Nebraska football rumors: UNLV transfer ‘separated himself’ in QB battle during spring ball
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With Dylan Raiola out of the picture, Nebraska’s main priority entering spring football practices was to identify its next starting quarterback. As expected, UNLV transfer Anthony Colandrea has taken a firm grip on the job.
Colandrea was the immediate favorite to succeed Raiola as soon as he committed to Nebraska from the college football transfer portal. Head coach Matt Rhule wanted him to first compete with the returning TJ Lateef and Daniel Kaelin, and Colandrea has responded by “separating himself in spring ball,” On3 Sports’ Pete Nakos reported.
“Entering spring practice, Matt Rhule was clear he wasn’t ready to anoint UNLV transfer Anthony Colandrea the starter,” Nakos wrote. “Colandrea would have to earn it over sophomore TJ Lateef and redshirt sophomore Daniel Kaelin. Sources told On3 that Colandrea separated himself in spring ball and impressed Rhule and the staff. The Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year threw for 3,459 yards and 23 touchdowns last season while rushing for 649 yards and 10 touchdowns.”
Colandrea has three years of experience as a college football starting quarterback — two at Virginia and one at UNLV. While his stint with the Cavaliers did not work out as planned, he was one of the most efficient dual-threat quarterbacks in the country in his lone season in Las Vegas.
Lateef, who started four games for an injured Raiola in 2025, was considered his main competition for the Week 1 starting job. The former three-star recruit dazzled in his first career start, throwing three touchdowns in a 28-21 win over UCLA, but reached the end zone just once in his final three games.
Lateef will likely begin the season as Colandrea’s backup, with Kaelin serving as the third-string. Kaelin returns to the Cornhuskers, where he was a redshirt in 2024 before spending one year at Virginia.
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