‘I see a confident team’: Matt Rhule praises Husker players at Big Ten Media Days

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Nebraska coach Matt Rhule and three Husker players took the stage Wednesday at Big Ten Days, saying the team is turning a corner.

“The guys are getting it done in the weight room. They’re getting it done in the classroom,” Rhule said. “Now we’ve got to get it done on Saturdays.”

The hype is building around Nebraska, a team coming off of a 5-7 season in Matt Rhule’s first year as head coach.

This season, Rhule is seeing a boost in the confidence of his team.

“I think you can tell when a team is ready to make the turn in their body language, in the way that they walk around the building,” he said. “When I walk through our locker rooms, when I walk through our weight rooms and I walk out in the field, I see a confident team.”

Rhule said the team is ready to turn last year’s close losses into close wins.

The Big Ten will feature four new teams this season — USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington — making it an 18-team conference. That’s a challenge that Rhule is ready to tackle.

“You didn’t come to Nebraska because you wanted to play an FCS slate; you came here because you want the challenge,” he said.

Rhule said competitiveness is the top trait he looks for while recruiting.

“I want guys that are going to prove it on the field and not anywhere else,” he said.

The Huskers were not the only team to speak on Day 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium. They were joined by UCLA, Iowa, Michigan State, USC, and Penn State at the podium.

Nebraska kicks off the season at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 31 at 2:30 p.m. versus UTEP.

For the full schedule, click here.