Tim Verghese, Rivals (Tues 8/11 - Seg 7)

Summary

Middays With Matt – Segment 7: Tim Verghese, Rivals (August 11, 2026)

Podcast: Middays With Matt
Host: Matt McMaster (NRGMedia)
Guest: Tim Verghese (Inside Nebraska, Rivals)
Episode Date: August 11, 2026

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Episode Overview

This segment features Matt McMaster in conversation with Tim Verghese from Inside Nebraska (Rivals), providing an in-depth update and analysis of Nebraska football's training camp. The discussion covers observations from the latest open practice, player development, position battles, offensive and defensive line improvements, running back strategy, and the impact of recent staff addition Damon Benning as Director of Player Development.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Appetite for Football & Training Camp Buzz

• Football Demand: Matt opens by highlighting the immense public hunger for football, evidenced by the Hall of Fame preseason game drawing 7 million viewers—more than any MLB or NHL game all year.
  “People are ready for football to be back.” (Matt, [00:30])

Rob Orich’s Hands-On Coaching with Linebackers

• Coaching Style: Defensive coordinator Rob Orich is intensely hands-on with linebackers, even during practice demonstrations.
• Linebacker Importance: Orich’s background as a linebacker coach centers his system on linebacker development.
• Flexibility in Roles: Dvorachek has allowed Orich to float through meetings, but on-field, Orich is directly involved with his specialty group.
  • “Linebacker is his position of home but he roams... he’s always going to be hands on with linebackers. It's a good thing...” (Tim Verghese, [01:50])

Spotlight on Claude and Puma: Developing a Raw Talent

• Player Profile: Claude and Puma, a four-star tackle with limited high school experience but impressive athleticism, is a project for the left tackle position.
• Development Curve: He’s ahead of schedule technically but still far from being game-ready; focus is on footwork and technique.
  • “He's so young... it's going to take a second... But down the line... worth noting, they want him to be a left tackle... there's no pressure on him in year one, but I think overall encouraged with the strides.” (Tim Verghese, [03:29])

Paul Mbenga: Rising Transfer on the Offensive Line

• Athleticism and Consistency: Has shown flashes of high-level play, though consistency was an issue at LSU. Since transferring, Mbenga’s been a “pleasant surprise.”
• Physical Readiness: Now considered Big Ten-ready, especially alongside other experienced linemen.
• O-Line Depth: Nebraska finally has the depth to go two or three deep at multiple positions.
  • “He's someone who has a chance to really help himself this year, make himself some money potentially... Nebraska is at a point now where they look Big Ten ready on both sides line and it hasn't necessarily been that way in previous years.” (Tim Verghese, [05:33]/[06:39])

O-Line and D-Line: Athleticism, Size, and Readiness

• Comparative Progress: This year’s unit stacks up well athletically compared to Big Ten/SEC programs.
• Increased Depth: Both lines can now rotate multiple legitimate options—a major difference from past years.
• Defensive Line: Notable development of players like Dylan Parrott and Tyson Terry.
  • “For the first time in a while it feels like Nebraska can go 2, 3 deep at multiple positions along the offensive line... The defensive line... there's improved size there.” (Tim Verghese, [07:27])

Running Back Room: A Committee Approach

• Versatility Key: Nebraska’s running back group is deep and varied; camp is about finding roles rather than a single RB1.
• Potential Leaders: Jamal Rule and Isaiah Mosey lead the pack but expect at least three or four to play integral roles.
  • “We're going to see three potentially four backs pretty consistently throughout the year in relatively different roles... They won’t all be used the same and that’s fine.” (Tim Verghese, [12:12])
• Mosey’s Versatility: His ability to play all over the formation makes him especially valuable.
  • “You can't... really take [Mosey] off the field... he can work in that role.” (Tim Verghese, [11:05])
• Modern Offense Insight:
  • Matt: “I just love running backs you can line up in the slot and defenses... don't know. They don't know...” ([11:23])

