The first start of the TJ Lateef era couldn't have gone better for the Nebraska football team. While Husker fans and teammates were excited to see what he did in the true freshman's first career start, the excitement to see what Lateef can do next is what has the team really fired up.
After the 28-21 win over UCLA, after the chants of Lateef's name had died down and he and the rest of the Huskers met with the media, there was one point that everyone kept hammering home. This is just the start for a young player who has shown a very high upside.
Nebraska football teammates excited for TJ Lateef's second act
"Greatness," NU receiver Jacory Barney said about the true freshman quarterback after the win. "That's what y'all seen, right? I seen what y'all seen."
It took no time at all for running back Emmett Johnson to realize that Lateef was ready to roll. In fact, it was the first offensive play, a zone read that the quarterback kept for a 14-yard gain.
"When he pulled it and ran, I was like, 'Okay, he’s locked in,’" Johnson said. "I knew he was locked in right away."
It wasn't just offensive players who were impressed by Lateef's play. On a day when the defense struggled from time to time, it was the quarterback and his unit that kept the Bruins at bay. Defensive back Marques Buford recognized that.
"Let’s talk about being ready to (expletive) shine when your opportunity comes," Buford said in the locker room afterward to roars. "TJ!"
"I’m super excited for him," senior cornerback Ceyair Wright said. "I’m super ready to play the next game behind him."
"The whole team believes in him," Jack Defender Dylan Rogers said.
"He did amazing," defensive lineman Keona Davis said. "He’s back home. He was locked in."
Lateef finished the game, completing 13 of 15 passes for 205 yards and 3 touchdowns to go along with zero interceptions. He also did just enough on the ground to keep UCLA honest, rushing 5 times for 31 yards.
The freshman also avoided getting sacked a single time, something that's been an issue for the Huskers this season. He clearly had been coached to check his receivers quickly and then go if nothing was available.
His next test will be against a better defense, and while Penn State is just 3-6 and 0-6 in the Big Ten, they entered the year as the No. 2 team in the country. They're without their head coach and their starting quarterback, but there's still plenty of talent, especially on defense.
Nebraska is excited to see what TJ Lateef can offer up against the Nittany Lions. Especially with an extra week to prepare for the hostile environment of Happy Valley.