Three Huskers – including Ernest Hausmann – enter the transfer portal

The Huskers leaving the program are inside linebacker Ernest Hausmann, receiver Decoldest Crawford and offensive lineman Brant Banks.

So begins what will be a frenetic time for new Nebraska coach Matt Rhule – officially hired on Saturday – and his still-in-training staff as they navigate the comings and goings of players from a national portal pool already in the hundreds .

The biggest hit is Hausmann, the Columbus rookie who became a starter in the stretch and finished with 54 tackles (sixth most on the team). His closing ability on quarters and hard hitting rushers set him apart in a unit with other brilliant defenders like Malcolm Hartzog.

Hausmann thanked Nebraska coaches, coaches and teammates in a social media post for helping him develop this season as well as the fans for their support. He called the decision a “very difficult decision”.

A knee injury in August sidelined Crawford for the entire season after arriving as a three-star prospect from Louisiana. Known best for his unique name and a high-profile name image likeness deal with an Omaha-based HVAC company, he moved from LSU late last offseason when he shadowed Baton Rouge’s Mickey Joseph. at Lincoln. He leaves without having seen a wink at NU.

Banks is coming off his fourth season at Nebraska, playing every game on special teams and occasionally as an O-line reserve in what was technically his second year as a redshirt. The Houston native converted from the defensive line in 2019 and played 26 games overall. Perhaps his most memorable moment came when he joined the men’s basketball team ahead of the 2020 Big Ten tournament and played three minutes as a reserve.

Players entering the portal can still exit with their same school or find a new home. Nebraska in the last cycle saw 15 players transferred after the end of the 2021 season and will surely see more leave in the coming days amid a regime change.

Rhule said on a national podcast this week to expect staff turnover.

“They’re 3-9 and 4-8, so the only way to fix that is to make sure the players you have are trained, developed and grow big and strong,” Rhule said. “But you have to go recruit and you have to get guys into the transfer portal. You need to update the list.