Under-the-Radar Players to Watch

• Tim’s Picks: Tyson Terry, Donovan Jones, and Cortez Mills featured as breakout candidates in camp.
• Crowded WR Room: Mills, a talented receiver, faces stiff competition for reps—not just with fellow receivers, but also versatile tight ends.
  • “It's not just the receiver room... it’s pretty feisty... and unfortunately that guy, seventh or eighth on that list, you might be looking at the transfer portal at the end of the year.” (Tim Verghese, [13:33])

Staff Addition: Damon Benning’s Impact

• New Role: Damon Benning joins as Director of Player Development.
• High Praise: Tim lauds Damon’s ability to challenge others to think deeper, his impact in the locker room, and his strong connection with players.
• Value in Perspective: Having worn both “player” and “media” hats, Benning’s knowledge of the program and local media landscape is seen as invaluable.
  • “It's helpful to have a guy like that in any room... his own journey, what he's dealt with... it is a real help and, you know, what you want player development to look like on and off the field... it is almost Damon in a way.” (Tim Verghese, [15:31])

Perspective on Nebraska’s Unique Media Market

• Local Knowledge: Both recognize the distinct intensity of Nebraska’s football spotlight and the importance of a staff member who has seen both sides.
  • "[Benning] knows the noise... understands the media market better than anybody... It’s important to know who you're catering to, the audience you're catering to... It's a good thing now that he's on this side and he can kind of help them in a lot of different ways." (Tim Verghese, [16:23])

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Notable Quotes

• Matt:
  “Everybody’s desperate for football... people are ready for football to be back.” ([00:30])
• Tim Verghese on O-Line:
  “For the first time in a while it feels like Nebraska can go 2, 3 deep at multiple positions along the offensive line...” ([07:27])
• On Damon Benning:
  “It is a real help and, you know, what you want player development to look like on and off the field... it is almost Damon in a way.” ([15:31])
• On Running Back Usage:
  “We're going to see three potentially four backs pretty consistently throughout the year in relatively different roles... they won't all be used the same and that's fine.” ([12:12])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:30: Football primed for return—hall of fame game viewership
• 01:29: Rob Orich’s hands-on linebacker coaching style
• 03:29: Progress of Claude and Puma, young offensive tackle
• 05:33: Paul Mbenga’s practice performance and OL development
• 07:27: Assessing Nebraska’s OL and DL athleticism and depth
• 09:56: Running back depth chart and committee approach
• 11:05: Isaiah Mosey’s role and versatility in the offense
• 12:43: Under-the-radar camp standouts (Terry, Jones, Mills)
• 13:33: WR room depth and position battles
• 15:31: Damon Benning’s fit as Director of Player Development
• 17:22: Matt’s reflection on Benning's dual perspective on the program

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Summary

This episode dives into the granular details of Nebraska football’s preseason camp, analyzing roster developments, coaching philosophy, position battles, and the strategic direction being set by new staff appointments. Tim Verghese combines detailed practice observations with a big-picture perspective, while Matt connects the discussion to wider trends in college football and local fan expectations. Together, they provide a comprehensive update for listeners eager for football’s return and insight into the team's fall trajectory.

Transcript

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[Matt]

Everybody's desperate for football. That was made true when the hall of Fame game between the Carolina Panthers and Arizona cardinals grew 7 million people. Which, by the way, that preseason game, the hall of Fame game, was the most watched hall of fame game since 2017, and it was more viewed than any MLB game this season and any NHL game last season, which includes the Stanley cup finals. So people are ready for football to be back. And somebody who is watching plenty of football today in Lincoln at the Hawks Championship Center. What a great facility, by the way. They've been able to really add some interesting elements to it. It was Tim Verghese from inside Nebraska rivals. Timmy V. How are you, my friend?

[Tim Verghese]

Hey, how we doing?

[Matt]

Doing good, doing good. I appreciate your coverage and content, my friend. I very much enjoyed watching your videos and breakdowns of the open practice and listen, Lincoln.

[Tim Verghese]

Yeah, it's been good. It was good to, good to get, actually get out there. It was a little hot today, but good to get out there.

