Nebraska is riding high after its first 7-6 winning season since 2016, but storm clouds are gathering. And big changes are shaking up the program, with new coaches and fresh faces stepping in. As spring football kicks off on March 24, Matt Rhule wasted no time addressing the elephant in the room—Nebraska’s roster is in trouble. And he reeled off a lengthy list of players slated to miss spring practice, either in part or entirely. So, just as the Huskers are gaining momentum, setbacks are piling up. And now, all eyes are on Rhule to steady the ship.
On the March 15 episode of Wilson Dittman Sports, the host himself didn’t hold back in sounding the alarm — Nebraska has a “HUGE PROBLEM” heading into spring practice. And the biggest concern? The defensive line – as the Huskers have lost key players, leaving major question marks up front.
Dittman broke it down, saying, “Nebraska’s defensive line going into 2025 is a completely different unit from what we saw last year. You lose your best player, Ty Robinson. You lose your longtime nose tackle, Nash Hutmacher. And you lose one of your up-and-coming best players in Jimari Butler, who you expected to completely lead this defensive line next year. Say what you want about James Williams, but he was one of the more athletically gifted pass rushers we had on the team—you lose him. And then, most importantly, you lose your defensive line coach that we all thought very highly of, Terrance Knighton, over to Florida State.”
Right now, Nebraska’s defensive front is in uncharted waters, and with so many key losses, the Huskers are facing a major uphill battle. Look, for spring ball, Matt Rhule put 18 players on the ‘out’ or ‘limited’ list. But that’s not all, because some players weren’t clearly labeled, yet they’re still expected to miss the entire spring. Therefore, as uncertainty looms, questions keep piling up. “So, it’s a completely different defensive line. You have a new coach there in Terry Bradden, and there’s a lot of concern. What’s it going to look like? Is it going to be as good? Is it even going to be a top-50 unit?” asked Dittman.
To be honest, with so much change, Nebraska’s defense is heading into spring with more questions than answers. Yes, the Huskers brought in Kansas City Chiefs assistant defensive line coach Terry Bradden to lead the unit. Although it’s a big opportunity for him, it’s his first shot as a lead positional coach. So, at a major college program, that kind of jump comes with risk. However, the concerns don’t stop there. As of now, with the long ‘out’ or ‘limited’ list, an inexperienced defensive line, and no elite edge rusher on the roster, Nebraska’s front is in serious trouble. And Wilson Dittman put it, saying, “Nebraska’s defensive line—they just really lack a game-wrecker. They lack that just top-end talent.”
Safe to say, for the Huskers, 2025 is shaping up to be a true test in the trenches. But why does Nebraska desperately need a dominant nose tackle or edge rusher? Look, since game-wreckers alter everything, the solution is straightforward. They cause havoc, interfere with offenses, and make teams adapt.
According to Wilson Dittman, “In my opinion, one of the most, you know, important things on a roster—to have an edge rusher or a nose tackle who can completely dominate ball games. Because you can’t, as an offense, as an opposing offense—you can’t scheme out a game-wrecking defensive end. You just can’t. They’re always, always going to attack your left tackle. They’re always going to attack your right tackle. You can’t scheme them out of the ball game. You just can’t.” Therefore, in 2025, Nebraska’s defense might find it difficult to hold the line without a man like that.
Ultimately, talent is only significant if it results in output. Additionally, there is still a lot of uncertainty around Nebraska’s defensive line. Dittman said it best when he said, “So, I say that to say this—I don’t know how talented this defensive line is. But what I do know is that there’s not a lot of production. So, to the people who are worried about this defensive line, I think that’s fair… Because it’s not going to be as good as last year.”
Therefore, it is evident that Nebraska’s defensive front is not just unproven but also a cause for concern. And the Huskers cannot overlook that issue as 2025 approaches. However, that’s not the only problem; Dylan Raiola’s weight is another issue that Nebraska is worried about.
Nebraska’s quarterback is causing concern
Dylan Raiola’s concerns about his weight took off after a video of him wearing an incredibly tight shirt went viral. Fans started to wonder right away if he was heavier than his stated weight, and questions began to circulate. While Raiola is supposed to lead them to greater heights, Matt Rhule knows that his quarterback must be in top form, so he isn’t taking any chances.
But Coach Rhule clarified it, stating, “He’s really working on his body composition. He won’t be a great quarterback at 240 lbs, right? So getting his body composition to where he can be fleet of foot, slide nimbly, and move within the pocket—where he can convert third downs with his feet—that’s something we’re all bought into, and he has to continue to do.”
The message is clear: Raiola must be at the top of his game, both intellectually and physically, if he is to guide Nebraska to greater heights and silence the critics with victories.
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