
EVAN BLAND
Omaha World-Herald
Twice in mid-April Matt Rhule came directly off the practice field and took questions about the transfer portal. Twice the Nebraska coach declined to indulge in what-if speculation.
“I haven’t thought about it,” Rhule said April 11, four days before college football players started entering their names in the portal. “I’ve been pretty straightforward that I look at the transfer portal as a tremendous opportunity for guys to figure out where they want to go.”
The 15-day window opened April 15 and Rhule spoke with reporters again that morning following a brisk scrimmage inside Memorial Stadium. This time his response made national rounds as some wondered whether it was directed at any particular school.
“Whereas I hear other schools say they can’t wait for today — the transfer portal — they can’t wait to go out (and find players) — I can’t wait to coach my guys,” Rhule said. “Let me tell you that. I’m not thinking about anybody else than this team that’s out here.”
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The message held up through another busy transactional stretch in the sport. Nebraska hasn’t added a transfer — in large part because it was double-digit scholarships over the 85-man limit for months and remains above the threshold now — since late January. And nobody left the team before the Red-White scrimmage on April 22.
That changed last week when 10 scholarship players entered the portal in a six-day span. Among them were three quarterbacks in Casey Thompson, Logan Smothers and Richard Torres, high-upside running back Ajay Allen and defensive lineman Stephon Wynn. Thompson, Allen and Wynn all qualified as surprises to some degree as likely key contributors in the fall.
Rhule, appearing on “The College Football Daily” podcast last week, repeated his spring position that he views the portal as a complementary piece to the foundation of building through high school recruiting.
“We don’t have five open scholarships,” Rhule said. “For me to be talking about the transfer portal means I’m saying, ‘Hey, these players have to leave.’ Even if a player is going to leave, I don’t want to put that pressure and anxiety on my own guys.”
Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule is shown during the Red-White Spring Game on April 22 at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
Combined with the 45-day transfer window that begin in early December, Nebraska saw 24 scholarship departures into the portal while 11 emerged and went through spring practices in Lincoln. NU recouped three others who had entered the portal — receivers Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda and Zavier Betts and edge rusher Jimari Butler — before workouts began.
Though the window has closed for most players to transfer out, the roster dust is far from settled. Those who have their degrees may still enter at anytime. Those already in the portal — roughly 1,000 FBS scholarship student-athletes — may still visit schools and commit whenever in their own timeframes.
Nebraska and Rhule also have at their disposal an NCAA rule allowing first-year head coaches to not invite scholarship players back to the team while those players still keep their scholarships to stay in school and don’t count against the 85-man program limit. Whether Nebraska has or will need to utilize that power remains unclear as it still publicly carries three scholarship players too many.
Should the Huskers choose to add any other transfers between now and fall camp, they would need to part ways with more players than that.
The inevitability of attrition, though, has maintained for months since the Huskers brought in upwards of 40 players by the end of January. Rhule wanted everyone to go through spring ball and see if the new Nebraska was for them and they did — there were virtually no defectors for two months until last week.
Wynn was the only outgoing player to talk with media members during spring practices. On track to be at least a rotational member on a resetting defensive line, he spoke about a final chance to settle in and show pro scouts his abilities.
“I just felt that I didn’t do all I could do to give myself the best chance (last year),” Wynn said then. “I feel like I can come back and give myself a better chance to maybe go higher (in the draft) and get more opportunity.”
Allen, a redshirt freshman whose debut was marred by injury, was part of a running back group that Rhule said was the deepest he’s been a part of in college. Anthony Grant, Gabe Ervin, Rahmir Johnson, Emmett Johnson and others remain in the mix.
The move by Thompson — who is already commanding more than a dozen suitors and visited Auburn this week — paves the way for transfer QB Jeff Sims as the clear starter this season. Coaches and players praised Thompson all spring for his work ethic while recovering from shoulder surgery, though NU’s new vision for a power offense with a healthy amount of quarterback runs ultimately factored into his verdict late in the window.
“Some people probably don’t make the right decision, some people do make the right decision,” Rhule said last month. “I think the main issue is coaches sometimes inducing people to leave places for the wrong reasons. … I care deeply about all of our guys and I want them to go where they’re going to be happy.”
Photos: Nebraska football’s Red-White Spring Game

Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims (14) celebrates with offensive lineman Ethan Piper (57) at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star

Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims (14) shares a smile after scoring a touchdown during the Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star

Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims (14) jumps into the endzone for a touchdown during the Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star

The 45 yard line markers are outlined ahead of the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium. It’s a tip of the cap to former Nebraska football head coach Frank Solich, who wore the number 45 as a Husker player.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska football players and staff walk to Memorial Stadium during Unity Walk before the annual Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule walks up to Memorial Stadium during Unity Walk before the Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule walks up to Memorial Stadium during Unity Walk before the Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star

