James Williams stayed ready for Rutgers, and it paid off

Nebraska’s Matt Rhule considers himself an old-school coach.

When players make big plays, he doesn’t mind their celebrations — but he doesn’t always love them.

But when Rhule watched sophomore defensive lineman James Williams make a big play during Nebraska’s win over Rutgers, he was struck by the reaction Williams had afterward.

“He’s pointing at Jimari (Butler) thanking him because Jimari did an excellent job getting up the field so he could come up-and-under (for the sack),” Rhule said. “I’m proud of James.”

Nebraska didn’t enter the week expecting a big contribution from Williams, though. In preparing for a run-heavy Rutgers team, the likes of Riley Van Poppel and Sua Lefotu took Williams’ rotational spot with the first-team defense in practice.

Rather than standing idly by, Williams instead jumped into action with the scout team, another example which Rhule felt shows the sophomore’s character. After a two-sack performance last Saturday, Williams continues to make his presence known as one of the top pass rushers in Nebraska’s defensive line room.

“I just know James, I know his heart and who he is a person, he’s a really wonderful young man,” Rhule said. “We had the D-line at our house two weeks and my kids loved him and my dogs loved him; he’s just got that kind of a heart and I think everyone rallies around him.”

Luke Mullin and Amie Just have the Nebraska football post-practice report on Monday.