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Rhule Discusses Start of Spring Practice

Mar 25, 2025 / NU Athletics

Nebraska Head Football Coach Matt Rhule

Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule met with members of the media following the team’s spring practice on Tuesday. He discussed his expectations for the first couple days of spring practice.

“The rules are, of our first 15 practices, three have to be in helmets. First two have to be in helmets. We think it’s really important to give them Easter Saturday off. That’s why we go on a Monday. Coming off spring break, it’s not ideal to take a week off and start practice. I was looking for guys to have come back in shape so that we didn’t have any poles or anything like that. I really think of these first two days, really, as classroom instruction on the grass. A ton of teaching, a ton of installation. The guys, as I’ve told them – there is no depth chart right now. There is no ‘this is your role.’ It’s not the coaches’ jobs right now to figure out who’s going to play and who’s not going to play. It’s our job to figure out who can play. There’s a big difference. I’ll say that one more time. Our job isn’t to figure out who’s going to play, it’s who can play. You’re trying to teach guys and see what they can do. We’re asking our players to focus on their effort and execution and set a standard for those things the first two days in football. I think it’s been really good. We went one day inside, one day outside. Obviously, the practice fields are torn up right now, so there’s some limitations, but we’re blessed with elite facilities and we’re able to get out there and get some work in." 

He also talked about the impact of freshmen and transfer players. 

“I haven’t really felt a ton of ‘a lot of guys don’t know what we’re doing.’ I think the veteran leadership is so pronounced that they kind of know what to do, so the guys have kind of come in and dug right into the rhythm of it. I think we have a lot of new staff, so I maybe feel that a little bit more. We just want to get everyone out there and teach them the scheme, but also the standards that we want to have in terms of how hard we want the guys to play and the execution we’re expecting from them. I think everyone’s taking advantage of that and I think we’ve done a good job, as the rules have allowed, including football in the off season more than we ever have so that we can get to here and not be a ‘oh, we’re starting football’ immersed with the training periods and a lot of football. I think the guys are more prepared than ever. I haven’t really felt like even with the numbers, ‘wow there’s a ton of new guys out here,’ it feels pretty seamless, which is a good thing."

Rhule spoke on the connection between quarterbacks and wide receivers.

“I think we’re just in a teaching phase. There’s so much work that has to be done. Dana (Holgorsen) is very demanding with what he wants in the passing game. I don’t foresee him feeling very excited anytime soon. He’s done this for a long time and he knows exactly what he wants. We sat there and watched as a staff, yesterday, the one on ones. I learned so much listening to him talk. It was great. They’ve put a lot of work in, but right now it’s just a different phase, more coordinated stuff. Thursday, we’ll put the pads on and change  a little bit more.”

The Huskers will continue with spring practice on Thursday. The Husker Games, presented by FNBO, are set for Saturday, April 26. Fans will have the opportunity to get a preview of the 2025 Husker football, volleyball and soccer teams as part of the Husker Games events.


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