Matt Rhule is hard at work recruiting for Nebraska — a brewery visit and ping-pong included

LINCOLN, Neb. — Matt Rhule’s recruiting work in his first week on the job revealed a type of humility that may assuredly endear him to Nebraskans: his willingness to drop right into a brewery towards the tip of an extended day and a powerful set of ping-pong expertise.

Between showing up to work at 5 a.m. and monitoring the opening of switch portal season, the brand new Nebraska coach bought busy near dwelling final week, connecting with prospects and their households.

Amongst Rhule’s most vital stops was Pierce, Neb., dwelling to pass-catching prospect Ben Brahmer, who led Pierce Excessive to the Class C-1 state championship two weeks in the past in opposition to Aurora. Brahmer, 6-foot-5 and 215 kilos, caught 11 balls for 249 yards within the 40-14 win at Memorial Stadium.

He was the primary dedication, in April 2021, to the Huskers’ Class of 2023. However amid the uncertainty at Nebraska since September, Brahmer has thought of different choices. He took an official go to to Iowa State through the season and plans to signal with the Huskers or the Cyclones through the early signing interval, which opens Dec. 21.

Brahmer and his father, Pierce coach Mark Brahmer, spent 2 1/2 hours Saturday with Rhule and Marcus Satterfield — the offensive coordinator introduced amongst Rhule’s 5 on-field teaching hires final week.

“My preliminary ideas,” Mark Brahmer mentioned, “he appears to be an excellent individual. I believe he’s that type of man who really cares for younger males. Now after assembly with coach Rhule, I really feel very snug with each (head coaches), Matt Campbell and Matt Rhule.

“Ben goes to should observe his coronary heart.”

• From Pierce, some 15 miles north of Norfolk in northeast Nebraska, Rhule and Satterfield flew 300 miles west to Scottsbluff, close to the Wyoming border within the panhandle. Earlier than visiting offensive lineman Brock Knutson, a strong commit within the 2023 class, the coaches stopped on the aptly named Flyover Brewing Firm in downtown Scottsbluff.

Rhule sampled a 10-ounce oatmeal stout. He and Satterfield break up a pretzel with beer cheese. Not lengthy after the coaches’ arrival, different prospects acknowledged Rhule. He signed autographs, took photographs and talked soccer.

“Very variety and gracious to our workers and patrons round them,” reported a consultant of the brewery.

They left after an hour with some gifted Flyover merch.

• From 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Rhule and his under-construction Nebraska workers hosted about 20 recruits in Lincoln. The meet-and-greet featured a lunch of pulled pork and ribs alongside competitors in cornhole, air hockey, Madden NFL and, sure, ping-pong.

“I realized that (Rhule) is basically good at ping-pong,” mentioned 2023 lineman Mason Goldman of Gretna, Neb., who’s uncommitted with affords from Nebraska, Kansas State, Vanderbilt and others. “He talked about that so much.”

Rhule performed ping-pong with Julie Noonan, the mom of 2023 edge rusher Maverick Noonan, who’s dedicated to the Huskers out of Elkhorn South.

• Goldman, a three-star prospect, mentioned he’s uncertain if he would play offense or protection at Nebraska. The Huskers, after providing Goldman in October, focused him on the offensive line. Rhule has but to rent an offensive line coach, although, and defensive position coach Terrance Knighton hit it off with Goldman on Sunday.

Satterfield visited Goldman and Nebraska walk-on pledge Korver Demma final Thursday at Gretna Excessive. The go to Sunday in Lincoln offered recruits with a chance for greater than a fast greeting.

Of Rhule, Goldman mentioned, “It’s good to know that he actually has a ardour for the recruiting course of.”

• Rhule’s communication expertise have impressed recruits and their mother and father, highschool coaches and principals in his preliminary days at Nebraska.

“It’s good to have a assured chief like that,” Goldman mentioned.

Huge receiver Isaiah McMorris of Bellevue (Neb.) West, one other Sunday customer to Nebraska, mentioned he likes Rhule “so much” after his first impression.

