The first depth chart of the season and the first opponent of the season were discussed while Matt Rhule spoke to reporters on Monday.

Previewing Nebraska football’s season opener Saturday against UTEP, Huskers head coach singled out pass rusher Maurice Westmoreland as someone Nebraska will have to watch out for. The Miners, he said, aren’t coming to Lincoln just to put on a respectable performance.

“These guys, they come to win. It’s a great, great, great first test for us to handle someone who throws everything at you,” Rhule said. “A big part of that is Westmoreland and his ability to change the game.”

As for his own team, Rhule spoke about the four-way tie atop the depth chart at running back between Rahmir Johnson, Emmett Johnson, Gabe Ervin Jr. and Dante Dowdell. “I think we’re going to play all of them,” Rhule said.

Rhule said the staff isn’t “going to jump into anything easy” with true freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola. “He’s going to make the plays. When we call drop back, he’s going to drop back, he’s going to go back and take his drop, go through his progression. Just the way we want him to play when he’s a junior, that’s how we’re going to start day one.”

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