“This is probably one of the most talented quarterback rooms we will ever see.” That is what Howard Griffith of the Big Ten Network (BTN) had to say when the BTN crew visited Lincoln earlier this month.
It could have been easy to overlook given the many storylines and high anticipation leading up to the season, but that’s an absolutely incredible statement when you think about Nebraska’s offense – and especially the quarterback play – during the 2023 season. Transfer Jeff Sims struggled with turnovers and injuries and never developed into the guy the Husker coaches had hoped for. He left the team after the season. Heinrich Haarberg – affectionately known as the William Wallace warrior – Joint fan podcast – fought admirably while leading the Huskers to five wins, but he lacked the weapons around him and wasn’t a perfect fit for what the Huskers wanted to do on offense. Chubba Purdy showed his ability when he got the chance, but like Sims, has since left the program.
With only one veteran player returning to the quarterback lineup, there was a fair amount of offseason speculation about what Nebraska would do at the position in 2024. As most Husker fans know by now, Matt Rhule went to work and did not disappoint. The story of the offseason, of course, was the signing of 5-star prospect Dylan Raiola. I’ll never forget the news that came out of nowhere in December that Raiola was suddenly thinking about Nebraska again. The smoke quickly turned into a fire that consumed the fan base all offseason. Getting Raiola to leave his commitment to Georgia while also signing homegrown Elite 11 prospect Daniel Kaelin out of Bellevue West was a slam dunk for Rhule and his team. New addition Jaylyn Gramstad – a decorated quarterback from Northwestern College and the best NAIA player in the country in 2023 – brought much-needed experience and depth to the position and gave Husker fans some relief.
However, until Howard Griffith’s comment, I didn’t realize what an impressive feat the Nebraska coaching staff accomplished. After subpar performances in 2023 and with only one guy on the roster who played quarterback for Nebraska, Coach Rhule and his staff have drastically upgraded the position with a 5-star QB, a 4-star QB, and a guy who was the best player in the entire NAIA. Let’s take a moment and appreciate what an outstanding accomplishment this is. Rhule seems to have a knack for not only finding replacements when a coach or player leaves the program, but actually making the situation better. The improvements at the quarterback position should serve the Huskers well for years to come.
Let’s take a closer look at each of the four main signal providers for Big Red.
Dylan Raiola. 5-star recruit. Husker legacy. And now 2024 Opening Day starter. Raiola represents so much hope for Nebraska fans. We should try not to put too much on a true freshman’s shoulders, but I’m reminded of General Eisenhower’s letter to the troops on D-Day: “The eyes of the world are upon you.” That’s certainly how Husker fans feel when it comes to Raiola. Quarterback play is so important in modern football; if he’s as good as touted, he can be a transformational figure in Nebraska football history. Can he lead us all the way back to the top of college football?
Heinrich Haarberg. Haarberg will play important snaps for the Huskers this season. Offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield said this week that Haarberg and Raiola will be on the field at the same time “often.” I’m excited to see how they use him. Don’t forget that in the first game against Minnesota last season, Haarberg was actually in the slot and caught a pass from Jeff Sims. It’s exciting to see how the Nebraska coaching staff will find different ways to use his playmaking skills. Will there also be special packages for him to stand at quarterback and run the offense in certain situations? We know he can run; he’s one of the best athletes on the team. And looking at how he looked in the spring game, he’s also put in some work to improve his throwing motion and accuracy. Maybe we’ll also see some trick plays where he’s not standing at quarterback but still has the ball in his hands and has the opportunity to run or pass. That’s a nightmare for defenses to prepare for. Whatever the outcome, he is an extremely valuable player in the squad, both for his impact on the pitch and his role as a mentor to Raiola and Kaelin.
Daniel Kaelin. Kaelin had plenty of opportunities to play quarterback in college. For a time, he was committed to Missouri, a program that seemed to finally have a foothold in the SEC. When Raiola initially decided to take his talents elsewhere, Rhule’s staff was quickly able to convince the home-state star player to transfer to the Huskers. Even when Raiola ultimately chose Nebraska and Michigan State came calling, Kaelin stuck with his commitment, giving the Big Red two top quarterbacks in the class of 2024. I love having a guy who wasn’t intimidated to transfer into the same class as the best quarterback recruit in the country. That says a lot about his confidence and inner strength. Kaelin is currently ranked No. 3 and will hopefully be able to keep his redshirt this year. With the new rule allowing players to play up to four games without burning their redshirt, we should also hope that the Huskers get a big enough lead in enough games for Kaelin to make some valuable live appearances.
Jalyn Gramstad. Gramstad excelled in his career at NAIA Northwestern College in Iowa. According to huskers.com, “Gramstad led the Raiders to the NAIA National Championship in 2022 and a runner-up finish in 2023. At Northwestern, Gramstad completed 438 of 647 passes (68 percent) for 6,237 yards and 60 touchdowns. He added 1,822 rushing yards with 31 touchdowns.” Those are some very impressive career numbers. Gramstad seems like a perfect fit for the 2024 Huskers. After Raiola committed, you have to assume the coaching staff was all about making it with him as the starting QB, and that’s what we saw. In that scenario, the team likely won’t bring in a veteran transfer who expects to see a lot of playing time. In Gramstad, the Huskers have found exactly what they needed: a guy who has played football a lot and successfully and who wants to be a coach. He understands his role as a mentor for the younger players, almost like another coach in the quarterback room. But in the hopefully unlikely event of multiple injuries, he can also step in and competently lead the offense.
With just a few days to go before Game 1, the confidence many Husker fans have in Matt Rhule and hope for the team’s future is higher than ever. The quarterback situation is a good example of this.
Stay up to date with all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers on SIin connection HuskerMax on Xand visit HuskerMax.com daily.