“I search for a coach who’s been profitable — how he presents himself, if he’s real,” mentioned McMorris, a 2024 recruit with affords from Penn State, Texas Tech and Ok-State along with the Huskers. “I don’t need a coach to sugarcoat it.”

• Rhule’s authenticity shined by means of throughout his go to to Pierce.

Mark Brahmer, a longtime educator and a coach, shouldn’t be simply fooled by disingenuous discuss.

Ben Brahmer had his coronary heart set on enjoying for former coach Scott Frost and Sean Beckton, Frost’s tight ends coach at Nebraska. However Rhule might need already satisfied the Brahmers of his sturdy character.

“Primarily based on what I used to be capable of take from our dialog,” Mark Brahmer mentioned, “Trev (Alberts) has accomplished an excellent job and accomplished his homework and located a man who’s ready to steer this system, hopefully, in the precise path.

“He appeared like a really humble man. Looks like he has an excellent household. Some guys within the faculty sport who’re in highly effective positions come off as brazen and brash, a little bit too sturdy. He didn’t.”

Ben Brahmer is busy with basketball, however he’ll goal to slot in a go to to Lincoln to see Rhule and Satterfield once more and meet extra coaches, Mark Brahmer mentioned, maybe on a weekday this month.

• Among the many different uncommitted guests Sunday with Nebraska affords: 2023 kicker Tristan Alvano, 2024 athlete Caleb Benning and 2025 linebacker Christian Jones, all of Class A champion Omaha Westside; 2023 vast receiver Malachi Coleman of Lincoln East; 2024 quarterback Danny Kaelin of Bellevue West; 2025 lineman Tyson Terry of Omaha; and 2025 athlete Caden VerMaas of Millard North.

Commits for 2023 in attendance included Noonan, who bought a follow-up go to at his faculty Monday from Rhule, and linemen Sam Sledge of Omaha Creighton Prep and Gunnar Gottula of Lincoln Southeast.

• VerMaas mentioned he seen a distinction instantly in how the brand new coaches “welcomed” recruits on campus.

“They’re speaking to you immediately as you get there,” VerMaas mentioned. “Simply nice folks to be round.”

He misplaced a sport of cornhole in opposition to Ed Foley, the Huskers’ new particular groups coordinator.

In accordance with VerMaas, Foley paid particular consideration to Alvano. The kicker linked on 5 area targets within the state championship sport — together with a 45-yard sport winner as time expired — to propel Westside 43-41 in opposition to Goldman and Gretna.

“You can undoubtedly inform they favored Tristan so much,” VerMaas mentioned. “I don’t understand how you couldn’t. I used to be speaking with my mother and pa, and I mentioned, ‘That is the No. 1 kicker within the nation, for my part.’ I simply name him Justin Tucker Jr.”

• Nebraska has added no less than two staffers other than the introduced on-field teaching hires.

Omar Hales entertained prospects Sunday in Lincoln and seems set to fill a task within the recruiting or personnel departments. He’s been lively already in extending scholarship affords.

Hales performed at Temple and coached as a graduate assistant underneath Rhule on the Philadelphia faculty. He frolicked with Rhule at Baylor as director of scouting and in high quality management and labored with the Panthers in 2021. He was the particular groups coordinator this 12 months at Japanese College, a Division III program in Pennsylvania.

Adam DiMichele has been at work, too, in recruiting for the Huskers. He performed at Temple and has coached on the faculty since 2014.

• The Huskers are quick planning to host an enormous haul of official guests this weekend. The 2023 class is right down to 12 after the decommitments of Coleman, vast receiver Omarion Miller and operating again Arnold Barnes. Coleman stays a precedence goal for Rhule.

And with the official opening of the switch portal, adjustments to the roster will probably be quick and livid for a number of weeks. Linemen Jailen Weaver, Alex Conn and Marquis Black entered the portal Monday, becoming a member of linebacker Ernest Hausmann, vast receivers Decoldest Crawford and Kamonte Grimes, offensive lineman Brant Banks and defensive again Jaeden Gould, all of whom jumped in final week.

(Photograph: Steven Branscombe / USA At this time)