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Transcript31 lines

[00:01]
A
Grainger knows when you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building, you're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners, lights about to fail, filters ready to clog H Vac on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering and 24. 7 support. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click grainger.com or or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.
[00:40]
B
Now back to MIDDAYS with Matt on 1620 the Zone. You know the Bruce Feldman freaks list came out today and the University of Nebraska didn't have any players on it. And everybody's freaking out and they're like, you have to ask your next guest, Robin, wash it of Husker line. And on three, Robin, how big of a deal is it that Nebraska had zero people on the freak list? From Bruce Feldman?
[01:08]
C
I guess you'd like to have guys on that list.
[01:12]
B
Sure.
[01:12]
C
But I don't know if it's an end all be all by any stretch. No. A purely objective list. So I'd only put so much stock into it.
[01:20]
B
No. But no, not at all. And by the way, Nebraska had the same amount of players on that list as Indiana did.
[01:25]
C
Did.
[01:25]
B
So I don't know if that list necessarily equates to winning, but you definitely did had some in state guys who played here at high school in Nebraska. We ended up being on that list. But regardless, it's, it's all, it's all fun little joke. How are you? How's everything going on? How is balancing the camp being back football training camp being back fall camp and swing? They're fully padded. Practice today, first time they'll be in full pads while also juggling the jamarcus Lawrence situation and whether or not J. Law will be back with Nebraska basketball. How has that been for you personally?
[01:59]
C
Oh, good. You know, they're still easing back in the fall camp. Had just a couple days access last week, a few more this week and Tuesday. I think we actually get to see the team for a little bit for the first time since the spring game. So looking forward to that to actually get some eyeballs on some of these guys and just see what the picture looks like. I won't learn a whole lot from 20 minutes of individuals and stretching, but I just like to be able to like see Nebraska's players playing football on a football field because there's a lot of guys that we really haven't seen much like you read their names on paper, you see them at podiums, talking after practices, but it's just been few and far between to actually get eyeballs on these guys when it comes to, to them playing a semblance of real football.
[02:50]
B
When you go ahead and you kind of look through this roster, you know, Rule kind of mentioned some of the battles going on. Is there a battle in particular or player in particular? You think, hey, it'd be interesting to see them win this battle or there's a battle in particular you're really honed in on.
[03:10]
C
Oh, outside the real obvious ones. I mean, obviously running back is going to be right up there. The other corner spot is going to be way up there, you know, and just kind of see what the pecking order on the defensive line looks like. I think we have a pretty good idea of like who the main, you know, pieces of that mix are going to be. But you know, whereas like some guys a little bit further down the line stack up, you know, where, where, where is the Tyson Terry, when all said and done. Yeah, there was a Berryman when all of a sudden. So, I mean, I think that there's still some, some things to be determined up front on the D line and you know, there's other spots here and there. But you know, I mean, the big ones are, the big ones that everybody's going to be watching, everybody's going to be talking about just because, you know, there's a lot of unknowns at a couple pretty key positions at this point in camp and maybe internally they're a little bit more clear, but as far as we know, they're, they're still wide open for the taking. So be interesting to see, you know, if, if some of those, you know, which, which one of those running backs is going to emerge and you know, which one of those cornerbacks is going to emerge and what the, what the depth chart ultimately looks like on the
[04:22]
B
defensive line, you know, so you've obviously been covering football now the entire time that Matt Rule has been a head coach. And on Saturday, 25 minutes, it seemed like kind of the. One of the more mundane and maybe less exciting press conferences we've seen from Rule at his time in Nebraska. Compare and contrast how those pressers and how he used to be in year one compared to how he is now and what he reveals now in year four.
[04:56]
C
Probably the biggest takeaway is just kind of what the whole off season theme has been where it's just pre buttoned up. You know, there was a couple Questions just asking him to highlight certain players or if there's been any standouts. And maybe in his first couple years he would have picked a guy. And we all know what happens when he does that. You can say some young guys looking good. Then all of a sudden there's 13 feature stories and 17 radio segments and podcasts all about how this player's the next Heisman Trophy front runner. So I think he's kind of learned his lesson a little bit that, you know, whatever you say will either be used against you or be taken to the next level, you know, just because that's the way this market is. So again, it's nothing new from how he's operated this whole off season, but you definitely notice a more toned down approach to answering some of those player specific questions where, you know, he'll talk about a group and, you know, he'll compliment a player when it's due. But some of the, like, you know, unnecessary or. Unprompted praise has really been scaled back compared to maybe his first couple years here, which I think is a good thing because, you know, you don't, you don't need narratives to go spinning in wild directions any more than they already do.
