Iowa offered and was a finalist for Stanford transfer offensive tackle Walter Rouse.
The 6-foot-6, 318 pound offensive tackle transfer from the Cardinal visited Iowa City last week and had Iowa as a finalist along with Oklahoma and Nebraska.
Ultimately, Nebraska and Lincoln surprised Rouse enough that he’s committing to the Huskers.
The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do… #GBR! #Huskers 🌽🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/ixLbVoVoOD
— Walter Rouse 7️⃣5️⃣ (@wrouse19) January 12, 2023
“I really expected cornfields and farms,” Rouse told Evan Bland of the Star-Herald. “Instead there are like eight hotels in a three-block radius and the bars and the town. It reminds me somewhat of back home. When we do big things next year we can send the doubters the mail of what happens.”
Rouse tallied 39 starts with Stanford over the past four seasons and nearly 90% of the Cardinal’s total offensive snaps with 2,552. Per Pro Football Focus, Rouse has allowed quarterback pressures just 4.3% of the time in his career as a pass blocker and been penalized on only 15 occasions.
Now, that experience is headed to Nebraska where he will be a direct rival to the Hawkeyes. Rouse’s impressions of the Huskers’ coaching staff landed him in Lincoln.
Nebraska offensive line coach Donovan Raiola showed him a presentation that broke down both Rouse’s strengths and weaknesses. That helped push the Huskers over the top.
“The coaches said, ‘We have all the answers to the test — now we just need to apply them.’ Coach Raiola is a genuine person I feel can get me to the next level where I need to be,” Rouse said.
Rouse spoke glowingly of new Nebraska had football coach Matt Rhule as well.
“Even though they went 4-8 last year, I have faith in Coach Rhule. I have faith we can turn things around and shock the world next year. I think we can all benefit from each other,” Rouse said.
Rouse would have slid into an Iowa offensive tackle…
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