“The moment I walked into Memorial Stadium… something just hit different.”
That’s how Colin Rice, a rising 4-star linebacker out of Westfield High School in Texas, summed up his official visit to Nebraska this past weekend. But what followed wasn’t your typical, cookie-cutter recruiting recap.
It was honest. Deep. Emotional. And full of football soul.
In a recruiting world often built on highlight tapes and clout-chasing, Colin’s weekend in Lincoln reminded everyone why Nebraska is still one of the most magnetic programs in the country, even in the era of NIL, flashy edits, and five-star flips.
Now let’s break it down—because what happened behind those red doors could reshape the Huskers’ defensive future.
Arrival: A Welcome Like No Other
Colin touched down Friday morning with his family in tow, greeted immediately by defensive coordinator Tony White and Director of Recruiting Omar Hales. From the first handshake, it wasn’t about sales pitches.
“They didn’t try to be fancy or fake,” Rice said. “They just kept it real.”
Instead of tours led by interns, he got the real thing: sit-down time with Matt Rhule, film room sessions with position coaches, and full access to current players, including former Texas prep stars who made the leap to Lincoln.
From the airport to the hotel to the first walkthrough inside Memorial, Rice said what struck him most was the consistency of culture.
> “It’s like everybody’s pulling in the same direction,” he said. “You don’t see that at every school.”
Football First: Inside the Defensive Meetings
What Rice wanted most from his visit wasn’t gear, glamour, or fancy graphics. He wanted scheme. And that’s exactly what he got.
During a one-hour breakdown session with linebackers coach Rob Dvoracek, Rice sat through Husker game film, walk-through cutups, and whiteboard scenarios. According to sources close to the program, the staff was “blown away” by his football IQ and eye discipline.
> “They were testing me,” Rice said with a grin. “I loved that. They wanted to see how I think, not just how I hit.”
Rice, who’s been clocked at 4.59 in the forty and holds offers from Texas A&M, USC, Penn State, and Oklahoma, said Nebraska’s hybrid 3-3-5 system fits his style “like a glove.”
> “I’ve been playing both inside and edge for two years,” he said. “Their defense is made for guys who can run, cover, and get nasty when it’s time to blitz. That’s me.”
The Matt Rhule Meeting: Real Talk, No Scripts
The most powerful moment of the visit?
A private sit-down with head coach Matt Rhule in his office. No cameras. No staff. Just coach and player.
> “Coach Rhule didn’t try to ‘wow’ me,” Rice said. “He told me what it really means to wear red in this state. What it takes. What it costs.”
Rice said Rhule challenged him—not just to think about Nebraska, but to consider the kind of legacy he wanted to leave in college.
> “He looked me straight in the eye and said: ‘Colin, if you come here, I’m going to coach you hard. I’m going to expect everything. And I’m going to help you become a man other schools won’t.’”
Those words hit hard.
Rice’s father, a former linebacker himself, reportedly teared up during the meeting.
> “My dad turned to me and said, ‘Son, this man is the real deal.’”
️ Memorial Magic: A Night Under the Lights
Saturday night ended with a quiet stroll through an empty Memorial Stadium. Just Colin, his family, and a few members of the recruiting staff.
They let him walk through the tunnel alone.
No music. No hype video. Just silence and the shadow of 90,000 seats.
> “I tried to picture myself walking out of that tunnel on game day,” he said. “And I’ll be honest… it felt right. Like, bone-deep right.”
He stood at the 50-yard line. Took it in.
“I looked around and thought, ‘This is sacred.’”
Player Reactions: The Brotherhood is Real
One of the biggest moments of any visit is locker room time.
Colin got that in full. Over a meal and film session with current Huskers, including Makai Bayer and Eric Fields, Rice asked about daily life in Lincoln.
> “They didn’t sugarcoat it,” he said. “They told me camp is tough, practice is real, however , they also said this place changed their lives.”
He was especially drawn to the walk-on culture and the attitude around special teams.
> “At Nebraska, every snap matters,” Rice said. “That’s my kind of football.”
The Departure: Not Just Another Visit
Colin left Lincoln with more than just a photo shoot and a jersey pic.
He left with perspective.
> “This wasn’t a marketing trip. It was a vision trip.”
According to sources close to his camp, Rice is now seriously considering Nebraska as one of his top three, alongside Texas A&M and Penn State.
He plans to make his final decision before the start of his senior season — but the Huskers made a massive impression.
What This Means for Nebraska
Landing Colin Rice would be a defensive statement.
He’s the exact type of player Rhule is building the next era around:
High-character
Multi-position flexibility
No ego, all edge
Insiders say Nebraska is leaning into their identity: develop, discipline, dominate.
If Rice jumps on board, he’s not just filling a roster spot — he’s potentially the next face of a Blackshirt unit that’s hungry to return to glory.
️ Colin’s Final Word:
> “I didn’t expect to feel what I felt in Lincoln. It hit different. And I’m not gonna lie — I’m thinking about what it would mean to put that red on and bring that blackshirt back to life. Not for hype. For history.”
SHARE this story with every Husker fan you know.
The next generation of Husker football isn’t coming quietly.
It’s being built — one truth-telling recruit at a time.
#GBR | #Huskers | #ColinRice | #HuskerNation | #BlackshirtsReturn
