Nebraska’s quarterback battle defined as a ‘tightrope’ for coming summer

Nebraska’s quarterback battle is a “tightrope,” as described by Husker Online’s Sean Callahan following the spring game.

Freshman and former five-star Dylan Raiola seemingly has the lead and the better tools to succeed as the starter. Heinrich Haarberg might be falling behind now, based on Callahan’s observations.

Of course, no decision has been made nor does it look like it’s close. But Callahan noted how Nebraska and Matt Rhule have to be careful with the room.

“It’s a tightrope,” Callahan said on Andy Staples On3. “Because Heinrich Haarberg did not walk into that postgame at the spring game with the best body language. You can just sense, I mean, I use this analogy to … it’s kind of like you get your brand new car when you’re 16. It’s a super nice Honda Accord. You’re really proud of it. Then the neighbor across the street, they pull up in the Ferrari with their son. I mean, that’s Dylan Raiola. No matter how good Haarberg is, he just doesn’t have some of the tools and talents of Raiola. But Haarberg still is a very good athlete. He’s a, you know, high level guy that has pro skills. 

“Whether it’s a quarterback, an edge, a tight end, a ball carrier, whatever it is. He can do a lot of things. I think that’s Matt Rhule’s job. How do you keep this room together with these three scholarship guys? And will they entertain potentially a transfer just to bring in a fourth scholarship guy to that room?”

Nebraska QB battle about to heat up

Raiola already has a good feel for the game, as Rhule alluded to after the spring game. Raiola won’t shy away from the moment and it seems like he will improve as the summer rolls on towards the coming season.

“He’s got a great feel for the game,” Rhule said. “He’s got a big time arm, he’s calm. It’s gonna be the little things, it’s going to be protecting the football, taking three, managing the game. I thought, it just felt like he did a lot of those things, but he hasn’t done all them. 

“He’s grown as spring has gone on so he, like all the rest of our players, I think had a chance today to just improve on what they did last week and I thought in a lot of ways he did.”

Callahan noted Nebraska could still add a fourth scholarship quarterback to add depth to the room. But the two-man race continues into the summer months.