[06:21]
B
Sure, absolutely. And, you know, let's talk about this battle in particular, because I asked you to. You know, you talked about the D line in the running back room. But I find one battle to be incredibly interesting to me, and that is the, the quarterback two battle. Because in a perfect world, Robin, you don't play TJ Lateef this year, you don't play Danny Kalin this year. You get all the games and good performance out of Anthony Calandria. But as we've seen over the last about 10 years, I mean, it was only been Dylan who started all 12 games in one season until last year. He got hurt and obviously didn't play the last couple games of the year. You know, what do you think of, you know, that battle between Latif and Kalin? And is there any kind of knowing right now of where things currently stand?
[07:10]
C
Not really. I guess if you want to try to read tea leaves, sure. Latifah of that first player access day camp and there was no Daniel Kalin. Maybe that happens going on. Maybe just a matter of schedule, circumstance, who knows? But it sounds like that competition is still ongoing. I would probably just give Latif a bit of a leg up because, you know, he just started three games in this offense and is coming off a little bit more recent experience. But, you know, Kalin's played in the offense too. And so he's, you know, not exactly starting from scratch either. So, you know, I agree with you that that is an important position battle that, you know, kind of gets lost in the shuffle of other starters but wins. The last season Nebraska didn't have to play its backup quarterback. Yeah, it's been a long time, I think, I think going back to like Tommy Armstrong. So this is a extremely important position. And the good news is Nebraska's got guys that have started multiple games at the FBS level that, you know, you feel probably a little bit better about either one of those guys taking the reins if necessary, compared to somebody that, you know is just getting his feet wet at this level, which, which has happened before in the past.
[08:35]
B
You know, obviously we've had some really good in skate stories in terms of guys that you didn't maybe necessarily expect to have bigger roles in their career coming from, you know, high schools here in Omaha and high schools in Lincoln or just high schools across the state and ended up being big contributors. Right. And like John Bullock is a guy that I think of in terms of, you know, in skate guy, db, moves to linebacker, then ends up, you know, making Tampa Bay's roster last year. But you know, you wrote a feature on a guy that is getting some really high praise right now in Donovan Jones. And I thought number 37 last year he was very impressive in his first big dose of play just because of how physical he was. And now Jameer Khan, you know, is his teammate is calling him. He's a first round type guy. And you know, Rule kind of mentioned he's running a 4340 and he already is 6 foot 1, 200 pounds. Like how big of a deal do you think if. For this program it would be if the first, first round pick for them in basically 15 years was an in state product they developed?
[09:39]
C
I mean. Yeah, to be able to get somebody local that just kind of a cherry on top to all of it. I mean, I think Nebraska would take a first round pick wherever they're from.
[09:48]
B
Sure, sure, good point.
[09:51]
C
They've been in that situation. But you know, I think going, going back to your point, obviously. Yeah. If you can especially just what the ripple effect that would mean for, you know, in state recruiting where if you take a kid that develops, you know, start to finish within your program and you're able to turn them into, you know, a draft pick, let alone a first round pick, you know, that would be substantial. So, you know, we'll see if, if Donovan Jones does have that ability that was some, some pretty lofty praise from his teammates. But I guess the good news is that by all accounts, Donovan is putting in the necessary work to get himself there every single day and has been extremely committed to, you know, his development and then, you know, also making sure everybody keeps up with him and setting a standard in that defensive back room. So he's going to be an invaluable piece, especially if he's able to stick at that nickel spot and somebody else is able to kind of hold down the fort at that, you know, number two corner. Because they really like the picture of Donovan Jones in the slot just with his size, athleticism and, you know, kind of being able to be that hybrid type that, you know, can play run defense will also drop back into coverage and you don't have to, to seven off the field. That's kind of the intent of that position. And, you know, when you add a guy that checks every box with size, speed, length and football iq, you know, that, that sets you up for, you know, a pretty successful season here. So, you know, I think the, the table set for, for Donovan Jones to, you know, I think really have a big impact this coming season and if he continues on his, you know, current trajectory, you know, I, I wouldn't say there's a, there's a cap on his potential just with the way that he's been able to progress over the, basically since the Pinstripe Bowl.
[11:41]
B
