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Staff Shakeup: Evan Cooper Out At Nebraska

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Staff Shakeup: Evan Cooper Out At Nebraska


On Friday evening,  Matt Rhule’s operation took a huge hit when Nebraska defensive backs coach Evan Cooper decided to retire for personal reasons. What does this sudden departure mean for the Cornhuskers going forward? And what does his new replacement bring to Lincoln? Let’s take a look.

 Developer of Talent

In addition to his duties in the secondary, Cooper was known as the primary talent evaluator for the Cornhuskers. On the defensive side of the football, he used his Florida connections to secure the commitments of linebacker Vincent Shavers, as well as edge rusher Willis McGahee IV.  Furthermore, the defensive line made a significant jump under his watch. Highly touted prospects Cameron Lenhardt and Princewill Umanieilen brought explosiveness to Terrance Knighton’s defensive line as a freshman. On the offensive side of the ball, he would have similar success finding talent. He fought off the Miami Hurricanes to bring in freshman wideout Jacory Barney Jr. And during the season,  Jaylen Lloyd became a big-play wide receiver. Under Garrett McGuire, transfers Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor will have ample opportunities to show off. The offense will most likely not be affected. But his departure could affect the defense. Cooper’s leadership provided stability in the secondary. Without it,  defensive coordinator Tony White may see a slump in production with his freshman players.

Stability on Defense

In Cooper’s first season as the defensive backs coach for Nebraska, several players in his position room experienced massive jumps in their play. This was evident when safety Omar Brown and cornerback Tommi Hill proved themselves throughout NU’s season after both had virtually unknown careers with the Big Red. As a JUCO safety in Lincoln,   DeShon Singleton knew he could get early playing time.   In five games with the Cornhuskers, he finished with 19 tackles and one pass breakup. However, he couldn’t continue through 2023. A knee injury on the opening play against Michigan dashed his chance of NU making a bowl game.  In that regard, NU’s linebackers delivered in spades. Safety hybrid Issac Gifford nabbed an honorable All-Big-Ten mention at the end of 2023. And Omaha native John Bullock was a solid contributor after struggling in 2021 and 2022. Can they work together to deliver the Huskers their first winning season since 2016?

Read more about Issac Gifford’s decision to return to the Blackshirts in A Wild Week For The Nebraska Football Program

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A New Face In Lincoln

On Saturday morning, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that the Cornhuskers are set to tab John Butler as their new secondary coach. His arrival in Lincoln will give the Blackshirts’ defense much-needed NFL experience. From 2014 to 2017, Butler served as the secondary coach for the Houston Texans under head coach Bill O’Brien. After he parted ways with the franchise, he joined head coach Sean McDermott and the Buffalo Bills in the 2018 season.  During his time with the secondary, safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer became standout players. Also, cornerback Tre’Davious White would earn two Pro Bowl nods in 2019 and 2020. He had similar success as a college coach. At Minnesota, he would serve as the Gopher’s special teams coordinator and provide additional help with the linebackers. However, he wouldn’t have major success until he arrived in Happy Valley. In his time with the Nittany Lions, he helped coach the team to a 7-5 record. During that time, his defense would have 20 takeaways. Does Butler’s techniques work immediately? Or will an adjustment period have to take place during the season?

Can He Still Recruit?

How will Butler recruit the secondary positions in Lincoln? It’s something that Rhule and the rest of Nebraska’s coaching staff will have to address. The 51-year-old has been out of the college game since the 2013 season. In the decade since Division One football has undergone major change with the addition of the transfer portal and NIL. Can he adapt to this new system by flexing his recruiting muscles nationally? Or will he choose to establish a pipeline in the  Philadelphia area? Butler is a Pennsylvania native, and the Huskers have had success in the state. In 2023,  Rhule used his connections to bring Rahmir Stewart into the program. Could this happen again with NU’s 2025 recruiting class?

 

Photo courtesy: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports



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Nebraska

Final injury report for Nebraska vs. Rutgers revealed

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Final injury report for Nebraska vs. Rutgers revealed


The final injury report for a contest between Nebraska and Rutgers is out on Saturday, and one team will be dealing with a significantly larger number of injuries.

Nebraska enters the game relatively healthy, sporting just two on the injury report, though both will be out for the game.

