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Rhule Explains How Single-Digit Jersey Numbers Will Be Earned

Coach provides insights on that and more after Huskers’ fifth spring practice

Joe Hudson

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  1. Presser coverage
  2. Presser video
  3. Practice observations
  4. Practice video
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A portion of Nebraska football's fifth practice of spring was open to the media Tuesday morning, and head coach Matt Rhule explained afterward what he hopes will become a new Husker tradition: awarding single-digit jersey numbers to the team's toughest players.

In his previous jobs, he said, "I got really tired of having a guy in my program who had spent three years as like number 47 and then was getting ready to play and wanted to wear No. 1 or No. 3 and he had earned it, and we would give it to a recruit.

"So, what we decided was, you know what, 1 through 9 and now 0 through 9 would go to the nine or now 10 toughest guys on the team. And when I say 'toughest,' we define that for the guys, but really, the guys who best exemplify what it means to be a Cornhusker, to be accountable, to be dependable, to be tough, hardworking, competitive every single day. And so, as we get into training camp ... the players will vote on it, and we hope it kind of becomes our tradition."

One-third of the way into spring ball, Rhule said a depth chart is still months away: "I can't even begin to think about a depth chart until the fall. In fact, I tell the staff all the time, please do not evaluate their technical skills and drills, like 'This guy can do this, he can't do this' yet. Try to improve it. ... In our system, you come in, we're teaching the offense and defense right now, and then over summer we'll try to improve it. Then in training camp, fall camp, we'll try to perfect it. And then in the season, we'll try to execute it."

Also commenting after Tuesday's practice were players Jeff Sims, Rahmir Johnson and Turner Corcoran. Asterisk indicates item may require a subscription. Refresh this page for the latest additions. Go here for the HuskerMax discussion.

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Joe Hudson
JOE HUDSON

Joe Hudson has operated a Husker-related website since 1995 and joined forces with David Max to form HuskerPedia (later renamed HuskerMax) in 1999. It began as a hobby during his 35 years as a newspaper editor and reporter, a career that included stints at the Lincoln Star, Omaha World-Herald, Philadelphia Inquirer and Denver Post. In Denver, Joe was chief of the copy desk during his final 16 years at the Post. He is proud to have been involved in Pulitzer Prize-winning projects in both Philadelphia and Denver. Joe has been a Nebraska football fan since the mid-1960s during his childhood in Omaha. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in journalism and economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1976. He resides a few freeway exits north of Colorado Springs and enjoys bicycling and walking his dogs in his spare time. You can reach him at joeroyhud@outlook.com.

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