Matt Rhule: 'There's a lot of tampering happening in college football'

Nebraska‘s spring game on Saturday marked a potentially bright future for the program ahead of their second season under head coach Matt Rhule. Also marking the end of spring practice for the Cornhuskers which has been typically followed by players entering the transfer portal across the country this offseason.

Rhule follows the conclusion of spring practice with individual meetings with his players, and when asked about that process, Rhule also revealed the impact the transfer portal has on those meetings and the role tampering plays.

“I’ve had so many guys already come and talk to me, like I said, you can kind of tell there’s a lot of tampering happening in college football,” Rhule said. “Guys showing me their phones, showing me this, so if a player is urgent, trying to make a decision about going in the portal then they’ll sign up early for their meeting with me. Most of the team’s probably pretty set, they’ll sign up maybe later in the week with me or maybe next week.”

Programs are not allowed to contact or recruit players while they’re still on the roster of another team, but that hasn’t kept the operation from happening during the new and evolving times of NIL and the transfer portal. As Rhule looks to keep things open and give guidance to their players as they weigh out their options following spring practice.

“I think the biggest thing that I’d say is wanting them to always understand everyone’s going to have your back, everyone’s going to tell you what you want to hear when things are going well. When you’re one of the top players and they’re trying to get you in the portal. When you’re Demetrious (Bell) or Blye (Hill) and you’re laying in there and you have tears running down your face and you don’t know what’s going to happen to you, who has your back then?” Rhule asked referring to players who suffered significant injures during practice.

In the new era of college football, head coaches are being judged on their ability to adapt and recruit through the transfer portal and with name, image, and likeness. But for players who have to balance their academic eligibility, their football future, and potentially a life changing amount of money the stakes are even higher and more personal.

“I just gotta coach them all like they’re my younger brother, I don’t like to say sons because that’s a weird dynamic. I coach them all like they’re my younger brother, hard on them probably like your older brother is, give them advice, try to listen to them, help them through this. I mean sometimes they offer you so much money you gotta leave,” Rhule admitted. “Coaches complain about it, my assistant coaches do the same thing to me. ‘Hey coach, I got this offer to go there.’ So I just want them all to be successful, it’s a sad state I’ll just say that. It’s a sad state but it is what it is.”

Transfer portal departures are inevitable in today’s day and age, as Rhule and coaches across the nation wish players the best of luck as they enter the transfer portal and pursue new programs. But Rhule also made it clear that players want to join Nebraska as well, expressing excitement for the upcoming season based on the performances he saw during the spring game and throughout spring practice in Lincoln.