Rutgers has nearly a dozen players on the injury report, on the other hand, including a pair of season-ending injuries. One of those injuries was revealed on Saturday shortly before the game, with offensive lineman Bryan Felter out for the game. More on that below.

You can view the complete injury report for both teams below.

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Nebraska Cornhuskers:

Tristan Alvano – Out
Turner Corcoran – Out

Rutgers Scarlet Knights:

Mohamed Toure – Out (season)
Emir Stinette – Out
Bryan Felter – Out (season)
Chris Long – Questionable
Robert Longerbeam – Questionable
Ian Strong – Questionable
AJ Surace – Questionable
Michael Dixon – Questionable
Naseim Brantley – Questionable
Shedrick Rhodes – Questionable

Rutgers OL Bryan Felter out for season

Without Felter, the Rutgers offensive line will have to regroup ahead of the biggest game of the season. Head coach Greg Schiano knows going to Lincoln to try and stay undefeated is a monumental task.

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Especially for his offensive line to provide running lanes and pass protection.

“Defensively, I think their defensive line is stout,” Schiano said Monday. “Robinson, 9, and then 0 and 1, I think it’s Butler and I don’t know if I’ll say this right, Hutmacher, those three guys, as physical as you’re going to see. The linebackers, we kind of know one of them, he’s an Irvington kid that we recruited, really good player in Gbayor, and then I think the secondary is really well-coached. I mean, they play together. They play — you can see they know what they are doing with the scheme.

“So I think their defense is one of the better ones in America, and they certainly understand what their defensive coordinator wants them to do. Tony is a heck of a coach, and I think that it’s a well-coached team. It’s a talented team and we are going to play them in a very, very tough place to play.”

On3’s Nick Kosko also contributed to this report.



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Everything Rutgers fans need to know ahead of Nebraska matchup

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Everything Rutgers fans need to know ahead of Nebraska matchup


LINCOLN, Neb. — Rutgers faces Nebraska at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

The Scarlet Knights (4-0, 1-0) are seeking their first win over the Cornhuskers (4-1, 1-1) after falling in their first six meetings. They came close in their last matchup, falling 14-13 on a Friday night in Piscataway.

Now, in the midst of their best start to a season in 12 years, there is more reason than ever to believe they could knock off one of the sports’ blue bloods.

Here is what Rutgers fans need to know ahead of the first Big Ten road trip of the season:

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On the field

Rutgers-Nebraska preview: Keys to victory, x-factor and more with 5-0 start at stake

Rutgers-Nebraska forecast calls for record-setting heat that may feel ‘like a blowtorch’

Rutgers-Nebraska picks, prediction: Will Scarlet Knights make history in tough Big Ten road game?

Rutgers Rant: Previewing massive road game vs. Nebraska

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Off the field

ESPN’s College Gameday at Rutgers? Aaron Rodgers says, ‘This could be the year’ | Here’s what it would take

With Rutgers rolling again, N.J.’s HS coaches double down on endorsing Greg Schiano

Rutgers’ Aaron Lewis: ‘Defense needs to turn it up’ amid early struggles

Proud moment in store for former N.J. coach when Rutgers faces Nebraska

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Player

Q&A with Rutgers OL Gus Zilinskas, who knows Nebraska football better than any Scarlet Knight

What Rutgers’ Greg Schiano said about Nebraska’s Patrick Mahomes-esque QB Dylan Raiola

Why Nebraska coach Matt Rhule compared this Rutgers star to ‘The Matrix’

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.

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Patrick Lanni may be reached at planni@njadvancemedia.com.

Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com.



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Millard North's Nebraska recruits show off skills against Lincoln East

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Millard North's Nebraska recruits show off skills against Lincoln East


LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Millard North showed off its flashy Division I recruits in a 55-28 win against Lincoln East.

On the first drive of the game, 3-star recruit Pierce Mooberry showed why he has his stars with an 85-yard touchdown on Millard North’s first drive of the game.

The tight end/outside linebacker is committed to Nebraska.

Caden Vermaas, another 3-star Nebraska recruit, scored a 47-yard rushing touchdown.

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Not only are these two guys explosive offensively, but they also play both sides of the ball.

Lincoln East finally scored after switching to a hurry-up offense. But it was too little too late.

Categories: High School Sports, Sports





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