Husker Games to Shine Spotlight on Backup Quarterback Quartet.
Nebraska football fans will have a prime opportunity to evaluate the team’s quarterback depth this Saturday during the annual Husker Games. Head coach Matt Rhule’s decision to incorporate live scrimmage action into the event will particularly benefit the Huskers’ backup quarterbacks, offering them valuable reps in a game-like setting.
While highly touted freshman Dylan Raiola and redshirt freshman Jalyn Gramstad will participate in the quarterback skills competition, they will not take part in the scrimmage portion of the Husker Games. This opens the door for the remaining quartet of quarterbacks on the roster to take center stage. Freshman TJ Lateef, Purdue transfer Marcos Davila, and walk-ons Luke Longval and Bode Soukup are all slated to participate in Saturday’s scrimmage.
The event marks a significant milestone for Lateef, who attended last spring’s Red-White game as an official visitor and will now experience a similar event as a participant. The early enrollee joined the team in January and was able to participate in bowl practices leading up to the Pinstripe Bowl. Coach Rhule emphasized the importance of providing Lateef with opportunities in front of a crowd, praising his competitive spirit, intelligence, athleticism, and accurate throwing ability. Quarterbacks coach Glenn Thomas echoed this sentiment, highlighting Lateef’s proactive approach to learning the new offensive system.
Saturday will also provide the first public glimpse of Marcos Davila in a Nebraska uniform. The transfer from Purdue, who was initially recruited by offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen out of high school, is still awaiting his first collegiate game appearance after spending a season with the Boilermakers. Rhule expressed the need for Davila to gain live game experience, noting the depth at the quarterback position and the efforts to distribute reps effectively.
Nebraska anticipates running approximately 60 plays during Saturday’s scrimmage. Despite Raiola’s absence from the scrimmage, Rhule conveyed confidence in Gramstad’s ability to perform behind the projected starter. He stated that Gramstad has earned the respect of the locker room and is performing well during practice reps.
The Husker Games will offer fans an intriguing look at the future of the quarterback position for Nebraska, with the spotlight firmly on the quartet of talented backups eager to showcase their skills.