Matt Rhule updates where Nebraska backup QB battle stands

Going into the 2025 season, there’s no question at starting quarterback for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Head coach Matt Rhule knows that Dylan Raiola will fill that role. However, the backup spot remains a battle.

This spring, Rhule shared an update on the Cornhuskers quarterback room. There, Nebraska has both experienced and high-upside options to turn to for the second quarterback spot.

“I don’t think there’s a guy in the locker room that wouldn’t follow Jalyn Gramstad into battle,” Matt Rhule said. “And believe that he can get it done for us. He’s getting a lot of reps, he’s done a really nice job. The other guys have worked hard.”

Jalyn Gramstad came to Nebraska out of the NAIA ranks. There, he spent four seasons at Northwestern College in Iowa and became one of the best players in the country. He took a redshirt in 2024 with the Cornhuskers and made the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll. In one game last season, he completed a pass for 11 yards.

Another player who Matt Rhule highlighted was TJ Lateef. A true freshman, he came to Nebraska as a four-star recruit in the Class of 2025. He was the 347th-ranked player and the 23rd-ranked quarterback in that recruiting cycle. Now, he’s already begun to impress coaches at Nebraska.

“You know TJ [Lateef]. I think it’s important for TJ to get some opportunities… I like his competitive fire,” Rhule said. “I like his intelligence, I like his athleticism. He throws a really accurate ball. Catchable. He knows where to go with it. So, I think it’s important he gets those reps.”

In total, Nebraska has six quarterbacks listed on the roster. They have to share reps and Dylan Raiola remains the focus as the starting quarterback. However, that also has given Rhule options moving forward with the backup quarterback job.

“I think Marcos [Davila] and the other guys they need to get out there and play,” Rhule said. “We’ve got a lot of quarterbacks, you know, so we’ve had to spread the reps around. We’ve given Dylan a ton because he’s going into his second spring. He needs the reps, but I think we feel really good about that second spot.”

The hope is that Nebraska will not need to rely on a backup quarterback for any extended period throughout the season. However, having options in case a situation arises is always important for teams, even if it’s harder to maintain in the Transfer Portal era.