Nebraska players begin their days with a special teams meeting. There, they will occasionally watch highlights of Hall of Fame basketball player Tim Duncan.
Highlights honestly might be a stretch.
"I showed them Tim Duncan making a 10-foot bank shot, a layup, a rebound boxing someone out and an assist," Huskers special teams coordinator Bill Busch told ESPN. "I said, 'He's known to be the best power forward to ever play the game. Three-time NBA champion, three different decades. And his nickname is The Big Fundamental.'
"We're really working on doing the ordinary extraordinary."
Nebraska would accept ordinary from its special teams in 2022. Of the problems Nebraska has endured during the Scott Frost era, the kicking game has stood out perhaps more than any.
Since Frost's first season in 2018, Nebraska has ranked 127th out of 129 FBS teams in special teams efficiency. Nebraska ranked last nationally in special teams expected points added in 2021, and only Western Michigan has been worse since 2018.
There have been missed kicks, blocked kicks, killer penalties and scoring returns allowed. The special teams problems surfaced throughout a 2021 season filled with narrow Nebraska losses, from a blocked extra-point attempt that Oklahoma returned for two points, to getting duped by Michigan State on a punt return resulting in an easy Spartans' touchdown.
"They're very aware of it," Busch said. "From the time I took over -- and I had some knowledge of some stuff -- I never mentioned one word about the past. They all know, but I'm not going to say, 'Remember what happened at Michigan State last year on the punt?' That doesn't do anybody any good. Everyone's aware."
Busch headlines my annual look at the most important new position coaches in college football entering the season. While Busch technically oversees a unit, I have included special teams coordinators on previous lists, and arguably none could shape a program's outlook more than he could in Lincoln.
I've identified five new position coaches on both offense and defense who step into important roles. Some position groups have underperformed or must replace key pieces from the 2021 team. Others are looking to maintain continuity, or are part of first-year coaching staffs.
Here's a closer look at Busch's impact at Nebraska and 10 other key new position coaches to watch around college football in 2022:
Bill Busch, Nebraska
2022: Special teams
Previous job: Defensive analyst, Nebraska
Busch distills special teams success down to three main tenets: Punt the ball, kick the ball, snap the ball. All three have proved challenging for Nebraska in recent years, but if the Huskers can execute better, "Everything else on your [special] team takes off," Busch said.
A 33-year coaching veteran, Busch is in his third stint at Nebraska and second as Huskers special teams coordinator (2005 to 2007). The 57-year-old also has special teams experience at Wisconsin and Utah State.
"We have more athletes than we've ever had, we have better specialists than we've had and it's up to the coaches to get them right. Bill's going to be a big part of that," Frost said. "Our team understands how important it is and that should make his job easier, but he's a big, big part of it."
Busch has been encouraged by the approach from players, both holdovers and newcomers. Nebraska's special teams meetings begin at 7:30 a.m. By 7:15, two-thirds of the players have arrived, and the room is filled by 7:22. The meeting motto is SLANT: Sit up, lean forward, act interested, nod your head and track the speaker.
"That's the standard," cornerback Quinton Newsome said. "That didn't start until [Busch] got here."
Added tight end Travis Vokolek: "We're waking up early, we're going to our first meeting and you're tired, but when you hear Coach Busch coming in, the energy's about to be taken to a new level."
Busch has been pleased with players' dedication to improving in special teams. When he asked Rahmir Johnson, who started seven games at running back in 2021 and returned three kickoffs, to move into a frontline blocking role on returns, there was no resistance. Other starters such as linebackers Garrett Nelson and Luke Reimer have key roles on the punt team, while wide receiver Alante Brown is a gunner on kickoff coverage.
Nebraska also added specialist transfers such as punter Brian Buschini (Montana), kicker Timmy Bleekrode (Furman), long snapper Brady Weas (Georgetown) and returners Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda (New Mexico State), Tommi Hill (Arizona State) and Anthony Grant, who started his career at Florida State before spending the past two seasons at New Mexico Military Institute. The Huskers need all the help they can get after several years in which both the overall numbers and individual specialists weren't up to par.
Last year, Nebraska finished 126th in field goal percentage, 128th in punt returns, 124th in kick returns, 100th in net punting, 116th in kick return defense and 86th in punt return defense.
