If circumstance took football away from him a decade ago, Rob Dvoracek figures Matt Rhule gave it back.
Nebraska’s new linebackers coach was a linebacker himself back in 2013, when his future plans didn’t extend much beyond playing ball. He was a tough kid from Allentown, Pennsylvania, a former high school fullback and three-star defender finishing his second season at Temple.
Then it was over. A knee injury in the last game of the year ended Dvoracek’s career and left him wondering what was next. The education major turned to Rhule — finishing his first campaign as head coach at Temple — for advice.
How about helping coach? So Dvoracek did. For the next three years, he was a student assistant sitting in on meetings and working with players. When Rhule left for Baylor in 2017, Dvoracek followed to help behind the scenes with defensive quality control. After two years working with the defensive line at FCS-school Lehigh back in Pennsylvania in 2019-20, Dvoracek again joined Rhule in the NFL at Carolina.
So why did the 28-year-old come to Nebraska? Two reasons seem obvious to him.
“No. 1, the tradition here is unbelievable,†Dvoracek said. “But also, I’ve been with Coach Rhule for a long time. Him and I have a really good relationship with each other. I know he’s going to do something great — we’re going to do something great here. So it was something that I wanted to be a part of.â€
Dvoracek spoke Wednesday with media members for the first time since Nebraska officially announced his hire Jan. 11. The assistant had committed to the Huskers and Rhule well before that, he said, but finished the year with the Panthers before heading west. He’s an unabashed disciple of the head coach, one of more than a dozen former Rhule players now on staff in the Nebraska football operation.
For all the existing familiarity Dvoracek has within the staff, the biggest area of emphasis this winter has been learning names and establishing connections with players. His position group returns two multi-year starters in Luke Reimer and Nick Henrich, though Henrich will miss spring practices recovering from an ACL injury.
“We’ve had great conversations,†Dvoracek said of the pair. “My biggest thing coming here is getting to know those guys. I want to build a relationship with them.â€
Exactly who will be in his group is still in flux as Nebraska coaches implement the 3-3-5 defense of new coordinator Tony White and assess their personnel. High-profile transfers MJ Sherman (Georgia) and Chief Borders (Florida) are among Dvoracek’s charges so far, though position groups — let alone depth charts — are far from settled.
The contingent moves on from regular 2022 contributors in transfer Ernest Hausmann and graduates Chris Kolarevic and Eteva Mauga-Clements. Other returners with a chance to make a jump this spring include the likes of Mikai Gbayor, Garrett Snodgrass, Randolph Kpai and Seth Malcom. All should see extended action as Henrich sits out and NU manages Reimer’s workload.
“We’re evaluating the guys right now — their movement, running around,†Dvoracek said. “They’re all in their shorts and shirts so we’re not really doing football yet so I think it will take through the spring to really evaluate, to see what’s on the roster. Where can we improve some areas? Where do we need to help the guys in certain areas? It’s still a work in progress.â€
The coach knows what he’s looking for — hard-hitting defenders who are smart, tough and competitive with long frames who can run, explode and change directions on a dime. He has NFL coaching experience on his resume now as well as firsthand knowledge that if the pros are receptive to good coaching and information, teenagers will be too.
Dvoracek also has youth — he’s the second-youngest of Rhule’s on-field assistants beyond 24-year-old receivers coach Garrett McGuire. He was a three-star recruit himself who can sit in living rooms and testify to the benefits of playing under Rhule.
He’s thrilled to keep coaching under him too.
“What makes us special is we are a family,†Dvoracek said. “We’re all really close — we spend a ton of time together outside of football. We all have each others’ back. I think a lot of kids in high school right now are looking for that.â€â€‹
Nebraska's Luke Reimer and Grant Tagge celebrate after Reimer broke up a pass to get a stop during the second half of their game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.