The first to respond was Kevin Greene. The Green Bay Packers outside linebackers coach was heading south soon, so he stopped at Illinois State and the two spent the day together.
As Greene and Nowinsky exchanged ideas - highlights of Clay Matthews looping on the screen - Nowinsky pictured his own edge rusher, Nate Palmer, in this defense.
"As I'm watching that, I'm thinking Nate has a great opportunity with the Packers because his skill, his athleticism, his work ethic, he fits in really good," Nowinsky said. "It's about getting an opportunity."
On his visit to Green Bay, the 6-foot-2, 248-pound Palmer eventually met Greene. They watched film of Matthews, and Greene offered a challenge.
"He said, 'I can get you there, if you want it. If you want to go there, I got what it takes to get you to that next level,' " Palmer said. "(He said), 'All you have to do is be a hard worker like him. I think that's the kind of person you are. Let's go. Let's go to that next level.' "
Palmer described his meeting with Greene as "an intense conversation."