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Mike Riley Sheds Light On AJ Bush Transfer

By Oliver Vandervoort

Oct 17, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Mike Riley looks on during the second half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium. The Cornhuskers won 48-25. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Mike Riley looks on during the second half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium. The Cornhuskers won 48-25. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mike Riley spoke to the media this weekend about the transfer of AJ Bush and shed a bit more light on how the Huskers suddenly became light at the quarterback position.

Bush announced last week he was going to leave the Nebraska football team and that departure left the Huskers in a situation where they might need to use someone they were hoping would redshirt if everything goes wrong. When he was asked about how the transfer situation materialized he made it clear he was less than thrilled.

Riley said he had slated Bush for the third quarterback spot this season behind Tommy Armstrong and Ryker Fyfe. The plan for next year was Bush would get to compete with Tanner Lee and Patrick O’Brien for the starting job while Tristan Gebbia would apparently be carrying a redshirt.

According to the Kearney Hub, Riley said he had several chats with Bush’s family about how the plans were being laid out. He seemed to think everyone was on the same page about the way Bush was going to spend his career for the Huskers.

“AJ wants to play,” Riley said. “He’s third right now.” This is why Bush has thrown away his career at Nebraska in order to play for Iowa Western this season. Obviously, he’s hoping this season will turn into a scholarship offer from a larger school next year.

Now, Patrick O’Brien is going to be traveling with the team and technically taking up the third quarterback slot. While Riley has said the staff is going to be working to keep his redshirt on O’Brien, it’s going to be more difficult than had Bush stuck around.

At the same time, Riley said the team has come up with an alternate plan if something goes wrong and the team is forced to insert a third QB for just a play or two. “The other question is: If something happens to your first-stringer, and then your second-stringer loses a helmet, would you put Patrick in and burn his redshirt? So we’d have to have another guy prepared. We’ve got that kind of built into that team.”

Next: Nebraska Football’s Ryker Fyfe Is Ready To Go

Mike Riley didn’t say what that plan was, and stopped taking questions but it’s likely Zack Darlington might take a snap or two in a pinch.

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