Credit Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule. Once he made a misstep in reeling in Kenny Minchey, he acted quickly to make sure the Huskers got their top transfer portal quarterback position filled. In the process, they got a QB who actually has quite a bit more experience as a starting quarterback in major college football.
Colandrea spent 2025 with the UNLV Runnin' Rebels after two years with the Virginia Cavaliers. With the Mountain West team, he completed 65.9% of his passes for 3,459 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. More importantly for the Huskers as they transition to a more QB-run-based offense is that Colandrea ran for 649 yards and 10 TDs this year.
Former UNLV QB Anthony Colandrea has committed to Nebraska, per @noah_reisenfeld and @Adie_vongontard of @YMAPAAsports. They told me and @max_olson that he committed today on his visit. https://t.co/vkrVw3uQCt
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 6, 2026
Nebraska lands Anthony Colandrea after Kenny Minchey departure
After Minchey decommitted from Nebraska and signed with Kentucky on Monday night, the Huskers moved quickly and set up a visit on Tuesday with Colandrea.
Matt Rhule and company also had visits with Aidan Chiles and Beau Pribula later this week. Apparently, they worked to get the former UNLV gunslinger into town because he was their top Plan B target.
There was a time when the quarterback was thought to be a heavy lean to Florida State. However, the Seminoles signed former Auburn QB Ashton Daniels earlier this week.
If there's reason for concern with Colandrea, it's his proclivity to turn the ball over when he was with Virginia. In two years with the Cavs he threw 26 touchdowns but also logged 20 interceptions.
Nebraska will hope that Anthony Colandrea has turned the corner and is better at protecting the ball as they continue to develop him.