Nebraska’s quarterback picture still has a little fog around it, but the Huskers are getting plenty of buzz elsewhere on the roster and on the recruiting trail.
Anthony Colandrea remains the big question mark for Nebraska fans. There’s obvious excitement about what last year’s Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year can bring, but there’s also concern about the turnovers that came with his game. Even so, PFF ranked Colandrea as the No. 3 returning quarterback in the Big Ten, placing him behind only Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and Oregon’s Dante Moore.
Dana Holgorsen is already trying to make the fit cleaner. Nebraska’s offensive coordinator has installed at least some of the most successful plays from UNLV’s offense, giving Colandrea a chance to operate with familiar concepts. Colandrea is eager to show what helped him put up more than 3,400 passing yards and over 600 rushing yards.
The Huskers also picked up a major addition on the wrestling side, with 3x All-American Meyer Shapiro transferring to Lincoln. The Cornell transfer picked Nebraska over North Carolina, and NU now has seven multi-time All-Americans on the roster. That comes with a wild eligibility puzzle to sort through.
On the recruiting front, Nebraska is in the mix for one of the more promising receivers in the 2028 class. David Forster, a 6-foot-4 wideout, is starting to think about visits and has Nebraska among the schools standing out to him. Penn State, Wisconsin and Syracuse are also in the group he’s watching closely.
Elsewhere, former Nebraska defensive lineman Elijah Jeudy has moved into coaching. Jeudy announced on Wednesday that he’s taken the defensive line job at Highland Community College, writing, “More blessings and new beginnings. The new D-line coach for Highland Community College,” alongside a photo from his new program.
It’s not a soft landing spot. Highland CC went 0-11 in 2025 and is rebuilding its coaching staff after a rough season on both sides of the ball. If Jeudy can help turn that around, it would be a strong early step in his new career.
There was also some national news tied to Nebraska’s orbit. The Baltimore Ravens waived undrafted rookie quarterback Diego Pavia days before training camp, shifting the third-string quarterback competition to veteran Skylar Thompson and undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano.
And LSU head coach Lane Kiffin floated a fix for NIL by calling for a “rookie” cap for incoming freshmen. As he put it: “The kids that haven’t played at all coming out of high school should be making less.
… There should be a freshman or rookie cap, and then max slots per position that they make.” He added that such a rule would require players to be employees and collectively bargain it, or else it would get challenged in court repeatedly.
There was even a bizarre college-football-adjacent note from Arizona State, which is set to allow students to pursue a degree in Social Media Influencing. The program will include tests and class texts, but students will also have to prove they know how to build a following.
In Other News...
Iowas Top Point Guard Target Just Became A Much Bigger Battle
Cayden Daughtrys rise has turned a promising recruiting target into one of the most watched point guard pursuits in the 2027 class. The Florida guard has surged to No. 3 overall in the 247Sports rankings after standout showings on the Nike EYBL circuit and at Peach Jam, and Iowa has been aggressive in making him a priority for Ben McCollums staff.
The Hawkeyes have positioned themselves well enough to be in the conversation early, but the race is far from simple. Daughtry is drawing heavy attention from Arkansas, Louisville, Miami, Michigan and Tennessee, and his official visit to Iowa City is set for later September, a trip that could help clarify where this battle really stands. [Read more 🡒]
Jan Jensen Is Already Chasing A Guard Iowa Fans Need To Watch
Jan Jensen and her staff are already working well down the road on the recruiting trail, and one of the names worth circling is Harper Winter, a freshman guard at Blue Valley North in Overland Park, Kansas. Iowa is among the programs that have offered the 2029 prospect, who has quickly built a rsum that has her on the radar of major Midwest and national programs alike.
Winter already carries the kind of profile that makes early attention feel justified, with a four-star label, a strong scouting grade and recognition as MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year. Iowa is not alone in the chase, either, with Iowa State, Kansas State and Texas Tech also in the mix, which means the Hawkeyes are getting involved in a recruitment that figures to keep growing as she moves through high school. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Sets Another Special Kids Day At Kinnick
Kids Day is coming back to Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 15 at 11 a.m. CT, giving Iowa fans another chance to see the Hawkeyes up close before the season gets rolling. The annual event will feature an open practice, and kids will also have a shot at autographs from players along the west and south stands before the workout begins.
The day is built around more than just football, though, with the 2026 Kid Captains set to get an inside look at Kinnick before joining players on the field for photos. Admission is free, and parking will be free in designated hard surface lots, with regular ramp fees still in place, while tickets are still available for several home games on the 2026 schedule, including matchups with Ohio State, Wisconsin for Homecoming, Purdue and Nebraska. [Read more 🡒]