Nebraska football players and staff walk to Memorial Stadium during Unity Walk before the annual Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star

Nebraska players walk on the field before the Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule leads the team before the Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Dark Clouds hang over Memorial Stadium ahead of the Red-White Spring Game, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Rexton Gompert climbs The Legacy statue near the East Stadium entrance to get a better view of the team as he waits for the Unity Walk with his family ahead of the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Reed Gompert climbs The Legacy statue near the East Stadium entrance as he waits for the Unity Walk with his family ahead of the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska quarterbacks Casey Thompson and Chubba Purdy (from left) laugh as the converse during the Unity Walk ahead of the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule walks in the middle of the pack with his team during the Unity Walk ahead of the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

The Nebraska White team wears all white track suits as the participate in the Unity Walk ahead of the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Nebraska offensive linemen Ethan Piper during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

The Nebraska offensive line readies themselves before a play in the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims completes a pass in the third quarter of the Red-White Spring Game on April 22 at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo

Hunter Sallis watches Nebraska football’s Red-White Spring Game along with men’s basketball coach Fred Hoiberg (right) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

White Team’s Chief Borders (first left)stops Red Team’s Joshua Fleeks (center) dead in his tracks as he tries to push through the line in the first quarter during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims (14) jumps into the endzone for a touchdown during the Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star

Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims (14) jumps in for a touchdown as Zavier Betts (right) jumps on his shoulders to celebrate during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
LARRY ROBINSON, Journal Star

Nebraska’s Marcus Washington (left) is defended by Syncere Safeeullah during the Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Nebraska’s Jeff Sims makes a throw during the Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule walks with the team during Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims (14) celebrates with offensive lineman Ethan Piper (57) after scoring a touchdown during the Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star

Dennis McGinty cheers on the Nebraska band before kickoff of the annual Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star

The newest iteration of Herbie Husker was unveiled before the annual Red-White Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star

The newest iteration of Herbie Husker was unveiled before the annual Red-White Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star

Nebraska football runs on the field to kickoff the annual Red-White Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star

Nebraska football runs on the field to kickoff the annual Red-White Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star

Nebraska wide receiver Roman Mangini (26) holds up a heart to the crowd after the Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star

Nebraska defensive back Myles Farmer (18) signs a football for fans after the Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star

Nebraska defensive back Tamon Lynum (38) hands a fan his wristwrap as a hand extends out for a high five after the Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star

Nebraska defensive back Javier Morton (25) reacts to fans after the Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star

Nebraska linebacker Chief Borders (14) points to fans after the Red-White Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star

Nebraska fans cheer on the team after the Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star

Nebraska’s Timmy Bleekrode makes a field goal during the Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Nebraska players enter Memorial Stadium before the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts (left) shares a laugh with former head coach Frank Solich after Solich received the game ball during Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Herbie Husker enters Memorial Stadium on a motorcycle before the Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Red Team’s Blake Closman brings down White Team’s Billy Kemp IV on a run in the third quarter during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

White Team’s Gabe Evrvin Jr. runs in a early touchdown in the first quarter during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska offensove lineman Nouredin Nouili (right) battles Red Team’s Maverick Noonan to defend the quarteback in the during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Red Team’s Princewill Umanmielen celebrates after a fumble recovery by his team during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska offensive linemen Nouredin Nouili (center) and Ethan Piper (right) block members of the Red Team during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

White Team’s Braxton Clark, Rahmir Johnson and Quinton Newsome (from left) walk off the field together following the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

White Team’s Marcus Washington has a pass intended for him broken up by Red Team’s Syncere Safeeullah in the third quarter during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska White Team quarterback Jeff Sims hands off the ball to Anthony Grant in the second quarter during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

UNL President Ted Carter is seen on the sidelines during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska Red Team quarterback Chubba Purdy runs the ball while chased by White Team’s Javin Wright in the fourth quarter during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Huskers sign autographs for fans following the conclusion of the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

White Team’s Grant Tagge recovers a fumble by Red Team’s Chubba Purdy in the third quarter during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Red Team’s Ru’Quan Buckley (88) is held back by offensive lineman Ethan Piper during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule is shown during the Red-White Spring Game on April 22 at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo

Nebraska quarterback Casey Thompson is seen on the sideline ahead of the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska’s Heinrich Haarberg throws the ball during the Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule looks to the sidelines during the Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Nebraska’s Shawn Hardy runs with the ball during the Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule wears his headphone during the Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Herbie Husker is seen during Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Nebraska’s MJ Sherman (right) celebrates a defensive play next to teammate Javier Morton during Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

The Nebraska Huskers takes the field for the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule walks onto the field as his team heads to their respective sidelines takes the field for the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

White Team’s Nate Boerkircher runs the ball while pursued by Red Team’s Omar Brown in the first quarter during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

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