Matt Rhule: 'Guys like Ty Robinson are why guys like me coach'

Ty Robinson is in his sixth year at Nebraska. The seasoned defensive lineman from Gilbert, Arizona, could have pursued a pro career this offseason, or the offseason before that.

Instead, he stayed when Matt Rhule took over for former head coach Scott Frost and then again to help Rhule further his Cornhuskers rebuild.

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Rhule was asked Wednesday how much Robinson’s decision to stick around demonstrates his trust in the longtime college and NFL head coach.

“Yeah, I mean, I told him to leave, so he didn’t trust me too much, because I said you should go make some money, you know,” Rhule said jokingly.

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Then Rhule continued in a more serious manner: “I just think the world of him, honestly. I just think the absolute world of him. Guys like Ty Robinson are why guys like me coach. Just that daily interaction, that daily relationship, and the great thing about Ty is he lets me be me.

“I’m sarcastic and snarky out there on the field. I’m taking shots, and guys like ‘Bear’ (interior D-Lineman Nash ‘Polar Bear’ Hutmacher) and him — I teased Bear the whole week against Colorado that we weren’t going to need him that week because it wasn’t a run game, it was gonna be a pass rush game. He got a sack, and he’s like yelling at me from the field. That’s why I do this. I don’t do it for any other reason. I love watching those guys.”

Robinson and Hutmacher are the heart of an impressive Huskers defensive line. Robinson leads the team with two sacks, not to mention his two passes defended, and Hutmacher isn’t far behind with a sack of his own through the first three games. In that span, they’ve combined for 10 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.

Robinson stands 6-foot-6, 310 pounds. Hutmacher is 6-foot-4, 310 pounds. They are both literally and figuratively a big part of a Nebraska defense that is allowing only 2.5 yards per carry right now. It’s a unit that, dating back to last season, has held 10 straight opponents to 24 points or fewer.

Already having played more than 2,000 defensive snaps in his Nebraska career, Robinson has a great appreciation of the defensive linemen before him. But, as Rhule said, Robinson’s bringing along the next wave of the Huskers’ defensive front, too, along with Hutmacher, who is in his fifth year.

“What I love is when they leave, their legacy will be here,” Rhule said. “And Ty talks a lot about the guys that were here before him. So it wasn’t like there wasn’t great leadership in the D-Line room before that. Coach [Mike] Dawson, all those guys, did a great job. Ty talks a lot about that.

“But Ty, [defensive end] Jimari [Butler], Nash, I can’t imagine a better group. And next year when it’s Cam [Lenhardt] and Riley [Van Poppel] and those guys, I don’t think we’ll skip a beat.”

Robinson has helped bridge the gap between the Scott Frost and Matt Rhule eras. He’s giving everything he has to Rhule and No. 22 Huskers in Year 6.

“No one practices harder than Ty,” Rhule said. “He comes to practice every day like it’s a game, and so it makes it fun to coach.”