For the second straight year, the Nebraska football coaching staff has gone through some profound changes. And for the second consecutive year, some of those changes were wanted, and some might definitely not be. Running backs coach EJ Barthel's departure for the SEC would definitely be something Matt Rhule would like to avoid.
It also happens to be the second consecutive season that the Huskers have to worry about losing Barthel to the Texas Longhorns. Head coach Steve Sarkisian had a chance to hire Barthel last year but chose Chad Scott as his running backs coach. Now, On3 is reporting that since Scott was fired this week, the NU coach could be a candidate once again.
It's not clear how hard Nebraska would have to fight, but it stands to reason that if Texas did offer the job to Barthel, the Huskers would try to match whatever the offer is.
Barthel has coached with Rhule for a while. Still, he's also served under Texas offensive coordinator Kyle Flood as his player development and recruiting coordinator at Rutgers from 2013 to 2014.
Barthel has been more of a low-key star of Rhule's staff and is one of the only guys who arrived three years ago and is in the same position as when he first arrived. This year, he's been credited with helping Emmett Johnson go from being a solid depth type running back to one of the best in the country.
Nebraska would undoubtedly love to keep Barthel around, but this will be something interesting to watch.