[Matt]

What did you make of Rob Orich coaching the linebackers really hard in drills? That was a video. I saw him really kind of putting his, his, you know, getting his hands dirty, putting his, his knuckles literally deep into the pads of players demonstrating, you know, what they are supposed to do. What do you make of his hands on training as a offensive coordinator with the linebackers during this practice?

[Tim Verghese]

Yeah, so we just, we just talked to Orange actually. And so interesting enough, I mean, we knew this, I mean his, his defense, how important the linebackers are. And he's a linebackers guy himself. And so I think for him it's just more so when you're installing the system and trying to put this all in, you know, it starts there, it starts for him at the second level. Those guys, Chambers Foster, the guys around them. It starts with them. And I think for him, he talked about it, but he's still a coach who likes the development side of things, wants to be hands on in that sense. Linebacker is his position of home, but he roams I mean, I know he likes to be around and he talked about how Dvorachek has given him the comfort to take or has been able to take over the linebacker meetings and given Orich that Freed would kind of jump around a little bit in meetings. But in practice he's always going to be hands on with linebackers. It's a good thing. I mean, look, it's a position he knows well. I think it's a position he developed well and it's a position that for him at least, you know, I think he's pretty excited about what this group can be for Nebraska this fall.

[Matt]

I saw a video that you posted of Claude and Puma, the Mount Carmel offensive tackle, the four star tackle from Chicago who only played two years of high school football before eventually finding his way onto Nebraska's roster, which just speaks to his length, his, his size and his athletic ability. He had a very impressive rep that I saw. I, I don't know who number 44 is in the roster. Off the top of my head, that's Winnington and that's the fast, twitchy guy, right, that, that we're all talking is able to kind of wrap him up and you know, turn his hip around the corner and box him out. From the running back. Just your takeaway from, from the young man's performance at practice that you saw.

[Tim Verghese]

He's growing and that's really exciting to see. You know, the question with him coming in is always going to be how fast he's going to be able to pick this up. How fast is he going to be able to work on his technique? When Nebraska took his commitment and you know, really started pursuing him before his senior season and you know, we kind of got to see him develop. The big thing for me with, with Claude coming out was he needed time to add weight to his frame, which he did as a senior. And you know, I think maybe added a little too much. His frame was in an interesting spot. But more than that, I think he needed time to work on the footwork. He needed time to work on his knee bending. So big and athletic. Like, you know, there's just little things in the technique that needed work. We saw a big stride in spring and he looks a lot more comfortable now. I mean, just his footwork, his bend, he's getting all of that looks a lot better. Looks like he's a lot more comfortable, which is exciting and I think for him he's ahead of schedule. But I would note with him, he's so young. He's so young Football young that it's going to take a second. It's going to take. I mean I still wouldn't have even though relatively ahead of schedule, would not expect much of him this fall. But down the line and worth noting as well, you know, Rascal wants this guy to be a left tackle. They want him to be a left tackle in the system. And so that's just the sense I've gotten. He was working left tackle footwork today, you know. And so for that it's just going to take a little time. If they want him to be a bookender, ideally for multiple years on the left side of the line, got to develop him. I mean he's the guy that we're hypothetically talking about protecting Trey Taylor, you know, the five star quarterback in the 27th cycle. So you need to make sure his development is on track. And so yeah, there's no pressure on him in year one, but I think overall encouraged with the, with the strides

[Matt]

he's making an offensive lineman. You took a video of that. We will see plenty. We assume we'll see plenty of him in the fall is Paul Mbenga. And the rep you posted, it's impressive. He's quick off the line. He gets under the pads of Riley Van Popel. He's got some really good drive hand placement was, was really good there. Was that the type of reps you were seeing from him consistently?

