Matt Rhule doesn’t sugarcoat much. That’s been clear since his first day in Lincoln. For the Nebraska head coach, recruiting isn’t just about flashy visits and NIL pitch decks—it’s about development. “There’s a lot of schools that have really great recruiters, but those guys can’t coach,” Rhule said after practice last month. “A lot of schools have good coaches. We’re trying to find the middle.” Rhule wants players who embrace the grind and coaches who can sharpen raw edges. Hopefully, the coaches in the CFL utilize his ex-Husker senior LB.
The Montreal Alouettes of the CFL inked a deal with former Husker defensive leader MJ Sherman. The senior edge rusher turned heads in 2024, and now he’s got a new home north of the border. Matt Rhule, never shy to show pride for his players, shared Sherman’s signing and offered a four-word tribute: “The Brand. OOU Personified.” That’s no empty hashtag. It’s a message to recruits and a nod to the culture Rhule is trying to build—one where NFL or not, development matters and opportunity finds its way to those who buy in.
Sherman’s journey is the kind of arc that defines the Matt Rhule era. Once a blue-chip 4-star prospect out of St. John’s High School in D.C., Sherman was snatched up by Georgia during the height of the Bulldogs’ defensive dominance. But between loaded depth charts and minimal playing time—just one snap in 2020—his SEC dream stalled.
Nebraska gave him a second act, and he delivered. In 2024, Sherman started 12 games, tallying 29 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks—all career highs. He didn’t just fill a stat sheet—he became a tone-setter on a young defense. While he didn’t hear his name called on NFL Draft weekend, the CFL is getting a hungry, high-ceiling defender with an SEC motor and Big Ten polish.
The CFL is definitely becoming a go-to for talented players who might’ve been overlooked. Even Coach Prime’s star punter got a call—Mark Vassett was a second-round pick for the Calgary Stampeders in the 2025 Global Draft. And get this, they even reached out to Prime’s son, Shedeur Sanders, with the Toronto Argonauts making him an offer, just in case things don’t pan out with his Cleveland Browns opportunity.
Now, it’s a tough pill to swallow that guys like Sherman didn’t get an NFL shot. But his next chapter with Montreal might be exactly what he needs. The CFL game is faster, the field is wider, and hybrid edge types like Sherman thrive in space. At 6’3″ and 245 pounds, he brings size and bend to the Alouettes’ front seven. That’s something future recruits will see—and remember.
Speaking of the future, Rhule’s already replenishing the defensive pipeline with some in-state muscle. Nebraska native Jase Reynolds, a 6-2, 205-pound three-star LB, gave his verbal commitment to the Cornhuskers, turning down offers from Air Force, Kansas State, and Northwestern. He’s the kind of rangy, sideline-to-sideline backer that fits Rhule’s blueprint. More importantly, he’s a homegrown kid staying home—a rare win in a recruiting landscape where borders mean less by the day.
Matt Rhule’s recruiting rule: coaching matters more than charm
Huskers HC Matt Rhule isn’t here for the flash-and-fake on the recruiting trail. In fact, he’s calling out recruiters who can’t actually coach once the ink dries on a commitment. During a recent media session, Rhule made it crystal clear: being a great recruiter doesn’t mean much if you can’t make your players better. He gave props to one of his own, WR coach Daikiel Shorts Jr., saying, “He can really teach and instruct, and just carry that on the line down all the coaches.”
Rhule’s recruiting strategy? Let the recruits see the real deal—practice. No sugar-coating, no hype sessions, just a front-row seat to what life in Lincoln is actually like. “Everybody is nice on junior day, everybody is nice on official visits,” he said. “Come see what people are like at practice.”
What’s he hoping they take away from that experience? “I hope they’ll come away with a couple things. Number one, you see a bunch of coaches who demand but don’t demean. We’re going to coach hard.”
He added, “I want them to see our precision, our attention to detail…there’s only one message here–player development and helping people get better.” In short: don’t just talk it—teach it. MJ Sherman felt it. Jase Reynolds wants to. And if Rhule’s staff keeps walking the tightrope between coaching and recruiting with balance and honesty, more kids will follow.
The post Matt Rhule Drops 4-Word Praise as His Nebraska Star Secures a Major CFL Opportunity appeared first on EssentiallySports.