Nebraska’s offensive line picture just got a little more crowded, and a lot more interesting.
Gunnar Gottula is back in the mix this summer, and Matt Rhule says the veteran lineman is pushing for a spot at right tackle while bringing even more size and strength to a unit that already had plenty of both. Nebraska’s front five was already loaded with experience to finish the spring, with more than 7,300 career snaps in the room. Gottula adds another 854 college snaps to that total.
“He's out there full speed,” Matt Rhule said Saturday. “He's competing to be the starting right tackle.
He's competing for it. He's played a lot of football for us, and he's gotten strong.”
That strength is the big development here. Gottula has spent the last two offseasons rehabbing, which is the obvious downside. But Rhule pointed to the work he was still able to do behind the scenes, noting that Gottula was lifting five days a week.
“So he's a guy - he's a strong, strong, strong man,” said Rhule, pointing out he had to play left tackle at 18 or 19 years old a couple seasons ago. “Well, now it's two years later.
And he's big, he's powerful, he's strong. And he's competing to be the starter at the tackle positions and he can go in and play guard.”
That kind of flexibility matters for Nebraska, and Rhule also mentioned Brendan Black as another player who could handle center if needed. For Geep Wade, that versatility is a welcome problem to have in a line room that suddenly looks even deeper.
Wade’s karaoke skills, though, apparently remain a different story.
In Other News...
Nebraska Fall Camp Takes A Hit In A Crucial Young Position Group
Nebraskas fall camp has already produced its share of notable headlines, from center Justin Evans landing on the Rimington Trophy Watch List to the Big Ten adjusting travel rosters to 80 players under its new eligibility rules. There was also a bit of good news on the pro side, with former Husker defensive tackle Ben Stille getting a shot with the Detroit Lions, while Roger Craigs Hall of Fame weekend brought a sobering reminder of the long-term toll football can take.
The concern for Nebraska right now, though, is in a young position group that could use every rep it can get. Freshman wide receiver Larry Miles is expected to miss six to eight weeks with a lower-leg injury, leaving the Huskers thinner at a spot where development and depth matter in a hurry. It is the kind of setback that can ripple through camp, especially for a newcomer trying to carve out a role before the season gets moving. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Rhules Early Camp Take Is Fueling Nebraskas Biggest Debate
Nebraska has already gotten through the first stretch of fall camp with pads on, plus a fan day event that gave supporters their first look at the 2024 version of the Huskers. Matt Rhule also used the moment to note that Damon Benning is joining the personnel department, while making clear he likes the way the roster is taking shape with returning starters and a batch of newcomers from the transfer portal.
The early practices have naturally pushed the biggest debate back into focus: whether the offense has enough weapons and offensive line depth to match the defensive side of the roster, especially with Rob Aurich settling into his role as coordinator. Rhules early read has been encouraging, but camp is always where optimism gets tested, and Nebraskas next few weeks will go a long way toward showing whether the pieces he likes can actually fit together the way the staff wants. [Read more 🡒]