Nebraska Football: Is Chubba Purdy-mania here to stay?

Chubba Purdy got his first start of the 2023 campaign and impressed plenty of fans, including some former Nebraska football stars.

There was a time when Heinrich Haarberg was going to be the next hero of Nebraska football. Then he struggled and got injured and suddenly Husker fandom turned its lonely eyes to a new quarterback.

For one quarter, it looked like the legend of Chubba Purdy might be the best story written in the last two decades of Cornhuskers football. Then the next three quarters happened and the Nebraska football team suffered another one score loss.

The loss might have diminished the legend of Purdy, but it didn’t wipe it out entirely. The third string quarterback, who might have been writing his story much sooner if not for injuries, was a gamer.

He looked the part of a real passer and he showed off his wheels with his 55-yard touchdown run that gave the Huskers a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Despite the loss, Purdy performed admirably, completing 15-of-24 passes for 169 yards, a 58 yard touchdown and one interception that didn’t prove painful as it would have been the last play of the game for Nebraska football either way.

He also carried the ball 14 times for 105 yards. In short, he looked like someone the Nebraska football team had been looking for all season. And a couple of ex-Husker stars took notice.

Nebraska football quarterback gets impressive love

Fomer Husker quarterback Monte Christo took to Twitter after Purdy showed off his wheels by comparing the current QB to either Adrian Martinez, or Taylor Martinez. Or both.

Former Heisman winner Eric Crouch was impressed by the run as well.

Later in the game, Crouch went on to heap praise on Purdy not just for his running, but also the way he offered the whole package as a quarterback.

"“I like the quick processing of Chuba. Throws are out quick and on options he is putting his foot in the ground. Dime.”"

Former Husker all-world defensive star Adam Carriker joined in with his own perspective.

Former Huskers weren’t the only ones to notice what Purdy was doing either. The Husker quarterback’s brother plays for the San Francisco 49ers. However, while Chubba used to be considered Brock Purdy’s little brother, it appears the shoe is on the other foot now.

In a season that has had some serious ups and downs for Nebraska football, Chubba Purdy is starting to look like a story that can warm some hearts. And offer some hope for 2024.