"Everything is fourth-down mentality," Busch said. "I tell them, 'A quarterback throws the ball in the stands, it's just second-and-10. They've got a shot again.' We have to have that mentality of there's no room for error, no room for not having our effort where it needs to be. With that is the ability to snap into the moment."
Busch is focused on the mental elements as much or more than the technical ones. Frost has said that Nebraska's problems don't stem from one area, but his infamous line after the team's season-opening loss at Illinois last year -- "It looked like the same movie" -- underscores the need to approach pressure situations with a different mindset.
Nebraska will have mistakes on special teams. There will be challenges, including weather. The Huskers will need a sharper mental approach.
"That's again why I've tried to wipe out last year and not talk about it," Busch said. "Things will never be perfect. I'd love to make every single field goal. There's always something, and we'll rise to the level of our training. I like the mentality. If something's not quite right, I really don't anticipate falling back into the mentality of, 'Here we go again, or woe is me.'"
An upgrade on special teams could do wonders for Nebraska in the Big Ten West Division, where there aren't significant talent gaps between teams. Those who excel typically don't beat themselves, and some thrive on special teams.
Since 2019, Iowa ranks No. 1 nationally in special teams expected points added, by a wide margin, which has helped the Hawkeyes to go 26-9 and win the division last year.
"There would be times I was in other leagues where you could outcoach people, 'They're not real sound, we can do something here.' That doesn't happen in the Big Ten," Busch said. "Everyone is so well-coached, they've got the right players on the field, so you've got to be able to match their intensity all the time. There's nothing more important than having your guys ready in this league."
Along with Busch, here's a look at 10 other essential new position coaches for the 2022 season.
Jason Beck, Syracuse
2022: Quarterbacks
Previous job: Quarterbacks coach, Virginia
Syracuse could be the biggest beneficiary of Bronco Mendenhall's surprising retirement, as it added both Beck and offensive coordinator Robert Anae from Mendenhall's Virginia staff. Beck's past two Virginia quarterbacks, Brennan Armstrong and Bryce Perkins, both set multiple team records, and the Cavaliers last season ranked No. 2 nationally in pass offense (392.6 ypg).
The only three Virginia quarterbacks to record multiple seasons of 20 passing touchdowns -- Armstrong, Perkins and Kurt Benkert -- all worked under Beck. Since 2013, his quarterbacks have averaged 3,367 passing yards and 514 rushing yards per season. He has worked with different types of quarterbacks, including Taysom Hill, who played for Beck at BYU before becoming one of the more unique players in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints.
The ACC is loaded with productive returning quarterbacks, including Armstrong, but Syracuse needs a boost after finishing last in the league and 121st nationally in passing (160.2 ypg) last season. Beck's work with Garrett Shrader and Syracuse's other quarterbacks will be significant as coach Dino Babers likely needs to reach a bowl game to keep his job.
Thomas Austin, Clemson
2022: Offensive line
Previous job: Offensive analyst, Clemson
The former All-ACC lineman at Clemson is very familiar with the group he inherits, after working alongside line coach Robbie Caldwell in 2021 and spending 2015 to 2018 in a support staff role. But Clemson's offensive line needs a boost. For years, opposing coaches have told me the line has been a vulnerable spot for the unit, even when Clemson reached the CFP. After last year's overall offensive struggles, an upgraded line under Austin would do wonders for quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, running back Will Shipley and others.
Austin played four NFL seasons after Clemson. After finishing as a Clemson graduate assistant, Austin joined Georgia State coach Shawn Elliott, a longtime respected offensive line coach. Austin coached Georgia State's line in 2019, when the team ranked 12th nationally in rushing, and again in 2020 before returning to Clemson. Austin inherits an experienced group that could benefit from a new leading voice. Clemson protected the pocket well last fall, finishing 27th in sacks allowed, but was inconsistent in creating running room and opportunities for big-chunk pass plays.
Lee Marks, Washington
2022: Running backs
Previous job: Running backs coach/assistant head coach, Fresno State (served as interim head coach for New Mexico Bowl)
Washington's offense cratered under the previous coaching staff, including the run game. Last fall, the Huskies finished 125th nationally in rushing, ahead of only Stanford in the Pac-12, and eclipsed 100 yards just three times. How bad did things get? Washington had 48 net rushing yards in its final two games.