Yeah. Like you wrote in your article a couple hours ago, had 59 tackles last year with one interception. He was the only fifth freshman for Nebraska since 1972 to have 50 or more tackles in a season. Let's talk about another guy that he might be lining up with. A lot of Jeremiah Charles buzz and you know, you saw the picture and the, you know, he look in the part and first guy off the bus. But to you, you know, been covering this program obviously for a long time, but covering, you know, since the beginning of the Matt Rule era to now, like, Charles is one of the first guys they brought in and he was one of those guys that they brought in from Texas and, you know, they looked at him as more of an athlete than necessarily a football player. I, I know that a lot has been said about, you know, player development and you know, you know, the fact that, you know, Matt Rule has a lot of pelts on the wall in terms of the players that he developed, but a lot of those pelts come from Baylor and Temple. What would Jeremiah Charles represent if he were to be a high impact player as the Second cornerback for Nebraska this season.
[12:47]
C
I mean, he'd be the latest example of Rules kind of hallmark of being able to, you know, find players anywhere and everywhere and kind of see what their potential is more so than what they've already proven. And you know, Jamar, Jeremiah Charles just came in with really limited high school football experience, but Matt Rule saw something in him with his athleticism and his frame and, you know, his ability to become a high level football player. And I think the most intriguing thing about Jeremiah Charles is I think one of the things that kept him off the field is he was just so small. You know, he's just a smaller corner that you go back to that game, I think it was Maryland, I can't remember ruled referenced it in his press.
[13:30]
B
UCLA. The UCLA game.
[13:31]
C
UCLA, that 24. As soon as he came in, they just went right at him and he had no answer. Physically could not match up with UCLA's wide receivers. And it was kind of a. About as exposed as you can be on a single drive. And it, I don't. I think that was kind of the end of his, you know, real time as a primary cornerback. And so like that seemed like maybe that was going to be the end of the road for him. But the whole thing about having the surgery or whatever that was, you know, the procedure done in his stomach that was keeping him from putting on weight and, you know, like translating his nutrition into putting on muscle and whatnot, the fact that they one identified that too and fixed it and now all of a sudden he's starting to bulk up to where, you know, physically he's in a lot better position to hold his own. You know, maybe that's kind of the glass ceiling that he's, he's been able to break through that can allow him to, you know, continue to develop into that potential that that Matt Rule saw before anybody else. So it's going to be a real intriguing story. And if he's right in that conversation for that other corner spot that, you know, if it's him or whoever can lock down that other spot, that there's a ripple effect there because again, it allows Donovan Jones to stay inside, you know, allows, you know, Jameer Khan stay at safety. And so like, there's a lot of, I think, other positions that get answered if someone can step up and lock down that second corner spot. And right now it appears there's no reason it can't be Jeremy Charles.
[15:12]
B
Intriguing indeed. By the way, Robin, wash it. Husker online and on three, Big New York Giants fan, let Me can I, can I read you something here? Wide receiver Malik Neighbors looked the best he has this summer during individual drills Friday, he continues to get better, making sharper cuts, jumping and landing on the effective leg and running crisper routes as he rebounds from a knee injury. Also, Cam Scatter Boo returned to practice after stretching out his leg the previous day. He he has participated in all 10 practices with the Giants in West Virginia. I read you those words about your New York football Giants, Robin Wash it. Does that fire you up or you still very hesitant and skeptical when it comes to the John Harbaugh led New York Giants this season.
[15:57]
C
Well, certainly encouraging because the only way we stand a chance is if those dudes are on the field.
[16:02]
B
Yeah.
[16:03]
C
Last year those guys were not on the field and we were a, you know, the record was what we were. So yes, I mean if like Malik Neighbors is like Giants have a chance I think to be like, okay. But if Neighbors is healthy and plays a full season, is back to being, you know, rookie year Malik Neighbors, you know, then they can go from okay to pretty good just because when you have that game changer, it does a lot for everything else on your offense. So, so encouraging. We're still in not even to our first preseason game yet. So I'm holding out from diving headfirst into the Kool Aid. But you know, I'll, I'll take it. This is quality progress in some injury storylines that we needed a lot of call quality progress.
[16:54]
B
Speaking of diving head first, hopefully Jackson Dart does not do that this season.
[16:58]
C
Yeah, hopefully he slides feet first out of bounds and we'll often than not
[17:03]
B
we'll slide feet first. Did this interview with you, Robin Wash it of Husker Online and on three, you're the man. I appreciate you. Talk to you soon, my friend. Y Rob, wash it of husker online on 3. Not one basketball question to Robin, by the way. So back baby. All right, take a break middays with Matt. You're on the 1620 zone radio network.
[17:23]
A
When you're a maintenance engineer in a beverage manufacturing plant, you keep production lines moving and quality on track because there is no room for slowdowns. With Grainger's vast selection of high quality motors, sensors, belts and hard to find parts, you can get what you need fast and all in one place so nothing gets in the way of getting the job done. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickranger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.

