The Nebraska football team under Matt Rhule has had a couple of hallmarks, despite the era not being all that long. Right at the top of the list of things that the Huskers head coach wants to make the norm in Lincoln is going after talent in Texas like they did like the good old days.
Rhule and company demonstrated that again earlier this week when gave an offer to a Texas-based rush end. That's the good news. The bad news is that if the Cornhuskers want to try and make some gains with Michael Riles, they're going to need to fight off some of the best teams in the Lone State state, including the Texas Longhorns.
Riles is a 4-star defensive stud out of Port Arthur Memorial who currently has 18 total offers, but it feels like even more are on the way in the very near future. The Huskers are one of the latest teams to come calling but they won't be the last new gladiator to enter the arena.
The 6-foot-3, 235 pound defender is thought to be Texas' to lose, though it does appear there are a few other schools that are in the running. For now those schools are programs like Houston and the Nebraska football team has got its work cut out for it.
Nebraska football trying to steal edge rusher away from Texas powers
The Huskers staff has really made no bones about the fact that they believe the dropoff in talent from Texas in Lincoln and the struggles the program has seen in the last few years are tied together.
Since Rhule came to Lincoln, he's recruited players from Texas. He's also recruited coaches and adminstrators who know how and where to recruit the state.
Now the Nebraska football team is going to have to find a way to get its foot in the door and shove that door wide open.