Nebraska Huskers 2025 PREDICTIONS: New Coach DBK, Matt Rhule's Single-Digit Jersey SECRETS Revealed!
Huskers 3-1 against Pittsburg. Aug 22, 2025
Welcome back to the Fruitful Three Show - bringing you happiness, fulfillment, and value through Husker sports coverage, NFL analysis, and real-life discussions.
Season Overview and Predictions
As we kick off a new season of Nebraska sports, the excitement is palpable. Both our football and volleyball programs are positioned for what could be breakthrough years. Let's dive into what we can expect from each team.
Volleyball: Championship Aspirations with DBK
The Nebraska volleyball team just pulled off a 3-1 victory against Pittsburgh, marking an exciting start to the Dani Busboom Kelly (DBK) era. With John Cook's retirement, DBK has inherited what might be the deepest roster in Nebraska volleyball history.
Season Prediction: National Championship contenders. This roster is stacked from top to bottom with talent, and DBK brings championship experience from both her playing days (2006 Nebraska national championship) and coaching career (Louisville national championship). The only question mark is whether she can handle the pressure of her first year back home in Nebraska.
Key Storylines:
Zero players entered the transfer portal when the coaching change occurred
DBK's proven track record: 203-44 overall record (.822 winning percentage)
120-15 record from 2021-2024 (.889), second-best nationally
Football: Matt Rhule's Crucial Third Year
Year three has historically been Matt Rhule's breakout year at previous stops. If his track record holds, we could see Nebraska make a serious playoff push.
Season Prediction: 9-10 wins with a potential conference championship game appearance. Even an 8-4 record would represent significant improvement from last year. With the expanded 12-team playoff format, Nebraska is definitely in the conversation.
Volleyball Deep Dive
The Dani Busboom Kelly Era Begins
Born in Courtland, Nebraska, DBK is truly coming home. As a four-year starter and team captain, she made the rare transition from setter to libero her senior year, setting the school's single-season digs record and helping lead the Huskers to the 2006 national championship.
Her coaching credentials speak volumes:
Two NCAA championship match appearances
Three NCAA semi-finals
Five regional finals
Four ACC titles
Multiple ACC Coach of the Year honors
AVCA National Coach of the Year (2021)
Star Players to Watch
Bergen Reilly - Setter/Team Captain
Two-time Big 10 Setter of the year (2023, 2024)
Only player in conference history to win as both a freshman and a sophomore
Averaged 11 assists per set in 2024 (10th nationally)
Rebekah Allick - Middle Blocker/Team Captain
Known for elite blocking and scoring
Averaged 1.82 kills and 1.43 blocks per set in 2024
Lincoln native who initially wanted to play elsewhere but became a hometown hero
Recently earned the "Iron Champ" award in the weight room
Andi Jackson - Middle Blocker/Team Captain
Breakout sophomore with incredible efficiency
.439 hitting percentage in 2024 (6th nationally, 4th highest in program history)
Known for explosive slide attacks
Harper Murray - Six-Rotation Outside Hitter
Had a father-daughter relationship with John Cook
Led team with 3.28-3.4 kills per set in 2024
2023 Big 10 Freshman of the Year
Key to keeping the team together during the coaching transition
John Cook's New Chapter
The legendary coach has taken on a new role as co-owner and general manager of the Omaha Supernovas, Nebraska's professional volleyball franchise. After retiring in January 2025 following 32 seasons as a head coach, Cook spent time at his Colorado ranch before deciding to stay involved in volleyball at the professional level.
Fun Fact: Cook's volleyball journey began in the 1980s when he was an assistant football coach who reluctantly took over a high school volleyball program. He treated the girls like football players, studied the game intensively, and compiled a 168-16 record over six years—launching one of the most successful coaching careers in the sport.
Football Analysis
Matt Rhule's Single-Digit Jersey Tradition
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Rhule era is the single-digit jersey tradition, which started in 2023. These numbers (0-9) are awarded to the 10 toughest, most accountable, competitive players as voted by their teammates—not coaches.
The Philosophy: Rhule was frustrated at Temple, seeing recruits demand single digits as recruiting incentives while deserving upperclassmen were overlooked. At Nebraska, these jerseys represent program values: toughness, effort, hard work, and character.
