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Leading up to Big Ten Football Media Days in Chicago, Huskers Illustrated is examining each position group for Nebraska. Position groups: Quarterback, Running Back, Wide Receiver, Tight End, Offensive Line, Defensive Line, Linebacker, Defensive Back, Specialist.

Today: Quarterback

• Coach: Glenn Thomas
• Impact Additions: Anthony Colandrea
• Key Returners: TJ Lateef
• Returning Snap Percentage: 36%

Outlook

Dylan Raiola is out; Anthony Colandrea is in. Despite TJ Lateef starting the final four games of the 2025 campaign, Colandrea is a few steps ahead of the second-year signal-caller. The UNLV transfer will also bring more big-play ability to the position than his predecessor, including a run game and finding teammates downfield on broken plays.

Colandrea steps in as the undisputed starter. If anyone is still talking about a legitimate battle for that role, they’re just blowing smoke. He was the Mountain West Player of the Year after throwing for 3,459 yards and 23 touchdowns, adding 649 yards and 10 more scores on the ground.

Nope. The Raiola era of sitting in the pocket like a statue is over.

Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen wants a more free-flowing offense. He said in the spring that the team was watching Vanderbilt tape, specifically for how the receivers reacted to Heisman finalist Diego Pavia extending plays with his legs. Holgorsen wants that to be part of Nebraska’s 2026 offense.

“I've never had that mobile of a quarterback,” Holgorsen said of Colandrea this spring. “I've never coached extending plays like I am right now. He has a really good understanding of off-schedule stuff.”

Nebraska got a few off-schedule boosts with Raiola under center, but those were mostly sidearm shots. There was never the threat of him taking off and running consistently. That lack of a run threat, plus his inability to escape pressure and avoid sacks, is why he left Nebraska with -152 career rushing yards.

The last Husker quarterback to throw for 2,800 yards and rush for 500 yards in the same season was Adrian Martinez in 2021 (2,863 & 525). Before that, it was Taylor Martinez in 2012 (2,871 & 1,019).

If Colandrea can replicate his production in the much tougher Big Ten Conference, Nebraska will be able to keep up with opponents if the defense isn’t dominant. That hurt the Big Red down the stretch in 2025, when Penn State, Iowa, and Utah outscored the Huskers 121-48.

The only losses that Colandrea took last year of more than one score were at the hands of Boise State, the eventual Mountain West champions and now members of the Pac-12. With better weapons around him than he had in Las Vegas, expect him to put on a show this fall and even potentially keep Nebraska in a game or two that some have already written off.

Who’s Back

Three of the four Husker quarterbacks have spent at least one season each with the Big Red.

TJ Lateef made four starts at the end of the season. He came out hot against UCLA, but struggled after that against tougher defenses. He also battled a hamstring injury during the season finale against Iowa that lingered into the bowl season.

Nebraska native Bode Soukup has played in one game during his two seasons in Lincoln. 

Back, but with a longer route here, is another Nebraska native in Daniel Kaelin. The Bellevue West grad redshirted at NU in 2024, operating behind Raiola and Heinrich Haarberg. He transferred to Virginia, where he played in seven games and threw for 339 yards and one touchdown.

Key Battle

TJ Lateef vs. Daniel Kaelin

Lateef has the starting experience in Lincoln and is a more explosive runner. Kaelin is a year older and has better touch with his passes. Both are serviceable in the other’s strength.

With five-for-five passing, the potential of the coaching staff opting to simply redshirt Lateef is out the window. Now, the two can truly battle for the position.

My feel: Lateef makes a jump after his first full year in college. That is enough for him to edge out Kaelin. However, this feels like a true 2A and 2B situation, in which it might depend on the opponent for who we see take the field if Colandrea is out.

In the Pipeline

The future is as bright as ever at the quarterback spot for Nebraska. Trae Taylor is one of the best QBs in the nation, having earned Elite 11 MVP earlier this summer.

The talented prospect also moved to Lincoln. He’ll commute to powerhouse Millard South outside of Omaha to finish up his prep career, but he’s near Coach Rhule and Co. to peer-recruit and get ready for his Husker career in 2027.

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