Just as Nebraska's season was starting, offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen said that true freshman quarterback TJ Lateef was more than ready to step in and take the job if Dylan Raiola went down. Starting next Saturday night against UCLA, that theory will be tested.
Lateef, who spelled Raiola when he was injured against USC, will now presumably get the starting nod for the Huskers for the rest of the season. That's because what was once thought to be a relatively minor injury to the Cornhuskers starter ended up being season-ending.
TJ Lateef brings dual-threat ability to Nebraska’s offense
Raiola, who Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule claimed tried to go back in the game on Saturday night, suffered a broken fibula. Not only couldn't he have played last night, but he's done until 2026, according to many reports, with Pete Thamel being the first to break the news.
The Huskers have not made an official announcement about their plans for quarterback, but Lateef won the backup job during a competition between him and veteran transfer Jalyn Gramstad.
While Raiola going down is obviously a worst-case scenario, there is reason to be intrigued rather than downtrodden by the news that Lateef will get four games to show what he can do, considering Nebraska has already clinched a bowl game.
Lateef is much more of a dual-threat quarterback than Raiola was, even if NU was trying to incorporate a bit more running into the budding superstar's game. The true freshman showed that off a little bit on Saturday, and it's likely Holgorsen has already gone to work looking at ways to incorporate his mobility into the attack.
"I think TJ has a bright, bright, bright future. He’s going to do a lot of good things. I thought he might be able to run and make some plays," Rhule said after the game.
Lateef showed that with 6 runs for 18 yards on a mix of designed keepers and quick scrambles. He also has an arm, which wasn't shown off much, as he completed 5 of 7 passes for 7 yards, mostly on short screens or swing passes.
However, he did uncork a couple of throws, including a 40-yarder in the air to Nyziah Hunter down the left sideline, made incomplete only by a standout effort from a USC defender.
Lateef also had a big freshman mistake in his first real playing time since garbage time early in the year. He fumbled a shotgun snap in the fourth quarter when Jacory Barney had darted in from the right side and appeared to have a lane for a 21-yard touchdown sprint that would have provided Nebraska the lead and perhaps eventually been the winning score.
"I think we would have walked in on the screen," Rhule said in his post-game press conference.
Lateef played major minutes for Nebraska against Akron and Houston Christian before the USC game and has completed 16 of 19 passes for 261 yards and a touchdown. He's also carried 11 times for 50 yards and 2 TDs.