Nebraska’s whirlwind offseason just starting

And there’s a long way to go before a new status quo.

While athletic director Trev Alberts and new coach Matt Rhule were hammering out final contract details in a coaching search that lasted more than 70 days, Nebraska was in Iowa City, Iowa, on Black Friday. Reports leaked in the hours leading up to kickoff. The Huskers didn’t hear them, scoring the first 24 points against the Hawkeyes and holding on late for a cathartic win to end a seven-year losing skid to their rivals.

“I recommend Mickey Joseph as head coach!” tight ends coach Sean Beckton shouted with a grin in the bowels of Kinnick Stadium in a sentiment echoed by multiple players. “Put me on record!”

The team that limped through most of a 4-8 season finally had its moment — players left the field and came back to celebrate with fans and pose with the Heroes Trophy — but it had a shelf life. Nebraska announced Rhule the next day. A pep rally disguised as a news conference followed Nov. 28, complete with sparks, cheerleaders and Husker dignitaries as Rhule preached a vision of toughness and development to the Hawks Center crowd and a live BTN audience.

“I am here because this is the right fit,” Rhule said. “It’s the right time. If I have one message for you, we can absolutely do it. … It will be hard. It may take time. But it will be done.”

Rhule — fired from his job as head coach of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers in October — has had time to prepare for this frenzied stretch in a way previous Nebraska hires haven’t. Bo Pelini continued to coordinate LSU’s defense for another month when he was hired in December 2007. Mike Riley worked separate from NU and its bowl preparations in 2014. Scott Frost became physically ill completing the 2017 season with UCF while simultaneously recruiting for Nebraska and pitching his existing staff.

The new head Husker has thus moved quickly in bringing together his new team. Half of his 10 on-field assistants are already in place, including an offensive coordinator in Marcus Satterfield who left the same role at South Carolina. His strength coach, Corey Campbell, and defensive line coach, Terrance Knighton, both left their posts with the Panthers to come to Lincoln.

All the hires thus far — along with multiple behind-the-scenes support additions — have worked under Rhule at some point during his 10 seasons as a head coach. More positions still need filling including a defensive coordinator and offensive line coach.

“I do things differently,” Rhule said on a recent NFL podcast. “I’m going to be a highly demanding guy. I want things done a certain way. I want us to serve players. The players don’t serve us, we serve the players. For me it’s about me identifying the right guys, so it’ll be a lot of my guys that come, guys that trust me and believe in me.”

Nonetheless, former NU interim coach Mickey Joseph and Rhule had planned a midweek meeting that never happened after Joseph was arrested on charges of strangulation and third-degree domestic assault. The news rocked the program and quieted a months-long debate about the future of the popular one-time Husker quarterback and ace recruiter.

Players linked to Joseph began departing before the incident. LSU transfer Trey Palmer — who set the Nebraska single-season record for receiving yards in his lone tour in Lincoln — declared for the NFL Draft. The school lost pledges from a 2023 four-star receiver on consecutive days Thursday and Friday as Lincoln East’s Malachi Coleman and Louisiana’s Omarion Miller decommitted.

Meanwhile, no fewer than eight current Huskers have entered the transfer portal even before it officially opens to college football at large on Monday. Promising freshman linebacker Ernest Hausmann — the biggest surprise. Longtime reserve offensive lineman Brant Banks. Safety Jaeden Gould and receiver Decoldest Crawford, who were two of NU’s top recruits in the 2022 class. Plus another young receiver in Kamonte Grimes and multiple reserve kickers.

Nebraska’s efforts to add to its roster are already underway. It has made at least 16 known offers under Rhule, including a dozen to 2023 prospects plus a pair of tenders to portal players in offensive lineman Ajani Cornelius (Rhode Island) and receiver Xavier Guillory (Idaho State).

Coaches on Friday and Saturday fanned out around the state. Rhule has been visiting Lincoln schools and multiple committed players. He made an in-home stop to see Coleman on Friday, theoretically keeping the door open on a Husker reunion. New special teams coordinator Ed Foley endeared himself to the fan base by posting a picture of a bag of Runza food to social media as he drove around to various Omaha-area high schools.

So what could possibly be up next for Nebraska? More change. Such as:

Next week could bring more clarity as college football moves past championship weekend and into bowl season. Former Husker Jake Peetz — an offensive assistant with the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams — has reportedly been in discussions to join his alma mater. Other potential NFL candidates could also emerge as the pro season winds down.

Portal departures are already approaching double digits. There are 20-plus remaining Huskers who have degrees in hand and remaining eligibility who must choose between transferring, going pro, leaving football or staying for one last season. Among them are quarterback Casey Thompson, edge rushers Garrett Nelson and Ochaun Mathis, linebacker Nick Henrich and defensive lineman Colton Feist. Running back Anthony Grant could also come back for a sixth college campaign.

Nebraska continues to offer — or in some cases, reoffer — 2023 prospects ahead of the Dec. 21 early signing date. NU has 13 known commits for the class. Meanwhile, transfer offers will inevitably pile up when the portal fully opens Monday. Some familiar candidates have already jumped in the pool, such as former Iowa receiver and Bellevue West grad Keagan Johnson.

Rhule said at his introduction he won’t be sleeping much in the weeks ahead. He hasn’t been so far.

“Here’s what I know: The future of Nebraska football is not hanging on one decision,” Rhule said. “It’s hanging on the accumulation of day after day after day of great recruiting, great development, great coaching, great teaching.”