Matt Rhule lands in Hot Springs chasing 5-star OT Albert Simien

Matt Rhule flew from Lincoln to Hot Springs, Arkansas, on June 7 in the Huskers' Learjet 45, arriving at Memorial Field Airport after a one-hour flight. The trip lands in the middle of Nebraska's busiest recruiting month, with 34 official visitors expected across three consecutive weekends.

Hot Springs sits just over the state line from Louisiana, the home of Albert Simien, a 5-star offensive tackle in the 2027 class. Simien has offers from LSU and Texas A&M and is one of the Huskers' top remaining targets. According to a report from CarrikerChronicles.com, Simien is expected on campus this weekend, where Nebraska has pulled out all the stops, including moving multiple offensive line commits to visit alongside him.

Nebraska spent more than $1.1 million on private jet travel in 2025, second only to Alabama, because Lincoln is far from most recruiting hotbeds. The Huskers hold four offensive line commits already but would like as many as seven linemen in this cycle. Simien's visit gives Rhule a chance to close on the kind of elite talent that typically stays in the SEC.