Head coach Kalen DeBoer was hired to fix the offense, and not surprisingly brought Marks with him from Fresno State. A former Boise State running back under ex-Washington coach Chris Petersen, Marks coached backs at his alma mater before joining DeBoer at Fresno State. He coached 1,000-yard rushers at Boise State from 2015 to 2019, including 1,700-yard rusher Jeremy McNichols and 1,400-yard rusher Alexander Mattison. Marks worked with first-team All-Mountain West running back Ronnie Rivers in 2020 at Fresno State.
Washington had six or seven running backs in the mix for carries during the offseason, including Wayne Taulapapa (Virginia), Will Nixon (Nebraska) and Aaron Dumas (New Mexico). Richard Newton and Cam Davis both started games for Washington last year. Marks' ability to outline a rotation and develop players could help Washington take a big jump on offense.
Bryan McClendon, Georgia
2022: Wide receivers
Previous job: Wide receivers coach and pass game coordinator, Oregon
Georgia's quest to defend its national title likely will require a more dynamic passing game. The Bulldogs return quarterback Stetson Bennett and All-America tight end Brock Bowers, but they will need more from a wide receiver group. Georgia lost Jermaine Burton to Alabama but will return Adonai Mitchell, Ladd McConkey and Kearis Jackson, and could be able to use tight end Arik Gilbert more in a receiver role.
McClendon is very familiar with the program, after playing wide receiver there and coaching the receivers in 2015 after a six-year run with the Bulldogs running backs. He also coached wide receivers at both South Carolina and Oregon, holding an offensive coordinator title at South Carolina. McClendon was set to move with Mario Cristobal from Oregon to Miami before Georgia came calling.
Georgia's ability to consistently threaten opposing defenses with its passing offense could shape whether it becomes an Alabama-like dynasty, or waits a bit longer for its next national title. That's why coach Kirby Smart's hire of McClendon looms so large in Athens.
William Peagler, Florida
2022: Tight ends
Previous job: Running backs coach, Michigan State
In Peagler, first-year Florida coach Billy Napier added a familiar name to his staff who had boosted his profile elsewhere. Peagler first connected with Napier while he was a student assistant at Clemson, where Napier worked in the late 2000s. When Napier landed his first head-coaching job at Louisiana, he hired Peagler as director of player personnel.
Peagler made early career stops at Minnesota, Georgia and Colorado before landing his first on-field assistant job at Michigan State. In his second season, he helped Wake Forest transfer Kenneth Walker III win the Doak Walker Award and Walter Camp National Player of the Year award. Walker led the Power 5 and ranked second nationally in rushing (1,636 yards).
Peagler takes over a very inexperienced tight end group outside of Keon Zipperer, as injuries hit the group hard. Florida converted several defensive players to tight end, including junior Dante Zanders, a former defensive end who has stood out during the offseason and could emerge as one of quarterback Anthony Richardson's top targets.
Mike Elston, Michigan
2022: Defensive line
Previous job: Defensive line, Notre Dame
Elston's move across the Notre Dame-Michigan rivalry was among the more interesting changes in last year's assistant coach carousel. He coached at Notre Dame throughout coach Brian Kelly's tenure -- he had worked with Kelly since 2004 -- but chose not to join Kelly at LSU and remained with Marcus Freeman, only to then take the job at Michigan, his alma mater.
He will have a crucial role under first-year defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, as Michigan tries to replace arguably the best pass-rushing tandem in college football. The Wolverines lost Aidan Hutchinson, the Heisman Trophy runner-up and the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft, as well as David Ojabo, who would have been a first-round pick if not for a ruptured Achilles' tendon at Michigan's pro day. Hutchinson and Ojabo combined for 25 sacks, 28.5 tackles for loss and seven forced fumbles last season.
Elston inherits some strong interior pieces, including Mazi Smith, but must identify ways to pressure quarterbacks. The 47-year-old comes in with a strong profile, after working with 12 NFL draft picks at Notre Dame, including five in the past four years. Notre Dame's pass-rushing numbers spiked after Elston returned to coach the unit in 2017 after two years with the linebackers.
