Nebraska will have a new D-line coach; Matt Rhule talks Dylan Raiola

We don’t know who it will be, but Nebraska football will have a new defensive line coach.

Matt Rhule announced the move during his press conference leading up to the Las Vegas Bowl, which means that Terry Bradden, who was a first-year defensive line coach, has been fired.

There have been rumors about Nebraska football attempting to hire defensive line coach/co-defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson away from Syracuse. It was reported a few days ago that Robinson was going to join Lane Kiffin at LSU, but a new report said Nebraska was making a late push, and nothing was finalized.

Regardless, whether it’s Robinson or someone else, there will be a new defensive line coach. Robinson is an elite recruiter. He would probably be a fit as co-defensive coordinator, too. Nebraska needs to develop the talent it has on the defensive line and make it better. The Huskers also need better talent. Robinson can help in both ways.

Yet, even if it’s not Robinson, it’s time for Rhule to bring in a proven defensive line coach. Bradden had never been a defensive line coach on his own. He didn’t do a terrible job, but this program doesn’t have time to see if people can do the job. They need to hire someone who can do the job.

Rhule punts on Dylan Raiola

Matt Rhule was asked about Dylan Raiola and his future. However, there isn’t much Rhule can say. He responded to a question from the media and said he wouldn’t talk about the future of any player. That was up to them to announce that.

“I’m not going to talk about any players future,” Rhule said. “I’m just not doing that. That’s each player’s job. They have to announce their own things. I would never want to misspeak.”

That doesn’t mean that Raiola is staying or going. Rhule is coaching over 100 players, and he was making a blanket statement. He’s not going to announce for Emmett Johnson that he was going to the draft, even though he probably knew.

Rhule surely has an idea of which way the wind is blowing, but the truth is, we won’t know what Dylan Raiola is doing to do until he tells us.

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