Don’t underestimate Garret McGuire, the most buzzworthy hire for Nebraska’s Matt Rhule

LINCOLN, Neb. — Garret McGuire has heard concerning the response from of us within the soccer world to speak that he has been luring gamers to his workplace with the promise of Honey Buns and Pop-Tarts.

“Lots of people snort concerning the snacks,” the first-year Nebraska extensive receivers coach mentioned Tuesday.

He’s not backing off. McGuire, the truth is, is doubling down.

Confused?

Select to not see him two-dimensionally. As a result of for those who solely have a look at the snacks, you miss what McGuire is doing. You miss what the meals represents. You miss the necessary moments in his workplace, then afterward the follow subject and presumably subsequent fall in competitors.

You miss Billy Kemp and Joshua Fleeks, new to the Huskers as transfers from Virginia and Baylor, respectively, sitting in McGuire’s chair, working the distant on sport movie as teammates collect.

“That’s much more highly effective than me sitting there,” McGuire mentioned.

“When you’ve gotten Arik Gilbert in there at 8:30, 9 o’clock (at evening), a good finish coming to affix my room, simply to freaking seize some scorching fries,” that’s actual, in response to McGuire. For McGuire, the chance to succeed in Gilbert, a former five-star LSU signee and Georgia switch, and educate him an offensive idea he may not in any other case be taught is price any quantity of junk meals.

Take McGuire significantly.

The 24-year-old Texan is producing extra buzz this offseason than any Nebraska coach aside from head coach Matt Rhule. The son of Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire and a former quarterback for Rhule and Dave Aranda at Baylor, McGuire brings power to Memorial Stadium and wows nearly all who meet him together with his soccer savvy and recruiting instincts.

Amongst Rhule’s first Nebraska workers, defensive coordinator Tony White owns the within lane to a head-coaching spot. Secondary coach Evan Cooper is climbing most steadily towards a coordinator place. Offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield is the highest-paid assistant coach in program historical past.

However it’s possible McGuire who possesses the best upside. He might be a head coach in 10 years. McGuire is definitely on the quick observe.

“I’d need my son to play for Garret,” Rhule mentioned.

Within the opening interval of follow Tuesday, McGuire coached his receivers, a remade group this spring, by means of a route-running drill. Newcomers Fleeks and Kemp, together with high returning receiver Marcus Washington, led the way in which. Zavier Betts and Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda, again with the Huskers after prolonged departures final 12 months, appeared easy of their work.

McGuire labored intently with younger wideouts Shawn Hardy and Victor Jones. Jalil Martin, on mortgage from the protection, labored alongside walk-ons Ty Hahn, Alex Bullock and Roman Mangini — favorites of the teaching workers for his or her work ethic.

Malachi Coleman, the star 2023 signee who’s ending his remaining semester at Lincoln East Excessive, adopted the group Tuesday in avenue garments, watching McGuire’s each order.

“I wished pace proper there,” the coach barked.

“Push out of it. That’s a superb rep.”

“Drop your weight.”

Later in follow, when the Huskers break up into teamwork on the turf exterior and seven-on-seven drills within the Hawks Championship Middle, McGuire coached the whole passing operation.

“He is aware of the quarterback’s progressions,” Rhule mentioned, “working backs, tight ends, receivers.”

McGuire has seen the sport from this attitude since earlier than he began enjoying for his dad at Cedar Hill Excessive, south of Dallas. At Baylor, he served in an unofficial player-coach function, studying the unfold rules taught by co-offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon.

McGuire stayed when Rhule left for the Carolina Panthers in 2020 and labored with OC Larry Fedora, the ex-North Carolina head coach.

For a part of the 2021 season with Rhule within the NFL, McGuire discovered underneath Joe Brady, the previous LSU coordinator. Ben McAdoo introduced a West Coast system to the Panthers in 2022 as McGuire completed the season earlier than he joined the Huskers.

Rhule mentioned he had no doubts about McGuire’s readiness for a full-time job in faculty. He questioned solely whether or not McGuire would wish to depart the NFL.

“I believe for those who talked to D.J. Moore, a kind of guys making $18 million a 12 months,” Rhule mentioned, “he would stand on the desk for Garret.”

Rhule has heard the narrative, too, about McGuire’s youth and the way it poses some type of an impediment.

“As he begins to churn out NFL prospects,” Rhule mentioned, “the highest recruits within the nation will notice that in the event that they play for Garret, they’re not going to get somebody who’s a hype man. They’re going to get a extremely good coach who’s all the time going to care about them off the sector.”

Fleeks has seen the caring facet of McGuire. They performed collectively at Cedar Hill till McGuire graduated in 2017, one 12 months forward of Fleeks. Reunited at Baylor, their bond grew.

“I do know what sort of man he’s,” mentioned Fleeks, who transferred to Nebraska for his remaining season of eligibility. “I do know what he expects. I do know what he needs. When he advised me he acquired this job, I just about was like, ‘OK, I’m going to go right here.’”

Since Stanley Morgan Jr.’s commencement in 2018, Nebraska has struggled to retain and develop expertise at extensive receiver. Nearly all of its signees on the place left Lincoln early, together with high move catchers JD Spielman and Wan’Dale Robinson.

The Huskers’ major supply of manufacturing got here through the switch portal by means of Samori Toure and Trey Palmer.

Largely, dysfunction dominated. Contemplate the case of Garcia-Castaneda, who joined the Huskers a 12 months in the past and performed properly early in 2022. He fell out of favor and left the Huskers after showing in 4 video games.

Garcia-Castaneda mentioned Tuesday he by no means wished to go.

“Quite a lot of issues have been form of far and wide in each side of the crew,” he mentioned. “It was in my finest curiosity.”

He mentioned he has discovered a wholesome connection in McGuire.

“All people all the time talks about him being younger,” Garcia-Castaneda mentioned, “how that was going to be a factor. However I prefer it rather a lot as a result of when he’s teaching us, not solely is he relatable to us, however he needs us to be lively in our conferences.

“So he’s continually retaining us on our toes, asking us questions. If you happen to’re not in there taking notes, you’re mistaken. It’s important to be locked in.”

McGuire’s first group at Nebraska appears to be like set to lean closely once more on the portal. Long run, he plans to construct the receiving corps from inside.

“That’s why we’re right here,” McGuire mentioned, “to develop guys on and off the sector.”

The Huskers signed six receivers in Rhule’s first-class, headlined by Coleman, who ran a ten.46-second 100-meter sprint final 12 months at 6-foot-5. The coaches will proceed to hunt pace, concentrating on prospects like Gatlin Bair, maybe the quickest extensive receiver any program will signal this 12 months.

In McGuire, Rhule mentioned he sees a number of his dad and mom, Joey and Debbie McGuire. After making the teaching soar from highschool to Baylor in 2017, Joey received eight video games in his first season at Tech final 12 months. His huge character appeals to his gamers, Rhule mentioned. McGuire has one thing related.

“However Garret has an edge to him, too,” Rhule mentioned. “He’s labored for some powerful guys. He brings that component as properly. You want that in faculty. You want somebody who might be your buddy but in addition be a man who can ensure you’re going to class.

“That’s what makes him particular.”

That and the recent fries.

(High picture: Mitch Sherman / The Athletic)