Matt Rhule and the Nebraska Cornhuskers haven’t had an ideal season, and their honeymoon phase is officially over. But that doesn’t mean they can’t forge a fiery comeback next year, keeping the transfer portal moves on the pivotal. They still have a bowl, but most importantly, a first start of 2025. Rhule, the aggressive talent hunter, already locked recruits from Alabama, Oklahoma, and Oregon on and before the national signing day.

But at this point, if we analyze the massive trigger point for the Rhule and Cornhuskers is to retain their top talents, more specifically, Dylan Raiola, who has sparked a lot of talk on his future out of the Lincoln. Rhule didn’t want to take a risk. He’s going everywhere to snatch what his QB phenom needs or likes as his support weapon. As he finds a big hint in his social media followers list, Kentucky wide receiver Dane Key becomes a key target. Can Rhule’s on-point art of portal war bring him home? The latest intel suggests a silver line.

‘‘Dane Key, of course, is the first one. He’s currently on a visit to Nebraska. Of course, I’ve been very consistent about my take with Dane Key. Nebraska still has a chance here. It’s not over; he’s still not committed to Georgia,” insider Wilson Dittman shared on his podcast.

Kane has one year of his collegiate eligibility left, and it seems every school wants to have a piece of him before it gets exclusively reserved for the NFL. Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs happens to be the prime among them. The Dawgs are going all in for snagging the top WR. You can’t blame them, though, because who doesn’t? Key made the start for 11 of 12 games this past season and led Kentucky in receptions (47) and receiving yards (715) with two scores. He reeled in a total of 126 receptions for 1,870 yards and 14 touchdowns so far.

Georgia isn’t daydreaming whatsoever; they have solid ground. ”Georgia is the heavy favorite and they have a couple of things going in their favor. Number one, the money. Factor number two, the success factor, and number three, I just found out yesterday. Dane Key’s girlfriend plays softball for Georgia. So, there are a lot of things not going in our favour, usually when the girlfriend’s at a certain school that hurts us pretty significantly, so maybe we can get her to transferred and play for Nebraska softball. I don’t know,” Dittman highlighted the upset point of Rhule.

But he has a suggestion for Rhule and co. ”

Nebraska is going to do whatever they can to let that to make sure that he signs before he leaves campus,” the faster the better theory might be a game changer for the Huskers.

Another probable game changer can be the new WR coach, Daikiel Shorts.

Matt Rhule has more than one reason to chase Dane Key

On December 4, Nebraska hired Daikiel Shorts as their new WR coach. For those unversed, he has a significant connection with Kentucky Wildcats receiver Dane Key. He used to be Key’s former coach. Although it, by no means, guarantees a commitment, there is a reason to hope, at least.

Also, it seems Rhule’s poster boy, Dylan Raiola, has developed some interest in the Kentucky WR. Coach Rhule might have noticed that his boy started to follow Key on social media amidst the huge transfer portal buzz.

Rhule has done a lot of things to keep Raiola happy and safe from a flip or an NFL call, for that matter. Bringing a $1.2 million WR coach also has been a part of this. Now, if he can land Key, it might be a good move for Raiola as well, who, a few weeks back, left the fans on edge, sharing a cryptic pre-transfer portal update on X.

Locking Dane Key can simply be two birds with one arrow move for Rhule and the Huskers.