Ex-Nebraska football assistant heads to old Big 8 rival

As Matt Rhule and the current Nebraska football regime continue to try and establish a new culture in Lincoln, the guys that were part of the last regime continue to try and put their careers back together after being unfortunately tied to the albatross that was Scott Frost.

Count former defensive line coach Mike Dawson (who actually coached that position two different times in the Scott Frost era) among those who continues to try and build his resume in the wake of some of the most disastrous years in the history of the Nebraska football program.

Dawson will be joining the Kansas Jayhawks staff as a defensive analyst according to Matt Zenitz.

The ex-Nebraska football coach will apparently spend his second straight season as an analyst on the former Husker rival's staff. Last year, Dawson held the same position with the Ohio State Buckeyes.

On its face, the hire seems to be a good one for the Kansas Jayhawks. Dawson will be joining a defensive unit that ranked 62nd in the national in total defense. KU surrendered an average of 378.2 yards per game last fall.

2023 was hardly the only time that the Jayhawks could point to defensive struggles as one of the things keeping them from making the next step. While head coach Lance Leipold has conducted a marvelous turnaround, it's largely been done with a high powered offense and a less than stellar "D."

Ex-Nebraska football assistant joining a former rival's staff

Mike Dawson spent a total four seasons with the Nebraska football program. He coached in 2018, and then from 2019-22. He headed the defensive line in 2018, outside linebackers in 2020 and 2021, and edge rushers in 2022. He also had a rather disastrous stint as the special teams coordinator.

He spent the 2019 season coaching with the New York Giants.