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Nebraska Football: Tanner Lee News Gives Huskers Additional Depth

By Oliver Vandervoort

Oct 3, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Tulane Green Wave quarterback Tanner Lee (12) after a touchdown pass against the UCF Knights during the second quarter of a game at Yulman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Tulane Green Wave quarterback Tanner Lee (12) after a touchdown pass against the UCF Knights during the second quarter of a game at Yulman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Nebraska football team got good news when the NCAA found out transfer quarterback Tanner Lee will have two years of eligibility after he sits out this year.

Why is this news particularly good? Mainly because the Cornhuskers have a bit of a depth problem at the quarterback position, especially starting in 2017. Tommy Armstrong and Ryker Fyfe will both be gone and the program will be in the hands of quarterbacks that have likely taken minimal snaps in college football.

That second year means Lee, the former starting quarterback for the Tulane Green Wave will be able to either step in and start, or be one of the most battle-tested backups in the Big 10. While most Nebraska Football fans are expecting either Patrick O’Brien or Tristan Gebbia to take the helm, neither of those players have proven to be capable just yet.

We do know that Tanner Lee has played major college football. The good news is that if he has to step in next year and neither O’Brien or Gebbia are ready to take the reigns, the Huskers will have Lee for another season.

In other words, the Nebraska football program just lucked into basically having a sophomore quarterback with more game experience than any sophomore quarterback in quite some time for the Huskers.

Lee isn’t the average redshirt, who is sitting out in order to learn how to play college football. This is a kid that already knows more about playing in big games than most of the other quarterbacks on the Husker roster.

That veteran presence won’t directly impact the play on the field, but if Tommy Armstrong uses it right, he could certainly serve as another quarterback coach. Lee can be someone Armstrong can turn to for advice, knowing there’s no threat that he’s talking to someone trying to take his job.

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There isn’t a competition between these two because Lee couldn’t play today even if the coaches wanted. Next year, Lee will be able to put what he’s learned at Nebraska into effect. He’ll either be able to put that knowledge to work on the sidelines and on the field with the understanding we’ve got that knowledge for an extra season.

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