[Tim Verghese]

We're hoping to. I mean here's the thing with him. So coming in, the question with Paul has been just to consider. You know, you go back and watch the LSU tape, you know, the, the quickness off the line is relatively inconsistent. The power he generates off the line is pretty inconsistent. But when he, when it hits, when it all comes together, it's impressive. He's a good athlete. He's someone who, who pairs good athleticism I think with legitimately like mauling power when he gets his hands on you. But like I said, that was inconsistent. We've seen Morgan, it's been in limited road. We've seen more consistently talking to sources. He's been one of the more impressive of the transfer edition online. He's been a pleasant surprise for me. Of the transfer online edition, you kind of knew what to expect with Brendan Black. I think he's someone who's kind of plug and play. I had my questions with both him and Tree in terms of adding those two, but knew what we were going to knew we were kind of getting with both Mubenga's. I think the strides he's Made since joining the program, he's been very open to coaching. I think he's been very open to what's being put on him. The challenge he's going to have to take this year. I think for him it helps getting to play, you know, next to Justin Evans, next to Elijah Pritchett. You know, that's all helpful for him. And so long term I think he's, you know, he's someone who has a chance to really help himself this year, make himself some money potentially for. For in terms of, you know, helping his draft stock. So a guy I was I've been pleasantly surprised with and I like where his frame that right now and he's. He's holding up well in practice. You know, I noted this on X but Nebraska is at a point now where they look Big Ten ready on both sides line and it hasn't necessarily been that way in previous years.

[Matt]

Yeah, I was going to ask you like in relativeness to what you've seen last season, just teams across the country, where would you like put Nebraska's athleticism on the offensive line? Would you say it's a plus? Would you say it's kind of in toe where a lot of teams are in the P5 level? Like where would you. Where would you put their overall athleticism on the offensive line?

[Tim Verghese]

I think the combination of size and athleticism athleticism along the opposite of line is. I would say it's. It's up there but in the Big Ten in the SEC probably again on the, on the. In the top half of Uber to combine the divisions. Probably in the top half. Not necessarily the top half. I mean you know the, the top end of every conference. Well, I mean the power four conferences, specifically SEC and Big Ten, they're very deep and they're athletic. So you know up there with. But. But I would say, you know I. For the first time in a while it feels like Nebraska can go 2, 3 deep at multiple positions along the offensive line. Feels like the defensive line particular especially compared to last year size there's improved size there. There's also. We kind of noticed it. You know I like the in spring for example you know, felt like Dylan Parrott was one of those guys that hey keep an eye on Dylan Perry. He's one of the few guys that's 300 and looks the part along the interior like he's going to be someone to watch that. There's plenty of guys now that match him from a frame will look better from a frame standpoint. I mean David Hoffman did good Work to his frame. Stuart look forward to has done good work to his. Jasir Whittington is doing really good work to the stream. Tyson, Terry, Malcolm, Simpson all look the part. So they have a D line now. Rob Warwick just mentioned they want to be six deep along the interior. I think they're getting close to that. I mean they have six plus. I think at this point I trust Dylan Berryman on the north side first. I'm really getting eyes on him in live action at Nebraska. Probably going to need to lose a little weight, but you know, plays with some natural leverage, play some natural power that everyone, I mean you like to see, obviously. And someone who is going to be hard to keep him off the field, especially if he gets his weight better in check.

[Matt]

You know, I, I saw some things, you know, in terms of hey, you know, running back one and we got to see Hayes and we got to see Rule. And I know, you know where I'm going with this. Like for me, Tim, they are going to play at least two, probably three of these guys every game, right? Like they, they are going to, they're going to RB by committee. O and so I'm not necessarily obsessed with who's RB1 out of camp. Cause all these guys are going to get plenty of opportunities, you know, in the first three games of the year, especially because you're playing those non P5 opponents. Do you think this camp for the running back room is more so who puts themselves on the inside track to eventually be the top carrier for those Big Ten games?

