Matt Rhule copies Deion Sanders saying he wants players focused on NFL, not NIL

Nebraska coach trying to be like Coach Prime

Matt Rhule found inspiration from an unlikely source again. The Nebraska Huskers coach channeled his inner 'Prime Time' in a recent interview, saying,"I want guys who're interested in the NFL, not NIL."

Does it sound familiar? It was actually a quote from Deion Sanders' introductory press conference at Colorado. Rhule seems intrigued by what the Buffaloes are doing and told BuffsBeat his intentions of copying Coach Prime's blueprint.

"Coach Sanders is making Colorado highly relevant, and we're trying to do the same thing," Rhule said.

A slew of Nebraska fans replied by saying it was taken out of context. But, it sounds like Rhule might be doing more than just "studying up" on Colorado. They say Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. 

Rhule recently made an appearance on the 'The Herd with Colin Cowherd', and applauded Sanders for his work. 

“I’ll be honest with you... I’ve followed (Colorado) from afar, you know, because they do such a good job of filming everything. I think it’s good for football right now,” Rhule said.

“College football can’t just be, like, in the southeast and a couple of schools in the north," he continued. "It’s got to be what Lincoln (Riley) is doing at USC, what Coach Sanders is doing in Colorado, hopefully what we’re doing in the middle of the country. Like, this has to be a nationwide thing. You can tell that Deion and his staff. They’re going to recruit relentlessly and they’re gonna they’re gonna have their team ready to play.”

Nebraska comes into the season with a week one matchup against Minnesota. Rhule made his transition back to college after a failed run with the Carolina Panthers. He's trying everything he can to bring attention to the Huskers program that hasn't made a bowl game in seven years.

Rhule's one of the few coaches to travel backward as a head coach. Unlike Sanders' route to Colorado, he had stopped at Temple and Baylor before going to the NFL.

Colorado meets Nebraska for Folsom Field's 100th season opener on Sept. 9. It's a renewal of the old Big Eight rivalry, which became one of the most heated in college football history. Nebraska hasn't defeated Colorado since they were both members of the Big 12 in 2010.