Tony White exceeded all expectations in Year 1 as Nebraska football’s defensive coordinator. The Blackshirts saw significant improvements in every statistical category and are set to return the bulk of their two-deep. No doubt there was a huge sigh of relief from fans – and head coach Matt Rhule – when UCLA chose to hire DeShaun Foster instead of White on Monday.
Several players took huge jumps after just one offseason of development with the new coaches. Also impressive was the fact many players were identified by the staff and subsequently moved to new positions. John Bullock, Jimari Butler, Javin Wright and Mikai Gbayor are prime examples of players who were moved from other spots and thrived in the new scheme.
One of the most important transitions that happen under a new coordinator is the recruitment of players targeted for their fit in the system. As those players enter the program and are groomed and developed, you’ll often see an uptick in overall play because puzzle pieces start fitting better.