However, he shed light on much more than just that. Here’s the latest from Rhule on the state of Nebraska’s roster after Week 1 of fall camp.<\/p>\n
![\"Nebraska](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/01k3yy6jdg9pc4e8y015.jpg\" "\\"Nebraska")
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Corey Campbell, Nebraska strength and conditioning coach. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN<\/p>\n
Nebraska Added Some Serious Size<\/p>\n
The Huskers surrendered 33 sacks on offense a season ago and finished the year ranked No. 100 nationally against the run on the defensive side of the ball. Rhule and company looked to address both areas before the fall.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis offseason we added 677 pounds of lean mass,\u201d said Rhule. \u201cAt the same time, they lost 188 pounds, as a team, of fat. This will be the biggest and leanest team we\u2019ve had.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the grown man’s game that is Big Ten football, that should be a good thing for the Big Red. Even so, Rhule suggested they’ll still have to prove it this fall.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve been great in the weight room, great in the training table, and great in the classroom,\u201d he said. \u201cNow, they\u2019ve got to take that mindset and transfer it over to the football field.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Rob](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786253052_744_01kkex4cjwvm3bk1q5pc.jpg\" "\\"Rob")
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Defensive coordinator Rob Aurich during a practice in early March. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN<\/p>\n
The Challenge of Implementing a New Defensive Scheme<\/p>\n
Nebraska added former San Diego State defensive coordinator Rob Aurich<\/a> over the offseason, who’s fresh off a 2025 campaign in which his Aztecs ranked as the No. 11 unit in the FBS.<\/p>\n However, he’s implementing a new defensive scheme. Instead of the Huskers’ 3-3-5, the one they’ve run for the last three years, Aurich is bringing a four-down defensive front to the table for the Big Red.<\/p>\n Asked about the adjustment, Rhule didn’t view it as such.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s been no adjustment,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s a change, but there\u2019s really no adjustment, because we did so much of that. There were games last year where we were in four-down 60 or 70 percent of the time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe felt like it was way better to have Cam Lenhardt<\/a> or Williams Nwaneri or Jordan Ochoa, or whoever, line up head up on the tight end instead of playing inside the tackle,\u201d he continued. \u201cThat was just the bodies that we had developed, and I think good coaches say to themselves, \u2018What\u2019s the best scheme fit for the players we have?\u2019 The players have picked it up and run with it.\u201d<\/p>\n Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen reacts after the Huskers’ Hail Mary touchdown against Michigan last season, | Kenny Larabee, KLIN<\/p>\n On Dana Holgorsen’s Frustration with the Tight End Room Over the Summer<\/p>\n The Big Red’s offensive coordinator, Dana Holgorsen<\/a>, is very blunt. Earlier in the week, the former Houston and West Virginia head coach suggested he’d been frustrated with Nebraska’s tight end room in June.<\/p>\n Rhule, when asked to add context to the subject, stated the group is back on schedule in his own eyes. <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know what he meant,\u201d Rhule said. \u201cBut there were a couple of guys that got banged up in June. Some guys, for them to be good players, have to get out there and practice. So, I think there was probably some frustration there. But Luke (Lindenmeyer) is a proven commodity. He\u2019s done a really nice job.\u201d<\/p>\n Matt Rhule and Ceyair Wright talking before kickoff against the Akron Zips. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN<\/p>\n Plenty of Competition at Various Positions This Fall<\/p>\n For a program that’s heading into its fourth season under the same head coach, Rhule essentially has a team full of players that he built. Between the roster seemingly improving and the veteran nature of it all, he suggested there are several position groups with battles going on for eventual starting roles.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the thing with our team right now is, there\u2019s enough battles at enough positions where if you\u2019re out for a week, you\u2019re going to get passed by,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s not a punishment. It\u2019s just, we have to go with what we see.\u201d<\/p>\n Husker quarterbacks completing drills during spring practice. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN<\/p>\n Praise for TJ Lateef and Daniel Kaelin<\/p>\n Anthony Colandrea<\/a> is always the first to come to mind when discussing Husker quarterbacks entering 2026, but Rhule suggested younger players like TJ Lateef and Daniel Kaelin are improving as well. <\/p>\n \u201cI think TJ and Danny are doing a fantastic job,\u201d he said. \u201cTJ, the job he\u2019s done with his body is elite.\u00a0 The job Danny has done with his body is elite. Danny, to me, has elite processing, has great accuracy, a great arm. He just had to physically grow up. He\u2019s doing that. TJ did that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey both operate the offense and get it to where it\u2019s supposed to be,\u201d Rhule continued. \u201cI see them do nothing but play the next play and just keep trying to be good at what they\u2019re doing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule runs onto the field before the opening kickoff last year against Cincinnati with strength & conditioning coach Corey Campbell. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN<\/p>\n Injury Update<\/p>\n There have been only a few injuries thus far in fall camp. Rhule suggested several of those who are not practicing were already banged up before the team got things going Wednesday. The rest, in general, are bumps and bruises earned with competing over the last several days. <\/p>\n Players Not Currently Practicing:Jacob Bower | Junior linebacker (ACL)Jase Reynolds | Freshman linebacker (Unspecified surgery)Rex Waterman | Freshman offensive lineman (Foot injury)Ashton Murphy | Sophomore offensive lineman (Unspecified short-term Injury)Larry Miles | Freshman wide receiver (Foot or lower leg surgery)<\/p>\n Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI<\/a>, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube<\/a> and visiting Husker4Max.com<\/a> daily.<\/p>\n![\"Nebraska](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/01k5vhdmfqja7azfg9ac.jpg\" "\\"Nebraska")
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<\/p>\n![\"Daniel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/01kkewvnzk1fdb4bx71b.jpg\" "\\"Daniel")
<\/p>\n![\"Nebraska](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/01k3xz1vx10se3rfyxk8.jpg\" "\\"Nebraska")
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