Bet on the Blackshirts?

There are more knowns than unknowns with Nebraska's defense, but there's at least one source of optimism.

Courtesy Nebraska Athletics

There weren’t high expectations for Penn State’s defense entering 2013, John Butler’s first season—and still only season for two more weeks—as an FBS defensive coordinator. Of the top units nationally at all three levels of the defense, Phil Steele only ranked the linebackers (35th) among the top 45. He projected the Nittany Lions would allow 140.2 rush yards per game (4th in a 12-team Big Ten), 234.3 pass yards (8th) and 25.4 points (6th).

Entering its second season with scholarship sanctions and a bowl ban, Penn State’s defense was expected to be a middling group compared to the rest of the Big Ten. Steel was remarkably close with his projections: The Lions allowed 144.0 rush yards per game (6th), 237.3 passing (8th) and 26.2 points (7th). When PSU head coach Bill O’Brien took the Houston Texans job at season’s end, Butler went with him to coach the defensive backs.

And that’s that, the extent of any 1:1 comparison¹ we have between Butler’s college history and what everyone might see from the Blackshirts in 2025. It stands in stark relief to the other two coordinator hires Nebraska made this offseason.

Special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler brings his own juice, as they say, but his recent track record merits some level of excitement. Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen has a longer and arguably better track record, making an offensive upgrade perhaps the Huskers’ biggest but also best bet entering the season.

It’s been mostly quiet, however when it comes to defense, which has been the throughline of Matt Rhule’s college coaching career.

The Huskers take the field two weeks from today. How big of a bet are you ready to place on Butler’s Blackshirts?