3 thoughts on Mike Ekeler as Nebraska football special teams coach

Mike Ekeler is coming home after all to be the Nebraska football special teams coach.

As soon as Matt Rhule fired the former special teams coordinator, Ed Foley, Ekeler’s name was being floated by some of the biggest members in the Nebraska media.

However, it seemed like wishful thinking. Ekeler was reportedly staying in Tennessee and that was understandable. As recently as Saturday, Rhule told reporters that Nebraska football wasn’t in a hurry to hire a coach.

It makes me believe this came together late. Who cares how it happened, it just impressive that it did happen, and here are three thoughts on Mike Ekeler as the Huskers’ special teams coach.

This is a home-run hire

It’s easy to call someone a home-run hire, but this actually meets the definition. Ekeler did a great job on Bo Pelini’s staff, is stellar on the recruiting trail, and has put together some of the best special teams units in the country at Tennessee.

Just like Nebraska, Tennessee’s special teams were a disaster before Ekeler who took a unit ranked 93rd in special teams efficiency ratings and finished 11th in his first season. In the other seasons, Tennessee finished 2nd, 36th, and 9th.

There’s no doubt that Nebraska lost games over the past two seasons due to special teams. This should bring that to an end.

Nebraska football is serious about winning now

Whether it’s the 1890 Initiative helping the Huskers land Rocco Spindler over Virginia and others, or getting Ekeler away from a Tennessee team that just made the College Football Playoff, it’s clear that Nebraska is serious about winning.

You have to give Rhule credit too. He might have missed on the hires of Marcus Satterfield and Ed Foley, but it’s hard to argue with the replacements.

I’d argue you couldn’t do better than Dana Holgorsen, a former head coach and a dynamic play-caller for decades, or Ekeler, who is about as proven as one can be in terms of a college special teams coach. The dude can coach outside linebackers too.

The Huskers also just signed the No. 1 transfer class in the Big Ten via 247 Sports and filled the biggest need on the staff with a top-of-the-list candidate.

I know Nebraska fans are sick of being “offseason champions” but it’s been another good offseason and this one shows just how serious Rhule and Troy Dannen are about getting Nebraska back to being Nebraska.

Nebraska special teams will take a huge jump forward

The Huskers didn’t just add Ekeler, they landed an All-American long-snapper, one of the best punters in the Big Ten, and a dude in Andrew Marshall with immense return ability, so the investment in special teams is clear.

This is more of a prediction than a thought, but the Huskers will be measurably better on special teams next season. They just have to be. The talent has been upgraded and the coaching has been too.

If special teams still struggle, maybe Matt Rhule should just shrug, because I’m not sure what else the man could do.

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