2025 Single-Digit Recipients
#0 - Javin Wright (Linebacker) Seventh-year senior and 2024 Big 10 Sportsmanship Award recipient who battled blood clots but leads with unwavering professionalism.
#1 - Ceyair Wright (Defensive Back) USC transfer who quickly became the defense's top corner, leading in pass breakups and contributing a pick-six.
#2 - Jacory Barney Jr. (Wide Receiver) Sophomore receiver who set freshman records with 55 receptions. His energy and rapid growth earned him this honor after just one college season.
#3 - Marques Buford Jr. (Defensive Back) Senior who excels on field and in classroom, featuring Academic All-Big 10 honors and citizenship awards.
#4 - Janiran Bonner (Wide Receiver) Junior with a "lunch pail mentality" whose modest stats don't tell the full story of his leadership impact.
#5 - Riley Van Poppel (Defensive Lineman) Rare honor for a lineman. This sophomore from Texas showcased potential as a freshman and is ready to step into a major role replacing NFL-bound stars.
#6 - Dane Key (Wide Receiver) Kentucky transfer bringing 1,870 receiving yards and proven production over three years.
#7 - Malcolm Hartzog Jr. (Defensive Back) Returning defensive back retaining his number despite injury challenges.
#8 - DeShaun Singleton (Defensive Back) Keeping number eight for his third consecutive year—a first under Rhule, signifying enduring leadership.
#9 - Vincent Shavers Jr. (Linebacker) After a breakout freshman season (25 tackles, 2.5 TFL, highest PFF grade among true freshman linebackers nationally), he moved from #1 to #9, choosing to re-earn his spot.
Scott Frost's Controversial Comments
At Big 12 Media Days, former Nebraska coach Scott Frost made headlines by stating he "never wanted to take the Nebraska job in the first place" and called it "not a good move." His comments showed a lack of accountability for his failures at Nebraska.
Matt Rhule handled questions about Frost's comments with class, stating he respected Frost and understood the difficult position of coaching your alma mater. Rhule emphasized that Nebraska is "the perfect fit" for him—a subtle but respectful response.
Key Season Storylines
Arrowhead Stadium Opener: Nebraska faces Cincinnati on Thursday, August 28th at Arrowhead Stadium. With Travis and Jason Kelce (Cincinnati graduates) likely in attendance and Travis dating Taylor Swift, don't be surprised to see significant celebrity attention. Cincinnati has only sold 6,000 tickets, so expect a sea of red in the 85,000-seat stadium.
Player Development
Dylan Raiola has matured significantly in year two, training with the same quarterback coach as Patrick Mahomes
New punter Archie Wilson from Australia brings incredible versatility (can punt with either foot while running either direction)
Stadium runs have returned—embracing the Tom Osborne era conditioning tradition
All-Black Uniforms Nebraska will wear special all-black uniforms against USC on November 1st, 2025—featuring a memorable photo shoot in a Seward, Nebraska cornfield.
Looking Ahead
Both programs are positioned for special seasons. Volleyball has championship talent and an experienced coach returning home. Football has reached Matt Rhule's crucial third year with improved talent and culture.
The excitement around Nebraska sports hasn't been this high in years. With volleyball ranked #1 and football receiving votes in preseason polls, Husker Nation has plenty of reasons for optimism.
Final Predictions:
Volleyball: National Championship game appearance, potential title
Football: 9-10 wins, conference championship game contender, playoff discussion
Tribute: Greg Sharpe
We must remember Greg Sharpe, who served as the voice of the Huskers from 2008 until his passing on February 14th, 2025, following his battle with pancreatic cancer. Sharpe was honored as the 2024 Nebraska Sportcaster of the Year and had the Memorial Stadium announcement booth named after him before his passing. His iconic call of the Jordan Westerkamp Hail Mary catch will forever be part of Husker lore.
Connect With Us
What are your predictions for Nebraska sports this season? Are you more excited for volleyball or football? Join the conversation on our social media @FruitfulThreeShow or check out our merchandise at icedentertainment.net/drip.
Stay fruitful, stay fresh, and Go Big Red!
Peace, love, happiness, and unity - and as always, Go Huskers!
