NEBRASKA CITY – Husker Radio Network Analyst Damon Benning described Nebraska’s portal exodus as a therapeutic bloodletting in the pursuit of platelets that love to play football and love to compete.

He reminded his Big Red Buzz audience at Valentino’s Restaurant in Nebraska City about Head Coach Matt Rhule’s attention to measurements when recruiting, like size and timed runs, but said the coach is increasingly searching for the seemingly intangible measurement of competitive spirit.

Benning said the exodus of coaches and players is part of the chaos of college football, but said Rhule can function in the chaos because his care for others is constant.

Benning: “It’s hard to tell somebody that you’re the best thing for them, but they don’t want to be with you. It’s like, hey, I know that you’re going to be better with me, but if you don’t want to be with me that’s okay. He has to have those conversations because while you want to be selfish, if you’re playing the long game you can’t make anybody do something they don’t want to do and  have them all in. He doesn’t want the type of culture where guys are straddling the fence because he can’t beat the portal and NIL by having guys that aren’t all in.”

He said Nebraska's roster needs something the Iowa Hawkeyes have and that’s competitive stamina.

Benning: “Those are the guys we have to play with and win with going forward, if we’re going to build this thing the right way.”

Although the transfer portal does not open until Dec. 9, Nebraska already has 10 scholarship players declared.

Benning said it’s not about getting to the 105 roster limit this fall, but a kind of bloodletting, an old school (transfusion).

Benning: “You know, you’ve got to get the gunk out. It’s terrible at first. It takes forever, but you feel better.”

He said some players with good relationships with coaches will be welcomed back on the Nebraska roster after they have a chance to assess their portal opportunities.

In a coach or perhaps fatherly mode, he said James Williams may be better off at Nebraska compared to Florida State, but said the defensive lineman is connected to coach Terrance Knighton who is moving on with Defensive Coordinator Tony White.

He said the defensive exodus is not due to a pending change in defensive philosophy. He expects Coach Rhule to stick to the aggressive, multiple style of an odd defensive front going forward.

Transfer portal Dec. 5, 2024

DL Kai Wallin

DL  Princewill Umanmielen

DL James Williams

DL Jimari Butler

DL Vincent Carroll-Jackson

LB Mikai Gbayor

LB Stefon Thompson

QB  Daniel Kaelin

RB Gabe Ervin

WR Malachi Coleman