Steven Sipple: Matt Rhule’s common-sense approach to NIL refreshing

Nobody’s saying Nebraska football coach Matt Rhule has it all figured out, especially with a 5-7 season fresh in fans’ minds. But I will say this: I find myself nodding in agreement to virtually everything he says about how he wants to build his program.

His comments this past week regarding Nebraska’s approach to the name, image and likeness part of the equation certainly were illuminating, and filled with common sense.

“I listened to Bill Polian talk when I was in the NFL and he always said, ‘Make sure the highest-paid guy on your team is not a free agent who comes in from the outside,’” said Rhule, referring to the man who rose to prominence as general manager of the Buffalo Bills, building a team that participated in four straight Super Bowls.

“If you want to have a healthy locker room, let guys know, ‘Hey, if you stay here, what you do will be rewarded,’” Rhule continued. “Name, image, and likeness is supposed to say that because of your name and what you do, people want to have you be associated with their business, their corporation, their charity, their foundation.

“I consider the guys on the team my guys. I always want them to be taken care of. That being said, we have to procure talent, we have to get guys to come in and make them our guys.”

One takeaway is Rhule prefers that a proven veteran player — say, Nebraska defensive lineman Ty Robinson — generally should be prioritized over virtually any incoming recruit. My guess is Robinson will be the team’s highest-paid player in 2024, although it’s possible a quarterback from the portal could rise to the top.

Let’s be clear, though, in saying there is ample gray in these discussions. If Nebraska has to pay handsomely for a quarterback, I’m guessing Rhule will do what he has to do — within reason. That’s the key: Within reason. I get the feeling Rhule always will operate with a reasonable approach to NIL, an approach that favors proven players.

He raised eyebrows all over the nation this past week when he said that “a good quarterback in the portal costs a million to 1.5 million to 2 million dollars right now.” Would Nebraska pay that sort of money to a high-profile, proven QB? It’s difficult to answer the question without knowing exactly who we’re discussing.

Again, Rhule will do what he has to do, within reason.

Nebraska Board of Regents approves $1 million Learjet as donor gift for recruiting

Rhule responds to reporter’s excellent NIL question

It should be noted that Rhule’s comments regarding NIL stemmed from an excellent question from a reporter drilling down on Nebraska’s priorities. Does Rhule and company prioritize returning players who have produced a lot already? New recruits out of high school? Or players out of the portal?

Rhule quickly noted that Nebraska’s coaching staff “can have no influence, we can’t direct it.” He has to say that even if it’s misleading. Does anyone really think Kirby Smart allows Georgia’s top NIL collective to direct roster moves?

The moves by Nebraska’s collective, the 1890 Initiative, directly reflect the head coach’s vision. I mean, it only makes sense that head coaches essentially dictate NIL policy for their programs even if it’s not technically how it’s supposed to work.

As for Rhule, he made clear how he wants to proceed.

“We just kind of believe in doing things the old-school way, the hard way, building,” he said. “That doesn’t mean we won’t look at people in the portal. We did it last year, right? It just means they have to be clearly an impact player for us if they’re like a one-year player, or they have to be someone who has multiple years to get in our program and develop.”

These comments strike me as incredibly important because it’s Nebraska’s head coach laying out in clear terms how he wants to build the program. Rhule has made it eminently clear since he was hired in late November of 2022 that he wants to lay a solid foundation — something that can sustain.

How could a Nebraska fan not nod in agreement to such a sentiment?

Nebraska coach will monitor the nation’s powers

Rhule, though, doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. He says he’ll study the teams in the College Football Playoff. Did they massively overhaul their rosters with transfers? Or was it mostly a matter of building through solid recruiting, then adding key additions where necessary?

He notes that Georgia’s staff builds its program primarily through high school recruiting.

Make no mistake, that’s what Rhule wants to do for Nebraska, within reason.

“The guys we brought in from the portal last year, they’ve been amazing parts to this team,” he said. “I consider Ben Scott, I consider MJ Sherman — I consider them our guys. I just want the guys on our team to know that if they stay here and they’re loyal, good things will happen to them.”

Translation: They’ll be taken care of NIL-wise. Believe me when I tell you Nebraska players are being taken care of in that regard, and I don’t mean just a few of them. Just watch how few Husker players enter the portal in this go-round. I’m guessing the number will be relatively small because Nebraska is mindful of how student-athletes are treated across the board, including the NIL piece.

Maybe that sounds hokey. But it’s the truth.

A reporter asked Rhule another excellent question, a question that Nebraska fans need to understand as the coach pushes forward with his building process: Georgia probably has a robust NIL program for kids coming out of high school. Is that something Rhule feels strongly about?

“We’re going to play under the rules that are here now,” Rhule said. “If NIL is here to stay, which it is, I think we’re blessed to have 1890. I think they do things the right way. They’re helping us go get players. But Georgia’s been recruiting well for a long time. Alabama’s been recruiting well for a long time.

“We should recruit well. We will recruit well.”

His overarching plan seems sound: Emphasize traditional recruiting and development and add players from the portal where necessary. It appears it’s being executed, although he has to get the quarterback part straightened out. That’s just common sense — which is why I’m reasonably confident it’ll all be handled well.

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