Radio Rundown: Terrance Knighton ready to rebuild Nebraska's front

Nebraska defensive line coach Terrance Knighton stopped by Sports Nightly for an interview on Tuesday night. Knighton told the story of his history with head coach Matt Rhule and walked through his experiences recruiting to Lincoln in the last month.

Knighton is a former Rhule player and had a eight-year NFL career. Here is a recap of what he had to say.

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Knighton before Nebraska

***Knighton began his career at Temple in 2005 and Rhule was his defensive line coach during the lineman’s sophomore season. Rhule left to coach the offensive side of the ball a year later, but the two stayed in touch.

“He’s a guy who I remember vividly when I was running my (40-yard dash) on my pro day,” Knighton said. “After I ran my 40 I looked up and he gave me a Kobe fist pump and it’s a moment I’ll never forget and a guy I’ve always trusted since then.”

***With that story in mind, it’s easy to see why Knighton mentioned Rhule first when asked why the Nebraska job made sense to him. Rhule’s the one that got Knighton into coaching.

“Coach Rhule is a great person and a great father figure in my life,” Knighton said. “He’s a guy that I met at a young age and has inspired me in a lot of ways that he doesn’t know. I’ve looked up to him my whole career and I’m excited to work with him.”

***Knighton spent nearly a decade in the NFL. That can take a lot out of a man.

“It was a long eight years and my body feels it every day,” Knighton said. “But, the energy I get from college football, coaching and impacting the these young men, it’s worth it.”

Knighton said his time in the NFL helps him relate to the players more and know what they’re going through. He also feels that he has an eye for identifying certain blocks his linemen see in a game and teaching them how to attack those blocks. Playing in the NFL has given Knighton a certain versatility.

“I can see the game in different ways and I can coach different guys in different playing styles so I’m excited about that,” Knighton said. “I’m just ready to get this front back to where it’s been.”

Knighton coaching in a new age of college football

***Coaching in the college football world is a totally different animal than it was three years ago or even last recruiting cycle. NIL stands at the forefront of change.

“These kids bring a lot of money to the schools,” Knighton said. “I guess they found a way to help the kids out. These kids come from different places, different backgrounds and whatever it is that helps the kids I’m all aboard for.”

But, everyone will be held to the same bar in Knighton’s room.

“No matter how much money they’re getting or where they come from, if they have that N on their helmet there’s a certain standard we’ll have that we expect them to play with,” Knighton said.

***Knighton said a major piece of the coaching staff’s recruiting philosophy is maintaining a family feel. That means Knighton is charged with creating relationships that are deeper than football and staying involved in each player’s life, in the classroom and at home.

“We’ll never have to worry about if a guy (isn’t) getting much attention,” Knighton said. “If he’s not happy, we’ll know throughout the process. (With) how diligent we are with out players, nothing will come as a surprise.”

***Knighton said Nebraska’s brand is still strong. Traveling the recruiting trail this December, that fact has become evident. The assistant said that whenever something is new, there is excitement.

“Whether I was in Texas, whether I was in North Carolina, whether I was in California, you hear Go Big Red everywhere,” Knighton said.

Back on the grind

***Knighton said recruiting is fun, but ultimately there comes a time to get back to football. That time is fast approaching. Knighton will have some familiar faces such as former Temple roommate and secondary coach Evan Cooper. Others, like defensive coordinator Tony White are new to Knighton. White has already met Knighton’s fiancé and the two coaches will get together to talk scheme soon.

“At the end of the day, we all want the same things so it’s easy to mesh,” Knighton said.

***Knighton thinks there is something unique about this staff.

“You can feel the energy when you talk to us on the phone,” Knighton said. “You can feel the energy when you talk to anyone in the recruitment area. We’re just bringing that excitement back to the football department and making sure people feel comfortable with us.”

Perhaps the only group that can match the staff’s energy is the fans. Knighton said once Nebraska gets recruits on campus, the city of Lincoln does the rest.

“The fanbase is second to none,” Knighton said. “The excitement around it and the energy they get from the staff, I think it’s an easy sell.”