This offseason has brought significant transformations for Matt Rhule and his team at Nebraska.
In a surprising turn of events, standout quarterback Dylan Raiola has chosen to transfer to Oregon. It appears he will likely serve as a backup to Dante Moore for the upcoming season before eventually getting his chance to take the reins of the Ducks' offense. During his two seasons as a starter in Lincoln, Raiola showcased remarkable talent, completing nearly 70% of his passes, which included an impressive 72.4% accuracy last season, along with a tally of 31 touchdowns against 17 interceptions. Despite entering 2025 with considerable playoff enthusiasm, the Huskers finished with a disappointing record of 7-6 for the second consecutive year under Rhule’s leadership.
After enduring two significant defeats in November, Rhule opted to shake things up on the defensive side of the ball. He made the tough decision to part ways with defensive coordinator John Butler, defensive line coach Terry Bradden, and offensive line coach Donovan Raiola, aiming to revitalize the team's performance.
Additionally, Rhule is on the lookout for his third special teams coordinator within as many years due to the unexpected departure of Mike Ekeler, who left to join Lincoln Riley at USC in the same role.
In a recent development, just over the weekend, assistant special teams coach Josh Martin accepted a position as the head coach at Liberty Christian High School in Argyle, Texas, marking another shift in staff.
Now, in yet another blow to the coaching lineup, it has been reported that Miles Taylor, who was brought on board to coach the safeties just a month ago, is set to leave Nebraska for a position in the NFL. Taylor previously served on Jesse Minter's defensive staff with the Los Angeles Chargers last season and is expected to reunite with Minter in Baltimore, where the Ravens have recently appointed him as their new head coach.
Taylor has an impressive background; he played as a defensive back at Iowa from 2014 to 2017, starting in 32 games at safety. Over his six seasons with the Hawkeyes, either as a player or coach, he contributed to five teams that ranked among the top 20 in the nation for scoring defense and three teams that placed in the top 10 for interceptions by season's end.
In 2019, Taylor interned with the Ravens through the Bill Walsh Minority Fellowship program before moving on to become the co-defensive coordinator at South Dakota (FCS), where he worked alongside new Huskers defensive coordinator Rob Aurich for two seasons. Aurich, who previously held the position of defensive coordinator at San Diego State, has signed a lucrative three-year contract averaging $1.2 million annually, beginning with a $1.1 million salary this offseason.
As Rhule embarks on the quest to find a replacement for Taylor, the defensive unit for the Huskers will welcome several new faces heading into spring practices. Alongside Aurich, Roy Manniny (who focuses on the edge rusher position) and Corey Brown (responsible for the defensive line) will join the ranks. Manniny also hails from San Diego State, while Brown previously served as the defensive line coach at Miami (OH).
As always, stay connected with The Scoop (http://footballscoop.com/the-scoop/) for the latest updates on these developments.