Summary6 min read

Podcast Summary: Middays With Matt

Episode: Robin Washut HuskerOnline (Mon 8/10 - Seg 10)
Air Date: August 10, 2026
Host: Matt McMaster (NRGMedia)
Guest: Robin Washut (HuskerOnline, On3)

Episode Overview

This segment of "Middays with Matt" features host Matt McMaster interviewing Robin Washut from HuskerOnline and On3. The conversation delves into recent Nebraska football storylines, focusing on fall camp, key position battles, player development, and the broader themes around the Husker program under Matt Rhule’s leadership. They also touch on the significance of in-state recruits and briefly detour to Robin's perspective as a New York Giants fan.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Reaction to Bruce Feldman's "Freaks List"

Nebraska excluded from Freaks List:
- Matt opens with Nebraska having no players on Bruce Feldman's annual "Freaks List," pointing out fan concerns.
- Robin's perspective:
  
  "I guess you’d like to have guys on that list... but I don’t know if it’s an end all be all by any stretch. Not a purely objective list. So I’d only put so much stock into it." (01:07)
  - Both agree it’s an interesting talking point but not indicative of competitive success.

Fall Camp Balancing Act

Busy news cycles covering both football and basketball (Jamarcus Lawrence situation):
- Robin shares personal insights on juggling coverage:
  
  "They're still easing back in the fall camp... I just like to be able to like see Nebraska's players playing football on a football field because there’s a lot of guys that we really haven’t seen much." (01:58)
  - Robin looks forward to open practices for a tangible sense of the team after mostly secondhand reports all offseason.

Most Intriguing Position Battles and Depth Chart Developments

Position battles on Robin's radar:
- Running back and cornerback key focus areas.
- Defensive line pecking order and the fates of promising but less proven players like Tyson Terry and Berryman.
  
  "There's a lot of unknowns at a couple pretty key positions at this point in camp... they’re still wide open for the taking." (03:09)
Depth chart fluidity:
- Both acknowledge that while coaching staff might have internal clarity, public-facing depth charts remain uncertain.

Matt Rhule’s Evolution As A Head Coach

Press conference demeanor shift:
- Robin notes Matt Rhule is more reserved with praise:
  
  "Probably the biggest takeaway is just kind of what the whole offseason theme has been where it’s just very buttoned up... in his first couple years he would have picked a guy. And we all know what happens when he does that... there’s 13 feature stories and 17 radio segments and podcasts all about how this player's the next Heisman Trophy front runner." (04:56)
- Rhule has learned to avoid early narratives that run wild in the media.
  
  "Some of the, like, unnecessary or unprompted praise has really been scaled back... which I think is a good thing because you don’t need narratives to go spinning in wild directions any more than they already do." (05:54)

Quarterback Depth & The #2 Battle

The battle for backup QB (QB2):
- Focus on TJ Lateef and Danny Kalin, with Anthony Calandria as the presumed starter.
- Robin cautiously leans toward Lateef:
  
  "I would probably just give Latif a bit of a leg up because, you know, he just started three games in this offense and is coming off a little bit more recent experience." (07:09)
- Emphasizes Nebraska's recent history of needing more than one QB per season.

