Post by nu5ncbigred on Dec 24, 2023 15:05:26 GMT -5
Rhule proud of Husker legacy piece in this recruiting class
BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON
It was 11 months ago Caleb Benning received his introduction to Matt Rhule.
The personable nature of the coach quickly jumped out to him. The resume showed Rhule had a track record of building programs. But Benning also was paying attention to how Huskers already on the team were processing the ways of the man who had taken over the Nebraska program just a month before.
"I could see a lot of his players just liking him, being close to the head coach and trusting him," Benning said during an interview on the Nebraska Football Signing Day Show.
There were other matters that had to be considered along the way, of course, but that initial takeaway clearly stuck with Benning, one of six legacy Husker signings on Wednesday.
Those players, and the way their families handled their recruitments, were making their own impressions on Rhule.
"None of them were overly involved. You're talking to Dom Raiola, right? You're talking to Damon Benning. You're talking to Neil Smith. Guys who did a ton of stuff here. They're not overbearing. It's about their kids," Rhule said. "I think it's why their kids are happy and successful and going to have a lot of success. They all earned it."
Those legacy recruits besides the defensive back Benning include quarterback Dylan Raiola, tight ends/receivers Keelan Smith and Quinn Clark, tight end Ian Flynt and punter Kamdyn Koch.
In the case of Koch, he was the best punter at Nebraska's summer camp for kickers in June."I just went there trying to do my best and hopefully they'll look at me," Kamdyn said after that offer came. "I wasn't expecting much from them. Just to get my name out there. When they offered me I was super surprised."
With Smith, the son of former Husker and NFL great Neil Smith connected with this Husker staff in February and he was already committed by May. He then backed it up by being the Missouri Player of the Year this fall.
Benning made plays all over the field to help Omaha Westside win its second straight state championship, dominating all the way.
Flynt's 6-4, 255-pound frame and blocking ability made him an appealing prospect on Rhule's staff radar basically since they got here.
Quinn Clark, the son of the late Ken Clark, was someone Rhule received tape on from former Huskers who knew Quinn's father.
"Who's this big kid? I'm like, 'Man, he's a good player.' He'll have to come to camp, though. Because I don't really know what football is like in Bozeman," Rhule said of the prospect from Montana. "He comes to camp and he runs the 40 and he's out there playing this, and he's playing that. And camp's over. I say, 'Is your Mom here?' His mom's here and so we offer him out on the field. Just thought if there was any way to incorporate his father into it, maybe doing it in Memorial Stadium on the field would in some way honor him."
A special moment along the way to filling up a recruiting class.
There would be another of those 10 days before signing day when the son of a former Husker All-American called Rhule and said his heart was with Nebraska football.
"I think it means a lot more than just football," Raiola said on the Nebraska Football Signing Day Show. "I think it's nationwide and I think it's special that you get to wear that 'N' on your helmet with the red stripe down the middle and know that you're representing something more than just that team that year. But all the people that came before you and laid that foundation, with Coach Osborne, Coach Solich, and all those coaches that came up through to keep and leave Nebraska where it's at right now."
In his introduction during Wednesday's signing day press conference, Rhule said how proud he was to have six legacy recruits in this class. And to have the brother (Mario Buford) of a current Husker (Marques Buford) join the team. And to have a signee in Eric Ingwerson whose uncles played in the Nebraska program.
Just as there was encouragement that came with some veteran Huskers wanting to return for one more year – like Ty Robinson, Bryce Benhart and Isaac Gifford – the addition of those legacy recruits adds another dose of that as far as Rhule is concerned.
"The fact that they had such a good experience here, this place means so much to them that they want their sons to be here, I think is important," Rhule said. "And also hopefully that they see some good things in us as a coaching staff that we're doing it the right way."
247sports.com/college/nebraska/article/nebraska-football-recruiting-jahmal-banks-offer-transfer-portal-223830485/
BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON
It was 11 months ago Caleb Benning received his introduction to Matt Rhule.
The personable nature of the coach quickly jumped out to him. The resume showed Rhule had a track record of building programs. But Benning also was paying attention to how Huskers already on the team were processing the ways of the man who had taken over the Nebraska program just a month before.
"I could see a lot of his players just liking him, being close to the head coach and trusting him," Benning said during an interview on the Nebraska Football Signing Day Show.
There were other matters that had to be considered along the way, of course, but that initial takeaway clearly stuck with Benning, one of six legacy Husker signings on Wednesday.
Those players, and the way their families handled their recruitments, were making their own impressions on Rhule.
"None of them were overly involved. You're talking to Dom Raiola, right? You're talking to Damon Benning. You're talking to Neil Smith. Guys who did a ton of stuff here. They're not overbearing. It's about their kids," Rhule said. "I think it's why their kids are happy and successful and going to have a lot of success. They all earned it."
Those legacy recruits besides the defensive back Benning include quarterback Dylan Raiola, tight ends/receivers Keelan Smith and Quinn Clark, tight end Ian Flynt and punter Kamdyn Koch.
In the case of Koch, he was the best punter at Nebraska's summer camp for kickers in June."I just went there trying to do my best and hopefully they'll look at me," Kamdyn said after that offer came. "I wasn't expecting much from them. Just to get my name out there. When they offered me I was super surprised."
With Smith, the son of former Husker and NFL great Neil Smith connected with this Husker staff in February and he was already committed by May. He then backed it up by being the Missouri Player of the Year this fall.
Benning made plays all over the field to help Omaha Westside win its second straight state championship, dominating all the way.
Flynt's 6-4, 255-pound frame and blocking ability made him an appealing prospect on Rhule's staff radar basically since they got here.
Quinn Clark, the son of the late Ken Clark, was someone Rhule received tape on from former Huskers who knew Quinn's father.
"Who's this big kid? I'm like, 'Man, he's a good player.' He'll have to come to camp, though. Because I don't really know what football is like in Bozeman," Rhule said of the prospect from Montana. "He comes to camp and he runs the 40 and he's out there playing this, and he's playing that. And camp's over. I say, 'Is your Mom here?' His mom's here and so we offer him out on the field. Just thought if there was any way to incorporate his father into it, maybe doing it in Memorial Stadium on the field would in some way honor him."
A special moment along the way to filling up a recruiting class.
There would be another of those 10 days before signing day when the son of a former Husker All-American called Rhule and said his heart was with Nebraska football.
"I think it means a lot more than just football," Raiola said on the Nebraska Football Signing Day Show. "I think it's nationwide and I think it's special that you get to wear that 'N' on your helmet with the red stripe down the middle and know that you're representing something more than just that team that year. But all the people that came before you and laid that foundation, with Coach Osborne, Coach Solich, and all those coaches that came up through to keep and leave Nebraska where it's at right now."
In his introduction during Wednesday's signing day press conference, Rhule said how proud he was to have six legacy recruits in this class. And to have the brother (Mario Buford) of a current Husker (Marques Buford) join the team. And to have a signee in Eric Ingwerson whose uncles played in the Nebraska program.
Just as there was encouragement that came with some veteran Huskers wanting to return for one more year – like Ty Robinson, Bryce Benhart and Isaac Gifford – the addition of those legacy recruits adds another dose of that as far as Rhule is concerned.
"The fact that they had such a good experience here, this place means so much to them that they want their sons to be here, I think is important," Rhule said. "And also hopefully that they see some good things in us as a coaching staff that we're doing it the right way."
247sports.com/college/nebraska/article/nebraska-football-recruiting-jahmal-banks-offer-transfer-portal-223830485/