Nebraska D-line coach Terrance Knighton discusses his long relationship with Matt Rhule, breaks down 2023 "gritty playmakers"
Nebraska defensive line coach Terrance Knighton joined the Huskers Radio Network for his first public interview after joining Head Coach Matt Rhule‘s staff. Knighton touched on his relationship with Rhule, coaching philosophy and broke down the Huskers’ 2023 recruiting class additions.
Knighton was an assistant defensive line coach under Rhule with the Caroline Panthers in 2022 and followed Rhule to Nebraska. He played seven seasons in the NFL after playing at Temple under Rhule.
Here is what Knighton has to say…
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***Knighton said recruiting is where his heart is and it’s why he left the NFL to coach in college. He grew up watching and admiring Nebraska football.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I wasn’t going to pass up on it,” he said.
Knighton said when he first fell in love with football, Nebraska was the school you fell in love with.
***He knows exactly what it’s like to play for Rhule. In fact, he did it when Rhule was a coach at Temple.
“The thing about football is and the thing about life is all about relationships,” Knighton said. “When Coach Rhule first came to the Temple, my sophomore year, he was actually my position coach, and me and him developed a bond that we still connect to this day.”
Knighton said once he was done playing football in the NFL, Rhule mentored him through the process of becoming a coach. When he had to an opportunity to coach with Rhule at Caroline, he jumped at it. He did the same thing when Rhule called him about coming to Nebraska.
***As for Knighton’s defensive line philosophy, he already has it worked out: “gritty playmakers.”
His players are going to do everything the tough way, he said.
“We’re going to make plays, but at the same time, we’re going to be tough,” the assistant coach said. “We’re going to be in our gap, we’re going to play with our hands, we’re gonna get after people.”
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Edge Princewell Umanmielen maturity will help to make immediate impact
Princewell Umanmielen is very dynamic and is a long athlete with a great passion for the game, Knighton said. He said Umanmeilen is a player who can come in right away and immediately impact Nebraska’s roster.
Umanmeilen’s brother, Princely, is a defensive line at Florida.
Princewell will enroll early. Knighton said he is mature just like the others who are enrolling early. He said the Huskers’ coaching staff made sure to get mature people when they were recruiting.
Knighton wants to help Edge Maverick Noonan make his own legacy
Maverick Noonan is a Husker legacy who Knighton has enjoyed getting to know personally. He said he has liked getting to know Maverick and his father, Danny Noonan, a Blackshirt who is well respected in the Big Red community.
“Looking to make him proud as well as Nebraska fans and seeing his son all come to fruition so I’m excited about him,” Knighton said.
He said Maverick is another player who is going to enroll early. Noonan is a great kid and a great student with the right mentality that looks you in the eye. On the field, Noonan is going to push the group as well.
Knighton said the first thing Rhule told his coaching staff was they weren’t going to lose Nebraska players. They put in a lot of effort making sure they stay home and become Huskers.
Edge Kai Wallin slipped through cracks first time but Nebraska found him now
Kai Wallin is a junior college player that slipped through the cracks, Knighton said. Because of that, he is going to come in with a chip on his shoulder and compete for that starting job immediately.
Knighton said Rhule has a history of finding players like Wallin who are underrecruited that blossom toward the end of the process.
“We’re gonna be dynamic on defense so we did a lot of dynamic guys,” he said. “And he has the right mindset to come in and impact us as well.”
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The coach said the Wallin family is very athletic. His mom is the great athlete of the bunch and his sister plays volleyball too.
Knighton said Nebraska’s coaches are going to tirelessly work to impact their players off the field just as much as on the field. Wallin is one of the players that Knighton has already made a big impact on relationship-wise.
DL Riley Van Poppel locked in the entire time
Riley Van Poppel is capable of lining up anywhere for Nebraska. Knighton said his body is mature and he’s ready to play. Playing football in the state of Texas was a huge help.
Van Poppel has gotten a lot of his traits from his family. His athleticism came from his father, Todd Van Poppel, a former MLB pitcher, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1990 draft. Knighton said Riley gets his seriousness from his dad and his mom’s ability to light up the house.
“He’s a well-rounded kid, great academic student,” Knighton said. “He’s going to come in right away, it helps to be a guy who’s matured early in his life so look for him to help out in the trenches.”
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Van Poppel committed to Nebraska under Scott Frost but stayed locked in when Rhule took over.
Knighton said when he talked to him, Van Poppel told him he was locked in and he didn’t have to worry about him. The coach said it was important to the new staff to do a good job of recruiting the committed recruits from the previous staff.
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“Just make sure they know exactly who they are, they’re in the right situation and also gave them the opportunity to go elsewhere they felt but a lot of times guys feel comfortable with the staff and that’s true with coach Rhule,” Knighton said.
DL/OL Jason Maciejczak is a huge flip for Nebraska
Knighton is battling offensive line coach Donovan Raiola for Jason Maciejczak. Maciejczak flipped from North Dakota to Nebraska days before early signing day.
A lot of people didn’t do their homework on Maciejczak but luckily for the Huskers, they did, Knighton said. He credited Mike Wallace and Omar Hales in the recruiting department for their knowledge and help.
Maciejczak jumped out on film because he is tough and willing to do whatever he can to help the team win, he said.
Knighton called the South Dakota lineman a dancing bear: a big guy with great feet that can move. He said that’s why he and Raiola are going back and forth over which position the 6-foot-3, 320-pound lineman will play.
DL/OL Mason Goldman could play on either side of the ball
Mason Goldman is another player that Raiola and Knighton are finding a place for. The lineman from Gretna, Nebraska was someone Nebraska’s staff made sure they kept in the state.
Knighton said when Goldman was on his official visit on Dec. 16, he made sure to sit with him when Raiola was. He wanted to keep the competition up and let him know that the Huskers are interested in having Goldman on either side of the ball.
Knighton said he’s excited Goldman is staying home because the Huskers can’t lose guys like him.
Having players that can play on both sides of the ball gives Nebraska lots of flexibility. Knighton said they are able to fit them in where they need them but also where they can help the team now. Goldman is a guy that’s open to playing both and the Huskers will put him in the best position to be successful.
Nebraska used Philly roots to land DL Vincent Carroll-Jackson
Vincent Carroll-Jackson is from Harrisburg, Philadelphia, an area Nebraska’s staff knows well and has recruited well too. Knighton said they love that area and since it was their first home, they make sure to stay true to their roots.
Carroll-Jackson, who flipped from Syracuse on early signing day, played only one year of high school football. Knighton said he has a lot of talent, is long and has 11-inch hands and Nebraska is excited about his ability.
He said he has a very unique story and had to overcome a lot to get to this point. Knighton said its a beautiful story that he will let the lineman tell himself.
Knighton said he is excited to watch Carroll-Jackson grow as a person.
“That’s the part of college football that you love as a coach and just see guys blossom into young men,” he said.
Texas A&M DL transfer Elijah Jeudy adds much-needed interior depth
Texas A&M defensive lineman transfer Elijah Jeudy is going to add some much-needed depth to Nebraska’s trenches. Knighton said he will add depth behind the older guys Nebraska has returning, who a great to learn from.
Knighton called Jeudy a “dancing bear” and said he will be dynamic inside. He is someone that will make an immediate impact and help the D-line with his big body and athleticism.
The assistant coach said he is very excited about the group they are bringing in, the one they already had and he’s excited to be at Nebraska.