Celebrating In-State Development: Donovan Jones

The rise of Donovan Jones:
- Matt highlights Jones as a breakout in-state player with major praise from teammates and hopes for a first-round NFL selection.
- Robin sees massive value for program credibility and local recruiting if Jones leads that charge:
  
  "If you take a kid that develops start to finish within your program and you’re able to turn them into, you know, a draft pick, let alone a first round pick... that would be substantial." (09:50)
- Notes Jones' on-field versatility at nickel, size/speed, and the ripple effect for in-state recruiting.

Development Success Stories: Jeremiah Charles

Jeremiah Charles as a developmental litmus test:
- Discusses his journey from athletic project to real contributor, including overcoming physical hurdles (needed surgery to bulk up/retain weight).
- Robin lays out the stakes:
  
  "He’d be the latest example of Rhule’s kind of hallmark of being able to, you know, find players anywhere and everywhere and see what their potential is more so than what they’ve already proven." (12:46)
- The intrigue of whether Charles can lock down the second cornerback spot and what that enables for defensive flexibility.
  
  "There’s a lot of, I think, other positions that get answered if someone can step up and lock down that second corner spot." (14:37)

New York Giants Mini-Segment

Robin on his Giants fandom:
- Matt reads Giants camp news, including Malik Nabers’ recovery and Cam Scataboo’s participation.
- Robin’s tempered optimism:
  
  "Certainly encouraging because the only way we stand a chance is if those dudes are on the field... but, you know, I’ll take it. This is quality progress in some injury storylines that we needed." (15:56)

Memorable Moment:

Gentle ribbing as Matt jokes:

"By the way, Robin Washut, Husker Online and On3, Big New York Giants fan..." (15:11)

Timestamps for Important Segments

01:07 – Robin on the meaning (or lack thereof) of the “Freaks List”
01:58 – Fall camp update, first full-pads practice, value of in-person observation
03:09 – Robin highlights critical position battles (RB, CB, D-line)
04:56 – Rhule’s shift in handling the media, avoiding “hype traps”
07:09 – Backup QB battle (Lateef vs. Kalin), history of QB injuries/usage
09:38 – Donovan Jones and the impact of in-state development on program
12:46 – Jeremiah Charles’ developmental story and its significance if he wins #2 CB
15:11 – Robin’s thoughts on the New York Giants’ injury reports and outlook

Notable Quotes

Robin Washut (on hype in the media):

"You can say some young guy’s looking good. Then all of a sudden there’s 13 feature stories and 17 radio segments … all about how this player’s the next Heisman Trophy front runner." (05:09)
Robin Washut (on quarterback depth):

"The good news is Nebraska’s got guys that have started multiple games at the FBS level... you feel probably a little better about either one of those guys taking the reins if necessary, compared to somebody just getting his feet wet at this level..." (07:52)
Robin Washut (on Donovan Jones):

"He’s going to be an invaluable piece, especially if he’s able to stick at that nickel spot… the table’s set for Donovan Jones to really have a big impact this coming season." (10:35)
Robin Washut (on Giants’ outlook):

"Certainly encouraging because the only way we stand a chance is if those dudes are on the field... I’ll take it. This is quality progress." (15:56)

Tone & Style

The conversation reflects the optimism, anxiety, and analytical energy of Nebraska football’s preseason moments. Robin’s style is careful, considered, and leans on experience, while Matt supplies humor and fan-centric energy. Both work to contextualize storylines for both diehard and casual Husker fans.

Summary Takeaways

The value and limits of preseason accolades.
Key Nebraska position battles remain unsettled but closely watched.
Matt Rhule is learning to manage the narrative more tightly in his fourth year.
In-state player development can have major program-defining effects.
Both hosts appreciate the nuances and storylines that go beyond surface-level depth charts, with Robin’s insight giving listeners context on coaching strategies, player development, and long-term program health.