[Tim Verghese]

Yeah, it's something like that. But it's also. We talked, we talked about the diverse skill set in that room. I think it's also about figuring out where guys go. You know, it's one thing to just find the inside track. And I think, you know, I would say at this point, just from what we saw, I feel like Jamal Rule, Isaiah Mosey are the two guys I would give the inside track to. You know, potentially ending the year leading the team in carries. But beyond those two, it's the, you know, I think they need to figure out okay, how. Where does Quinn knives fit in because his skill sets a little different. Where does. You know, obviously Moses, you can see skills a lot different. But all those guys where do how do things, how do things. How what does the offense look like with these guys? Can you get multiple guys on the field at the same time? You know, Isaiah Moses is someone who I think is pretty scheme versatile. He can line up in a few different spots regardless. And you can keep Them on the field with Makai now with, you know, and so I think that's what fall camp is going to be about for these guys is just figuring that out because I think they have three, four guys that are good to play. PG Hayes is the smallest guy in the room and he looks like the smallest guy in the room. It's not a bad thing, but that just is what it is.

[Matt]

Do, do you anticipate that Mosey just might get the most snaps because of the versatility they can use with him in pre snap, just in terms of

[Tim Verghese]

where they line him up and what about that? Yeah, as you think about that room, that's been a thought that's crossed my mind. I do think he's someone that we just end up seeing a lot more of just because of. Again, he's someone you can't, not necessarily can't really take off the field, but you know, he can stay on the field. He can, he can work in that role.

[Matt]

I just think that like, because, I mean you and I have talked about this in like the evolution of NFL offenses. Like I just love running backs. You can line up in the slot and, and defenses, defenses just don't know. They don't know, hey, this guy can run a quick dig, he can run a curl, he can run it out or he could motion back into the backfield and all of a sudden we have to shift where our assignments are and then they snap the ball and all of a sudden if the offense is, is where they need to be, they can find a quick matchup. Like I just, I, I think that he just, his pure versatility, it's so interesting to me and I, and I, I can't wait to see what happens with it throughout the season. And, and I, I, I'm curious as to like, is it, I don't know, this, this whole running back, running back battle, I'm not buying into it as much because I think they're going to be super creative with what they do with them.

[Tim Verghese]

Yeah, I agree. I don't think it's as much of, I mean you want competition, you want these guys to be competing every day, but I, I, I believe we're going to see three potentially four backs pretty consistently throughout the year in relatively different roles. They won't all be used the same. And that's fine. That's perfectly fine. That is not a good thing, you know, may not be or not a bad thing, may not be a good thing. We'll have to see how it kind of plays out in the season. But yeah, I don't get the sense maybe Nebraska gets there. Maybe that's just what happens is they do end up settling on a bell cow. I just don't get the sense right now that's what they want to do.

[Matt]

Or hey, I loved your article about three guys. You know, three under the radar dudes could pay attention to for training camp. And I think the three you picked, man, Tyson Terry, along with Donovan Jack or Donovan Jones. Sorry. And then your the third guy who I'm going to mention here. I'll ask you about Cortez Mills. I mean those are three guys. At two of them I love, I love 37 last year. I love what D. Jones could potentially do. I've heard plenty of Tyson Terry and the very the snaps we've saw from Cortez Mills when given the opportunity to run routes and be the first and second read. I was really impressed by him. You know, you write, you call him under the radar. You know, there are guys there who think he could be an NFL type wide receiver in the future. Is there any part of you that's worried that maybe his snaps could be a little limited this year because he's got to fight through a crowded wide receiver room?

[Tim Verghese]

Yeah, it's not just the receiver room. I mean you have a tight end room that's pretty versatile. You have a room there, you know, I mean Carter Nelson, Luke Sorens and Luke Lindemayer, they want to take snaps away from guys. Aaron Bonner is back in the mix at receiver. You talked about Isaiah Mosey and kind of what he brings as a fast catcher. So there's guys in the room and around the room that I think have, you know, are going to make it tough for this receiver room to see the field pretty good. Like Nebraska feels pretty good about the depth they have in the room. I think they're legit deep. You know, that top three. And honestly I think we need to, we need to get away from talking about it as a top three. We need to start talking about it as a top four. I think I'm ready to put Quinn Clark in that top for. But behind those guys, you know, I think it's, it's, it's a competition. It's pretty feisty. Still, I think Bonner is in the mix. It sounds like, you know, Larry Miles, when healthy could be in the mix. Cortez Mills, Caitlin Smith, you know, some guys there who, that's the receiver spot, fifth and sixth spot. You know, it may not be a whole lot of snaps every game. But it's one of those things that it adds above the course of the year. And unfortunately that guy, seventh or eighth on that list, you might be looking at the transfer portal at the end of the year. That's just the, the where things are at. That's where the sport is. And you know, Nebraska needs to manage that. They want to keep Cortez Mills around, they want to keep Quinn Clark around, they want to keep a lot of these young guys in this receiver room around. It won't be easy necessarily.

