollees stand in spring practice

Nebraska has seven early enrollees participating in spring practice this year, and Huskers head coach Matt Rhule thinks they are doing a really good job.

Those early enrollees are defensive back Dwight Bootle II, linebacker Korver Demma, offensive lineman Gunnar Gottula, defensive lineman Cameron Lenhardt, linebacker Maverick Noonan, defensive back Syncere Safeeullah and defensive lineman Princewill Umanmielen.

“Normally you notice that they’re early enrollees but like Cameron Lenhardt and Princewilli spend a lot of time on our first string,” Rhule said after a spring practice recently. “They are outstanding players. Bootle’s finally been cleared to practice full time and he’s just got a great feel. When you recruit guys sometimes you don’t know the feel that they have. I guess when you come from his lineage, you can expect it. He made a great play on the goal line today.”

Bootle is the younger brother of former Nebraska and team captain Dicaprio Bootle. He currently plays for the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL.

The recruits come from a solid 2023 Cornhuskers recruiting class, which ranked 29th in the 2023 On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings.

“Gunnar Gottula is out there,” Rhule said. “That’s the hardest position like, ‘Hey, be an O lineman. Oh, by the way, go play left tackle and be running with the second unit.’ I think he’s done an excellent job. Excellent job. So I probably forget Maverick Noonan’s a natural pass rusher, great feel. I’ve never really noticed right like, hey, these guys are all early enrollees. They kind of fit.”

The early enrollees aren’t the only ones showing they fit in with the Huskers this spring. Rhule also said the walk-ons fit right in with the scholarship upperclassman.

He highlighted defensive lineman Jacob Herbek as an example of someone who is fitting in.

“I never noticed that hey, he’s a walk on,” Rhule said. “We got a bunch of guys that I know could help us. Like Herbek. Herbek’s been playing his tail off. We try to look at everybody and just kind of where they are right now. I think those those early enrollees are gonna help us. Maybe they won’t help us this year. I hope so. Who knows? That’s why I always say, I wait all the way till training camp to kind of make those decisions because some guys are gonna make huge jumps in the summer and some guys won’t.”