Roy Manning, USC
2022: Outside linebackers (also will coach nickels)
Previous job: Cornerbacks coach, Oklahoma
The excitement for the Lincoln Riley-orchestrated, Caleb Williams-led USC offense is justified. But the Trojans' defense has a long way to go, which adds emphasis and urgency for coordinator Alex Grinch and all the position coaches.
Manning moved from Oklahoma to USC with Riley and Grinch, but he has good knowledge of the Pac-12 after working at Washington State (2015 to 2017) and UCLA (2018). His résumé also includes coaching linebackers and cornerbacks at Michigan, his alma mater, and running backs at Cincinnati. Manning hopes to replicate his first-year impact at Washington State, where in 2015 the outside linebackers combined for 12 sacks and 26.5 tackles for loss.
Inside linebacker should be a strength for USC's defense with Shane Lee, Ralen Goforth and Arizona State transfer Eric Gentry, but Manning must develop impact players on the edges. Korey Foreman, ESPN's No. 2 overall recruit in the 2021 class, has been slowed by an injury during the preseason. Auburn transfer Romello Height is an intriguing player, but the group has questions entering the season.
Ken Norton Jr., UCLA
2022: Inside linebackers
Previous job: Defensive coordinator, Seattle Seahawks
UCLA finally recorded a winning season under Chip Kelly in 2021 and has a chance to take another step this coming season. But the defense must improve for the Bruins to challenge Utah and USC in the Pac-12 South Division. Most of the defensive staff is new under coordinator Bill McGovern, including Norton, a former UCLA All-American who spent the past seven years as an NFL coordinator with the Seahawks and Raiders.
Norton, an All-Pro linebacker and three-time Super Bowl champion, brings instant credibility to the staff. He had a successful run as USC's linebackers coach under Pete Carroll -- Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga were among the stars he had -- before following Carroll to the Seahawks. Norton takes over a group featuring Hawai'i transfer Darius Muasau, a two-time All-Mountain West selection, and veteran holdovers such as Kain Medrano. The overall linebacker group could be a strength for UCLA this fall, and Norton's influence on the inside players will be significant.
Carlton Buckels, TCU
2022: Cornerbacks
Previous job: Cornerbacks coach and defensive pass game coordinator, Tulsa
TCU's ouster of future Hall of Fame coach Gary Patterson shocked many around college football, but Patterson's signature defense had fallen off sharply. Last season, the Horned Frogs finished 121st nationally in pass efficiency defense and 124th in passing yards allowed. Patterson's replacement, Sonny Dykes, is primarily known for offense, but his staff hires on defense likely will shape how the team performs this fall, especially in a defense-leaning Big 12.
Buckels comes to TCU from Tulsa with coordinator Joe Gillespie, whose 3-3-5 scheme drew praise around the AAC and gained national attention in 2020, as Zaven Collins won national defensive player of the year honors. Tulsa ranked eighth nationally in pass defense in 2018, when Buckels coached the team's safeties. In 2020, Tulsa ranked 18th nationally in pass yards allowed and eighth in pass yards per attempt.
TCU has experience at cornerback with All-Big 12 selection Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, Noah Daniels, Kee'yon Stewart, C.J. Ceasar II and others. The team also added Louisiana-Monroe transfer Josh Newton, a two-year starter. Buckels, who has Big 12 experience from Baylor (2011 to 2016), is tasked with identifying the rotation to restore TCU's edge in the secondary.
Ronnie Wheat, Baylor
2022: Safeties (also special teams coordinator)
Previous job: Linebackers coach, Nevada
Baylor coach Dave Aranda went with a familiar name to take over one of the more important positions in his defense. Wheat served as a defensive analyst at LSU throughout Aranda's tenure as coordinator, including the 2019 national championship season. He spent seven total seasons with LSU before taking his first FBS on-field job at Nevada, where he coached safeties (2020) and linebackers (2021).
Wheat takes over a safety group that must replace Jalen Pitre, an All-America selection and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year who became a second-round NFL draft pick in April. Baylor also loses J.T. Woods, who tied for the FBS lead with six interceptions and started 28 career games. Wheat will need to offset those losses by building around veteran Christian Morgan (21 career starts) with Devin Neal, Al Walcott and others.