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The Cornhusker Football staff was finalized today with the announcement of Barrett Ruud as inside linebackers coach.
The all-time leading tackler in Nebraska history, Ruud served on Frost’s staff at UCF the past two seasons as a defensive quality control administrator. Ruud helped the Knights to the greatest two-year turnaround in college football history, including a 13-0 record and Peach Bowl victory in 2017.
Ruud boasts extensive knowledge of the linebacker position from his playing days. He totaled a school-record 432 tackles in his Nebraska career, 90 more than any other Husker. He was a freshman All-American, a three-time All-Big 12 selection and a 2004 third-team All-American. Ruud played in the 2002 Rose Bowl, when Nebraska battled Miami for the national championship.
Following his Husker career, Ruud was a second-round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him with the 36th overall pick. Ruud spent eight seasons in the NFL, recording 658 tackles with six sacks, seven interceptions and six forced fumbles. He played six seasons in Tampa Bay and also played for Tennessee, New Orleans and Houston.
In addition to Ruud’s appointment as an assistant coach, Nebraska also officially announced the following members of its football staff on Tuesday. Several of the individuals have been working the Huskers for the past month, while others joined the program in the past week following the completion of UCF’s season.
Nebraska Football Staff
Gerrod Lambrecht, Chief of Staff
Matt Davison, Associate AD for Football
Sean Dillon, Director of Player Personnel
Ryan Callaghan, Assistant Director of Player Personnel
Mike Cassano, National High School Relations
Trent Mossbrucker, Assistant Director of Football Operations
Frank Verducci, Senior Offensive Analyst
Zach Crespo, Special Teams Quality Control
Jack Cooper, Defensive Quality Control
Dustin Haines, Offensive Analyst
Steve DeMeo, Graduate Manager – Offensive Line
Jasen Carlson, Assistant Football Strength Coach
Andrew Strop, Assistant Football Strength Coach
Sean Beckton Jr., Performance Intern
The following individuals previously on the Nebraska staff are also part of Coach Frost’s Nebraska staff.
Kenny Wilhite, Director of High School Relations
Adam Clark, Director of Football Operations
James Rodgers, Director of Player Development
Tate Guillotte, Director of Video Technology
Ryan Voecks, Video Coordinator
Nick Smith, Graduate Assistant Coach
Cole Ashby, Graduate Manager – Wide Receivers
Joni Duff, Football Staff Secretary—Head Coach/Defense/Special Teams
Teri Riggins, Football Staff Secretary—Offense/Recruiting
Kevin Ashmos, Recruiting Intern
Addison Morris, Recruiting/Operations Intern
Catnip:
And here's a bit from Ruud, who's coaching inside linebackers, on Nebraska's defense: “We’re a fundamental defense at heart. We’re not a schemer defense. We’re going to win with fundamentals. Teach concepts, and teach guys how to play." #Huskers
— Brian Rosenthal (@GBRosenthal) January 9, 2018
And although Scott Frost is regarded these days as an offensive guru, Ruud said Frost will always be defensive at heart. "He really has a passion for defense, especially tackling. He likes teaching tackling, and he has the whole team do that.”
— Brian Rosenthal (@GBRosenthal) January 9, 2018