The Nebraska Cornhuskers are making some serious moves on the defensive side of the ball, and head coach Matt Rhule isn’t shy about his excitement. On a recent appearance on The Zach Gelb Show, Rhule opened up about the hiring of new defensive line coach Corey Brown-a key piece in what’s shaping up to be a revamped defensive staff under new defensive coordinator Rob Aurich.
Brown arrives in Lincoln after a strong run at Miami (Ohio), where his defensive line didn’t just hold the line-they attacked it. The RedHawks racked up 40 sacks this past season, good enough for a top-10 national ranking in that category.
That kind of production is exactly what Nebraska's defense has been missing. Last year, the Huskers managed just 22 sacks, which left them sitting at 93rd in the FBS.
Rhule knows that has to change.
“We have to fix our run defense, which is almost hard for me to say because I’ve never ever had a bad run defense before,” Rhule admitted. “But we had it this last year.”
That’s not just coach-speak. The numbers back him up.
Nebraska gave up 4.82 yards per carry in 2025-ranking a lowly 114th in the country. And those struggles showed up in the worst moments, like the narrow losses to Michigan and USC, where the Huskers allowed over 200 rushing yards in each game.
Those are the types of breakdowns that turn close games into missed opportunities.
Enter Corey Brown.
Rhule and Aurich didn’t rush the hire. They talked to multiple candidates. But when Rhule sat down with Brown, something clicked.
“At Miami of Ohio, they were third in the country in sacks,” Rhule said. “He’s produced sacks.
He produced Adam Trick, who just signed a big deal at Texas Tech. When I interviewed him, honestly, I was kind of mesmerized by his teaching progression, by his thought process.”
That’s high praise from a coach who’s seen his share of interviews. And it speaks to what Nebraska is looking for-teachers who can develop young talent, not just recruiters or scheme guys. Brown has Big Ten experience, and he’s proven he can get results with the pieces he’s given.
Brown won’t be working alone. He’ll be paired with Roy Manning, who’s coming in to coach the edge defenders.
Manning, another Aurich recommendation, brings his own track record of success and energy to the table. Together, the two will be tasked with turning a young, developing defensive line into a force.
“Our first years here we were top 10 in every defensive category,” Rhule said. “We really struggled on offense but we were really pretty good on defense.
Last year we took a step back-we were 21st in the country going into the bowl game. And we have to be better than 21st.”
Nebraska finished 58th in yards per play allowed (5.44) after the bowl game. That’s not disastrous, but it’s a far cry from the standard Rhule wants to set. And with the Big Ten getting tougher by the year, “good enough” isn’t going to cut it.
The new hires are part of a broader defensive overhaul. Aurich, who engineered top-five defenses at both Idaho and South Dakota, is bringing a clear vision-and Rhule is giving him the freedom to execute it.
“I’m hiring Rob,” Rhule said. “I’m hiring a guy that in one year took Idaho, and then took South Dakota to top five defenses at that level.
And he’s coming with a plan. The thing I’ve learned is, hey, let him hire his own guys.”
That plan includes more than just Brown and Manning. Miles Taylor is expected to join the staff to help coach the safeties.
He spent this past season with the Los Angeles Chargers and, like Aurich, has South Dakota ties. Rhule confirmed the addition on the podcast and emphasized that Taylor was part of Aurich’s broader vision for the defense.
The staff continuity isn’t being overlooked either. Nebraska is retaining several key assistants: secondary coach Addison Williams, linebackers coach Rob Dvoracek, and Phil Simpson. Rhule said Aurich had a chance to evaluate the entire staff during bowl practices, and there was a clear emphasis on keeping the right pieces in place.
Even before Aurich was officially hired, Rhule made it clear he wanted Williams back. That kind of foresight shows how much trust Rhule has in his current staff and how carefully he’s building this next phase of Nebraska football.
As for the defensive line itself, there’s talent-but it’s young. Rhule acknowledged that last year’s group was still learning on the job. Now, with a mix of experience, new coaching, and some help from the transfer portal-15 additions and counting-Nebraska is hoping to take a leap forward.
The message is clear: The Huskers aren’t just tweaking the defense. They’re rebuilding it with purpose. And with Corey Brown and Roy Manning now in the fold, the foundation is starting to look a whole lot stronger.