Nebraska Football's Corey Campbell Talks How Players are 'Defending the Process'

Nebraska strength coach Corey Campbell says the Huskers are entering a new phase of player development, one where players aren’t just following the standard, they’re enforcing it.

As June quickly turns to July, the Nebraska football team pivots from coach led practices to player led workouts, and with that comes a certain level of accountability that separates good teams from great ones.

According to Campbell, the work ethic is evident. When asked on Sports Nightly about how things have changed since his arrival, he pointed to the team’s evolution in understanding what’s expected.

“In year one, guys are learning the process,” Campbell said. ”In year two, they’re living it. And, by the time you get to year three, guys start to defend the process.”

Defensive Back Marques Bufford Jr. during an offseason team workout. | @huskerfootball/Instagram

Now that the standard is in place, Campbell says it’s about intentionality. With NCAA rules limiting coach involvement during much of July, the staff is trusting players to stay locked in without constant oversight.

Campbell’s message to the team?

“Make sure you guys understand what you’re working towards,” Campbell said. “Be intentional in the work that you do.”

Running Back Mekhi Nelson during an offseason team workout. | @huskerfootball/Instagram

With that in mind, the team appears fully bought in. Campbell says the expectations remain constant, whether it’s June or August. Winning habits don’t happen by accident, and this group is earning theirs through consistency and hard work.

The sweat equity being invested now will pay off when it matters most. As Campbell put it, “By the time it hits fall camp, it’s going to be engrained in them and be second nature.”

Linebacker Willis McGahee IV during an offseason team workout. | @huskerfootball/Instagram

As Nebraska transitions into a critical phase of summer workouts, the foundation being laid behind the scenes will be just as important as anything that happens on Saturdays this fall. Matt Rhule and the coaching staff may be stepping back per NCAA rules, but the culture they’ve built continues to take root, and thrive, because of the players themselves.

That player-driven accountability is what gives this team a real chance to take a leap forward in 2025. With leadership developing from within and the daily standard now being upheld by the locker room itself, Nebraska is starting to look like a program that knows who it wants to be.

Fall camp is coming, and this team intends to show that all the behind-the-scenes work wasn’t just talk, it was transformation.

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