Matt Rhule Discusses 2025 Class; Nebraska Football Adds 20 on Early Signing Day
Nebraska football had a successful early signing day Wednesday.
Head coach Matt Rhule met with the media for the first time since the end of the regular season, when the Huskers fell to Iowa to finish 6-6. Rhule began by thanking the signees, their families and their coaches for putting trust in him and the Husker staff.
"We don't take that responsibility lightly," Rhule said.
The Huskers added 20 signees. That's one more than number of commits the Big Red had coming into the day.
"You have to be really competitive to win in today's Big Ten," Rhule said. "I think half the guys that are on this class played for a state championship. When you look at the height, weight, speed, trait, length, all of those things, and you got a lot of guys who won a lot, I think we're right up there."
The last player to sign Wednesday was Jeremiah Jones. The four-star safety had been heavily pursued by Missouri. As much as Mizzou hoped to flip the prospect from Kentucky, some last-minute recruiting from Rhule kept him in the fold.
"Fought off some last-minute recruiting," Rhule said. "That's what happens when you recruit the best players in the country. Jeremiah's one of them."
The additional signee came in the form of four-star wide receiver Cortez Mills. The Florida product had been committed to Oklahoma since July, but Wednesday morning he announced he was signing with Nebraska.
Nebraska was also a finalist for four-star wide receiver Michael Terry III from San Antonio. Ultimately, Terry elected to stay home with the Texas Longhorns.
Rhule wasn't shy about talking about the impact of the 1890 Collective and name, image, likeness on recruiting.
"Think about some of the places we flipped guys from," Rhule. "You're talking about SEC schools. I don't know that (NIL is) why people go there. But you have to be in the same ballpark to have a chance. This has allowed us to be in a lot more conversations than we've been in before."
As of midafternoon Wednesday, the Huskers' class was ranked 18th, 20th and 21st in the nation by Rivals, On3 and 247Sports, good for sixth in the Big Ten Conference.
Watch Rhule's press conference below. Besides the signing class, Rhule addressed the Iowa game, including pregame, bowl practices, the coaching staff changes, and players entering the transfer portal. Scroll down for more coverage, more video and the full list of Wednesday's signees.
Coverage
- Husker247 | Rhule: 'The next defensive coordinator will be a great defensive coordinator'
- Husker247 | Nebraska open to pursuing quarterback to add to position room this offseason
- Husker247 | Holgorsen talks reasons for staying in Lincoln, direction of offense
- Husker247 | Rhule address handshake dustup from Iowa pregame
- Husker247 | Robinson accepts Senior Bowl invite, now what about the Huskers' bowl game?
- Husker247 | Rhule on "a two-pronged approach" to Nebraska's 105-man roster
- Husker247 | Rhule on the Husker Signing Day Show: On his class and keeping 'calm as can be'
- Husker247 | Holgorsen talks reasons for staying in Lincoln, direction of offense
- Husker247 | Rhule confirms hiring of wide receivers coach Daikiel Shorts
- Husker247 | Rhule expects players to flourish in Holgorsen's offense
- HuskerMax/SI | Grading the Class
- HuskerMax/SI | John Butler is Named Interim Defensive Coordinator for Bowl Game
- HuskerOnline | Rhule believes Nebraska will "flourish" in OC Dana Holgorsen's offense
- KETV | At Holgorsen's request, Nebraska adding former West Virginia standout to coaching staff
- Nebraska Athletics | Rhule quotes
- Omaha World-Herald* | Rhule addresses program departures, Iowa controversies in Signing Day presser
- Omaha World-Herald* | 'Not what we want to do': Nebraska's Matt Rhule talks pregame handshake snub with Iowa
- Omaha World-Herald* | In no ‘rush’ to hire Tony White replacement, Matt Rhule wants to keep 3-3-5 scheme
- Omaha World-Herald* | Signing Day notes: Nebraska may pursue transfer quarterback; Rhule manages roster trim
- Omaha World-Herald* | McKewon: For its own and Nebraska’s sake, 2025 recruiting class needs to be a big hit
- Lincoln Journal Star* | ‘He’s a winner': Rhule on quarterback signee TJ Lateef
- Lincoln Journal Star* | ‘It’s given us a chance': Rhule thankful for Nebraska’s NIL efforts in signing 2025 class
- Lincoln Journal Star* | ‘Come in ready to play:’ Nebraska's recruiting class mixes instant impact with long-term build
- Lincoln Journal Star* | Amie Just: The good, bad and middle ground as Nebraska football news keeps churning
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The Signees
- Four-star WR Cortez Mills
- Four-star LB Dawson Merritt
- Four-star LB Christian Jones
- Four-star QB TJ Lateef
- Four-star WR Isaiah Mozee
- Four-star DL Malcolm Simpson
- Four-star DL Kade Pietrzak
- Four-star RB Jamarion Parker
- Four-star S Jeremiah Jones
- Four-star CB Bryson Webber
- Four-star OT Juju Marks
- Three-star LB Pierce Mooberry
- Three-star OT Shawn Hammerbeck
- Three-star OL Houston Kaahaaina-Torres
- Three-star DL Tyson Terry
- Three-star OT Brian Tapu
- Three-star S Caden VerMaas
- Three-star WR Jackson Carpenter
- Three-star RB Conor Booth
- Three-star WR Tanner Terch
MORE: Carriker Gut Reaction: Nebraska Flips 4-Star WR Cortez Mills, Has Its QB of the Future
MORE: 4-Star Quarterback TJ Lateef Signs with Nebraska
MORE: 4-Star Running Back Jamarion Parker Signs with Nebraska
MORE: 4-Star Linebacker Christian Jones Signs with Nebraska
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