Loading summary

Transcript31 lines

[00:01]
A
Grainger knows when you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building, you're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners, lights about to fail, filters ready to clog H Vac on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering and 24. 7 support. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click grainger.com or or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.
[00:40]
B
Now back to MIDDAYS with Matt on 1620 the Zone. You know the Bruce Feldman freaks list came out today and the University of Nebraska didn't have any players on it. And everybody's freaking out and they're like, you have to ask your next guest, Robin, wash it of Husker line. And on three, Robin, how big of a deal is it that Nebraska had zero people on the freak list? From Bruce Feldman?
[01:08]
C
I guess you'd like to have guys on that list.
[01:12]
B
Sure.
[01:12]
C
But I don't know if it's an end all be all by any stretch. No. A purely objective list. So I'd only put so much stock into it.
[01:20]
B
No. But no, not at all. And by the way, Nebraska had the same amount of players on that list as Indiana did.
[01:25]
C
Did.
[01:25]
B
So I don't know if that list necessarily equates to winning, but you definitely did had some in state guys who played here at high school in Nebraska. We ended up being on that list. But regardless, it's, it's all, it's all fun little joke. How are you? How's everything going on? How is balancing the camp being back football training camp being back fall camp and swing? They're fully padded. Practice today, first time they'll be in full pads while also juggling the jamarcus Lawrence situation and whether or not J. Law will be back with Nebraska basketball. How has that been for you personally?
[01:59]
C
Oh, good. You know, they're still easing back in the fall camp. Had just a couple days access last week, a few more this week and Tuesday. I think we actually get to see the team for a little bit for the first time since the spring game. So looking forward to that to actually get some eyeballs on some of these guys and just see what the picture looks like. I won't learn a whole lot from 20 minutes of individuals and stretching, but I just like to be able to like see Nebraska's players playing football on a football field because there's a lot of guys that we really haven't seen much like you read their names on paper, you see them at podiums, talking after practices, but it's just been few and far between to actually get eyeballs on these guys when it comes to, to them playing a semblance of real football.
[02:50]
B
When you go ahead and you kind of look through this roster, you know, Rule kind of mentioned some of the battles going on. Is there a battle in particular or player in particular? You think, hey, it'd be interesting to see them win this battle or there's a battle in particular you're really honed in on.
[03:10]
C
Oh, outside the real obvious ones. I mean, obviously running back is going to be right up there. The other corner spot is going to be way up there, you know, and just kind of see what the pecking order on the defensive line looks like. I think we have a pretty good idea of like who the main, you know, pieces of that mix are going to be. But you know, whereas like some guys a little bit further down the line stack up, you know, where, where, where is the Tyson Terry, when all said and done. Yeah, there was a Berryman when all of a sudden. So, I mean, I think that there's still some, some things to be determined up front on the D line and you know, there's other spots here and there. But you know, I mean, the big ones are, the big ones that everybody's going to be watching, everybody's going to be talking about just because, you know, there's a lot of unknowns at a couple pretty key positions at this point in camp and maybe internally they're a little bit more clear, but as far as we know, they're, they're still wide open for the taking. So be interesting to see, you know, if, if some of those, you know, which, which one of those running backs is going to emerge and you know, which one of those cornerbacks is going to emerge and what the, what the depth chart ultimately looks like on the
[04:22]
B
defensive line, you know, so you've obviously been covering football now the entire time that Matt Rule has been a head coach. And on Saturday, 25 minutes, it seemed like kind of the. One of the more mundane and maybe less exciting press conferences we've seen from Rule at his time in Nebraska. Compare and contrast how those pressers and how he used to be in year one compared to how he is now and what he reveals now in year four.
[04:56]
C
Probably the biggest takeaway is just kind of what the whole off season theme has been where it's just pre buttoned up. You know, there was a couple Questions just asking him to highlight certain players or if there's been any standouts. And maybe in his first couple years he would have picked a guy. And we all know what happens when he does that. You can say some young guys looking good. Then all of a sudden there's 13 feature stories and 17 radio segments and podcasts all about how this player's the next Heisman Trophy front runner. So I think he's kind of learned his lesson a little bit that, you know, whatever you say will either be used against you or be taken to the next level, you know, just because that's the way this market is. So again, it's nothing new from how he's operated this whole off season, but you definitely notice a more toned down approach to answering some of those player specific questions where, you know, he'll talk about a group and, you know, he'll compliment a player when it's due. But some of the, like, you know, unnecessary or. Unprompted praise has really been scaled back compared to maybe his first couple years here, which I think is a good thing because, you know, you don't, you don't need narratives to go spinning in wild directions any more than they already do.
