Nebraska Fall Camp Preview for 2024: Quarterback
Matt Rhule’s second fall camp at Nebraska is right around the corner. The HuskerOnline team dives into what to expect from the Huskers with our position-by-position fall camp previews.
We kick off the series with Nebraska’s quarterbacks, where a heralded true freshman looks to be the frontrunner to take over the offense in 2024.
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What we know right now: Raiola appears poised to take the reins
Nebraska hasn’t been a stranger to starting true freshmen quarterbacks over the past decade or so. Barring any unexpected changes, it looks as if the Huskers will do it again in 2024.
Dylan Raiola arrived in Lincoln as one of the most decorated incoming freshmen signal-callers in recent memory. Rhule has yet to officially name a starter for this season, but the former five-star Raiola seemed to be everything the Huskers had hoped during spring ball.
The NU legacy still needs to hold off fourth-year junior Heinrich Haarberg, who started eight games in 2023. Fellow true freshman Daniel Kaelin will also have a say in the competition, and NU added a new name to the mix this offseason in former NAIA Player of the Year Jalyn Gramstad.
But Raiola appears on track to take the reins of Nebraska’s offense, and his play will directly correlate with the Huskers’ success this year.
Key stats and numbers from 2023
| Player | 2023 Snap Count |
| Heinrich Haarberg | 461 |
| Chubba Purdy* | 147 |
| Jeff Sims* | 143 |
| Player | Pass Yards | Completion % | Rush Yards | TDs | INT/FMB |
| Heinrich Haarberg | 967 | 49.0 | 447 | 7 passing 5 rushing | 7 INT 13 FMB |
| Chubba Purdy* | 382 | 54.4 | 180 | 2 passing 1 rushing | 3 INT 2 FMB |
| Jeff Sims* | 282 | 59.6 | 189 | 1 passing 1 rushing | 6 INT 6 FMB |
Biggest question: Is Raiola ready for the spotlight?
Raiola’s high school credentials rival any Nebraska quarterbacks in many years – maybe ever. Still, all the recruiting hype in the world won’t prevent a potential learning curve at the next level.
Since his arrival as an early enrollee, Raiola has done and said everything right. His play during spring practices lived up to expectations, and he didn’t seem to flinch in his first taste of the spotlight that comes with being a Husker QB.
However, none of that matters until he shows he’s ready to handle that role when the bullets start flying for real. How quickly Railoa adapts to everything that comes with the position – on and off the field – will go a long way in determining his Year 1 success.
Projected Fall Camp Quarterback Depth Chart
QB1:
1. Dylan Raiola
2. Heinrich Haarberg
3. Daniel Kaelin
4. Jalyn Gramstad
