The coaching prowess of Terry Bradden was immediately distinguishable to the former Husker.
Dicaprio Bootle and Bradden bonded quickly in the Kansas City Chiefs organization over both being Florida guys, sure. But the thing that jumped out to Bootle was how much this up-and-coming coach knows ball, and how respected his voice was in an operation that has become linked with championships.
So any Husker fans curious about Nebraska's new defensive line coach Bradden should take in these words by Bootle, who is now part of the Los Angeles Chargers organization. He got an up-close view of a coach he could tell had all the goods a player would want.
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"Really, Coach is just one of those energies that anybody in the room is going to gravitate towards," Bootle told Husker247 on Thursday morning. "Because it's so positive, and so uplifting, and almost like a healing energy for real."
While Nebraska has not put out the official press release on Bradden being NU's defensive line coach, the coach who has served as the assistant defensive line coach of the Chiefs has already been posting Husker related content on social media, including his enthusiasm over Keona Davis' decision to return to Lincoln.
Incoming Husker Dawson Merritt, whose father Dave Merritt is on the Chiefs staff, was equally as fired up about Bradden coming to Nebraska, posting, "Can't wait to continue what we've started."
Bootle said Bradden's energy is not just for show.
"It's not deliberate. It's just who he is for real," Bootle said. "He's a guy who's able to light up the whole room. Motivate the room and he does it in probably some of the most subtle ways – just being himself. As far as a man who is going to come in every day and make the right moves and give you more than 100 percent, he's that guy. And he knows his ball."
Bradden also worked with the defensive backs some in Kansas City before focusing on the D-line, although that was before Bootle arrived to KC.
"He studies the game like a student of the game as if it's his first day learning about the game," Bootle said. "And he just has so many years of experience. I know me and him both have Florida ties. That was something that kind of kicked us off early – just always talking about our upbringings and childhoods and things that we kind of gravitate towards both being in Florida."
Bootle doesn't know him as a recruiter and all that yet, but he knows he's a great coach.
"He's a world-class person. I won't even lie to you. I can't even short-change him on that."
The Miami native Bootle was on the Chiefs roster from 2021-2022 after spending 2016-20 on the Husker roster.
Bradden has spent the last eight years in the Chiefs organization after last being in the college game in 2016 as a graduate assistant at Bethune-Cookman.
Bootle could tell early in KC this was a coach on the climb.
"He was one of the most hands-on coaches in the building when I was in Kansas City," Bootle said. "Just making himself available to the guys. I've seen him work with the newest guy, the rookie, and I've seen him put in the same work with the all-pro in the building. Man, it's just a testament to his love for the game, honestly. If there's ball to be taught or there's some type of message or knowledge that he can spread, he's going to do it and he's going to do it to the T. He really knows his stuff, man."