[06:21]
B
Sure, absolutely. And, you know, let's talk about this battle in particular, because I asked you to. You know, you talked about the D line in the running back room. But I find one battle to be incredibly interesting to me, and that is the, the quarterback two battle. Because in a perfect world, Robin, you don't play TJ Lateef this year, you don't play Danny Kalin this year. You get all the games and good performance out of Anthony Calandria. But as we've seen over the last about 10 years, I mean, it was only been Dylan who started all 12 games in one season until last year. He got hurt and obviously didn't play the last couple games of the year. You know, what do you think of, you know, that battle between Latif and Kalin? And is there any kind of knowing right now of where things currently stand?
[07:10]
C
Not really. I guess if you want to try to read tea leaves, sure. Latifah of that first player access day camp and there was no Daniel Kalin. Maybe that happens going on. Maybe just a matter of schedule, circumstance, who knows? But it sounds like that competition is still ongoing. I would probably just give Latif a bit of a leg up because, you know, he just started three games in this offense and is coming off a little bit more recent experience. But, you know, Kalin's played in the offense too. And so he's, you know, not exactly starting from scratch either. So, you know, I agree with you that that is an important position battle that, you know, kind of gets lost in the shuffle of other starters but wins. The last season Nebraska didn't have to play its backup quarterback. Yeah, it's been a long time, I think, I think going back to like Tommy Armstrong. So this is a extremely important position. And the good news is Nebraska's got guys that have started multiple games at the FBS level that, you know, you feel probably a little bit better about either one of those guys taking the reins if necessary, compared to somebody that, you know is just getting his feet wet at this level, which, which has happened before in the past.
[08:35]
B
You know, obviously we've had some really good in skate stories in terms of guys that you didn't maybe necessarily expect to have bigger roles in their career coming from, you know, high schools here in Omaha and high schools in Lincoln or just high schools across the state and ended up being big contributors. Right. And like John Bullock is a guy that I think of in terms of, you know, in skate guy, db, moves to linebacker, then ends up, you know, making Tampa Bay's roster last year. But you know, you wrote a feature on a guy that is getting some really high praise right now in Donovan Jones. And I thought number 37 last year he was very impressive in his first big dose of play just because of how physical he was. And now Jameer Khan, you know, is his teammate is calling him. He's a first round type guy. And you know, Rule kind of mentioned he's running a 4340 and he already is 6 foot 1, 200 pounds. Like how big of a deal do you think if. For this program it would be if the first, first round pick for them in basically 15 years was an in state product they developed?
[09:39]
C
I mean. Yeah, to be able to get somebody local that just kind of a cherry on top to all of it. I mean, I think Nebraska would take a first round pick wherever they're from.
[09:48]
B
Sure, sure, good point.
[09:51]
C
They've been in that situation. But you know, I think going, going back to your point, obviously. Yeah. If you can especially just what the ripple effect that would mean for, you know, in state recruiting where if you take a kid that develops, you know, start to finish within your program and you're able to turn them into, you know, a draft pick, let alone a first round pick, you know, that would be substantial. So, you know, we'll see if, if Donovan Jones does have that ability that was some, some pretty lofty praise from his teammates. But I guess the good news is that by all accounts, Donovan is putting in the necessary work to get himself there every single day and has been extremely committed to, you know, his development and then, you know, also making sure everybody keeps up with him and setting a standard in that defensive back room. So he's going to be an invaluable piece, especially if he's able to stick at that nickel spot and somebody else is able to kind of hold down the fort at that, you know, number two corner. Because they really like the picture of Donovan Jones in the slot just with his size, athleticism and, you know, kind of being able to be that hybrid type that, you know, can play run defense will also drop back into coverage and you don't have to, to seven off the field. That's kind of the intent of that position. And, you know, when you add a guy that checks every box with size, speed, length and football iq, you know, that, that sets you up for, you know, a pretty successful season here. So, you know, I think the, the table set for, for Donovan Jones to, you know, I think really have a big impact this coming season and if he continues on his, you know, current trajectory, you know, I, I wouldn't say there's a, there's a cap on his potential just with the way that he's been able to progress over the, basically since the Pinstripe Bowl.
[11:41]
B