[Matt]

Nebraska recently made addition to their staff. Damon Benning being the director of player development. You had a great tweet about your conversations with Damon, with DB on his show and how, you know, the clips I would see from your guys, inter guys would really go beneath the surface, man. You had some very high level talks about recruiting and you know, different types of areas and what type of positions they, you know, they produce and all that type of stuff. And, and you, you talked about how he challenged you so much and in your conversations with him, I mean, just how big of a plus in your opinion is this addition in that role as DB to this football staff?

[Tim Verghese]

Yeah, like I said, for me personally, he's challenged me and he does that to a lot of people. He. Yeah, I think you challenge people to think beyond what they're, what they're already thinking and that's obviously awesome. And it's a, it's helpful to have a guy like that in any room. The biggest thing for him though, and you see it with him when you get around west side, when you get him around Micah and you get him around even when he's on, you know, when we're on campus, we're at Battle of the Boneyard last month and he's just hanging around. He's happiest when he's around players. And I think he's someone who his own journey, what he's dealt with, the players. He's also been around too. He's had all these different interactions where it is helpful for it is, it is, it is a real help and you know what you want player development to look like on and off the field. You know, it is almost Damon in a way. You know, that's what you want those guys to be longer term. You know, that's the lives you want those guys to lead when they leave your program. And so for all those reasons, for all those reasons, I think it's a great addition. I'm obviously happy for him. I mean, I'm excited for him. I know he's excited. We saw him out here at practice. He's excited. So, you know, and like I said, you know, he's a good voice for these players to have someone who, again, knows the noise. Well, I think it's really important for programs to know their place and understand the media markets they're in. Damon understands the media market better than anybody, you know, as good as anybody. And that's important. It's important to know who you're catering to, the audience you're catering to. It's also important to know, like, okay, how do we manage this situation, your standpoint, how we manage this? He knows that he's, he's worked, he's been on both sides of this at this point. Kind of been a weird middleman in a way for a few years now. Yeah. And it's a good thing. It's a good thing now that he's on this side and he can kind of help them in a lot of different ways. Sure.

[Matt]

Timber Gase of Inside Nebraska and Rivals joining us every Tuesday here on Middays with Matt. Appreciate you, my friend. Great videos. Great job covering that open practice. Good.

[Tim Verghese]

Of course. Hey, I appreciate you, of course.

[Matt]

Of course. We will talk to you soon, my friend. Great point there by Timmy V. Like, like you, you want a guy who kind of knows both sides of how players are and, and you know, what they react to and what means a lot to them. And you coincide that with this media market and what this media market likes and what this media market likes to talk about and what we react to. I don't think there's anybody who knows both sides of that better than Damon Benning because he's been on both sides. He's been the player during the 90s where Nebraska's the hottest thing and everybody's talking about it, everybody has opinions on it. And he's also been on the side where he's been here in a great time in this media market where we're talking about a lot of things, the interest is super high and we react to certain stuff. And so for him to kind of have those two bases of knowledge and now he's able to give that to young men on the Nebraska football team and where, you know, that's a big transition that those football players go through, the spotlight always being on you, people's always people always having opinion on your play, people always having opinion on what you do, it's different here than it is a lot of places. And so for him to have that role, to have that knowledge and be able to give to his players along with other things. Right. That it's, it's not just, hey, how do you, how do you handle the media? That's, that's just only one slice of the pie that Damon will be, will be doing there. But really do think it's a good addition for that coaching staff. All right, let's take a break here, do a little football training camp update and then we'll talk about Nebraska volleyball at 1:00 clock here on MIDDAYS with Matt.

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