The revolving door at the quarterback position in Lincoln has claimed another victim. Tanner Vibabul, the Las Vegas dual-threat prospect who committed to the Huskers just weeks ago to help fill the void left by Dylan and Dayton Raiola, has officially flipped his commitment. In a move that caught many by surprise during the February signing period, Vibabul has chosen to take his talents to James Madison, leaving Matt Rhule’s developmental depth chart thinner than anticipated.
A short-lived Husker career
Vibabul’s stint as a Nebraska commit was remarkably brief, lasting less than a month. After visiting Lincoln on Jan. 14, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound playmaker seemed destined to bring his «Lamar Jackson-style» athleticism to the Big Ten. With over 2,400 rushing yards and 55 total touchdowns over the last two high school seasons, Vibabul was seen as an intriguing developmental piece for QB coach Glenn Thomas. However, the lure of a 2025 CFP team in James Madison proved too strong to resist, as the Dukes offered a late opportunity that Vibabul was quick to seize.
Rhule remains «bullish» despite the departure
Despite losing a third potential quarterback addition in the wake of the Raiola brothers’ portal departures, head coach Matt Rhule isn’t hitting the panic button. Nebraska is moving into spring football with a four-man room led by senior Anthony Colandrea—the reigning Mountain West Player of the Year—alongside Daniel Kaelin, TJ Lateef, and Bode Soukup.
«I looked at it as an unbelievable challenge,» Rhule recently said of the recent recruiting turmoil. «And I think we came away better. Anthony Colandrea is the right guy to bring in from the portal… and Danny Kaelin, he’s a Husker, he needs to be here.»
While the loss of Vibabul takes away a high-upside athlete, the coaching staff remains confident that their current trio has the «juice» to lead the program through a critical 2026 season.