Yeah. Like you wrote in your article a couple hours ago, had 59 tackles last year with one interception. He was the only fifth freshman for Nebraska since 1972 to have 50 or more tackles in a season. Let's talk about another guy that he might be lining up with. A lot of Jeremiah Charles buzz and you know, you saw the picture and the, you know, he look in the part and first guy off the bus. But to you, you know, been covering this program obviously for a long time, but covering, you know, since the beginning of the Matt Rule era to now, like, Charles is one of the first guys they brought in and he was one of those guys that they brought in from Texas and, you know, they looked at him as more of an athlete than necessarily a football player. I, I know that a lot has been said about, you know, player development and you know, you know, the fact that, you know, Matt Rule has a lot of pelts on the wall in terms of the players that he developed, but a lot of those pelts come from Baylor and Temple. What would Jeremiah Charles represent if he were to be a high impact player as the Second cornerback for Nebraska this season.
[12:47]
C
I mean, he'd be the latest example of Rules kind of hallmark of being able to, you know, find players anywhere and everywhere and kind of see what their potential is more so than what they've already proven. And you know, Jamar, Jeremiah Charles just came in with really limited high school football experience, but Matt Rule saw something in him with his athleticism and his frame and, you know, his ability to become a high level football player. And I think the most intriguing thing about Jeremiah Charles is I think one of the things that kept him off the field is he was just so small. You know, he's just a smaller corner that you go back to that game, I think it was Maryland, I can't remember ruled referenced it in his press.
[13:30]
B
UCLA. The UCLA game.
[13:31]
C
UCLA, that 24. As soon as he came in, they just went right at him and he had no answer. Physically could not match up with UCLA's wide receivers. And it was kind of a. About as exposed as you can be on a single drive. And it, I don't. I think that was kind of the end of his, you know, real time as a primary cornerback. And so like that seemed like maybe that was going to be the end of the road for him. But the whole thing about having the surgery or whatever that was, you know, the procedure done in his stomach that was keeping him from putting on weight and, you know, like translating his nutrition into putting on muscle and whatnot, the fact that they one identified that too and fixed it and now all of a sudden he's starting to bulk up to where, you know, physically he's in a lot better position to hold his own. You know, maybe that's kind of the glass ceiling that he's, he's been able to break through that can allow him to, you know, continue to develop into that potential that that Matt Rule saw before anybody else. So it's going to be a real intriguing story. And if he's right in that conversation for that other corner spot that, you know, if it's him or whoever can lock down that other spot, that there's a ripple effect there because again, it allows Donovan Jones to stay inside, you know, allows, you know, Jameer Khan stay at safety. And so like, there's a lot of, I think, other positions that get answered if someone can step up and lock down that second corner spot. And right now it appears there's no reason it can't be Jeremy Charles.
[15:12]
B
Intriguing indeed. By the way, Robin, wash it. Husker online and on three, Big New York Giants fan, let Me can I, can I read you something here? Wide receiver Malik Neighbors looked the best he has this summer during individual drills Friday, he continues to get better, making sharper cuts, jumping and landing on the effective leg and running crisper routes as he rebounds from a knee injury. Also, Cam Scatter Boo returned to practice after stretching out his leg the previous day. He he has participated in all 10 practices with the Giants in West Virginia. I read you those words about your New York football Giants, Robin Wash it. Does that fire you up or you still very hesitant and skeptical when it comes to the John Harbaugh led New York Giants this season.
[15:57]
C
Well, certainly encouraging because the only way we stand a chance is if those dudes are on the field.
[16:02]
B
Yeah.
[16:03]
C
Last year those guys were not on the field and we were a, you know, the record was what we were. So yes, I mean if like Malik Neighbors is like Giants have a chance I think to be like, okay. But if Neighbors is healthy and plays a full season, is back to being, you know, rookie year Malik Neighbors, you know, then they can go from okay to pretty good just because when you have that game changer, it does a lot for everything else on your offense. So, so encouraging. We're still in not even to our first preseason game yet. So I'm holding out from diving headfirst into the Kool Aid. But you know, I'll, I'll take it. This is quality progress in some injury storylines that we needed a lot of call quality progress.
[16:54]
B
Speaking of diving head first, hopefully Jackson Dart does not do that this season.
[16:58]
C
Yeah, hopefully he slides feet first out of bounds and we'll often than not
[17:03]
B
we'll slide feet first. Did this interview with you, Robin Wash it of Husker Online and on three, you're the man. I appreciate you. Talk to you soon, my friend. Y Rob, wash it of husker online on 3. Not one basketball question to Robin, by the way. So back baby. All right, take a break middays with Matt. You're on the 1620 zone radio network.
[17:23]
A
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