Nebraska’s offense is about to look a lot different with Anthony Colandrea at the controls, and that’s the kind of shift Husker fans have been waiting to see.
The biggest change from the last three Nebraska quarterbacks under Matt Rhule is simple: Colandrea brings a true dual-threat element. Heinrich Haarberg was the better runner than passer.
Dylan Raiola had the arm, but didn’t offer much as a runner and struggled with pocket presence. Colandrea, by contrast, can operate when the play breaks down.
He does have turnover issues, but he also has a real feel for the pocket and enough mobility to create when things get messy. That blend helped him win Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Colandrea said on Nebraska Sports Nightly that Dana Holgorsen has already tailored the offense around some of the things he did at UNLV, where he piled up more than 4,000 total yards and 33 total touchdowns.
“Coach Holgorsen has done a great job of adding some stuff we did at UNLV - run and pass stuff. Husker fans should be excited to see this offense go,” Colandrea said.
Nebraska is also making noise on the recruiting trail with an elite defensive line target. Four-star lineman Simon Nuamah, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound prospect in the 2028 class, picked up an offer from the Huskers this month. He’s ranked No. 64 overall in the 247 Sports composite rankings and has seen his offer list grow quickly, with Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Missouri, Maryland, and Georgia Tech all joining Nebraska on the list.
Nuamah is from Massachusetts, and Bryan Munson of Husker Online reported that Nebraska has the inside track to get him on campus for a visit. For a program looking to add more blue-chip talent up front, he’s a name worth watching.
There’s also a small scheduling note tied to the 2026 season. Nebraska will face two MAC teams in its first three games, with Ohio projected to finish fourth in the league and Bowling Green picked ninth. Western Michigan was chosen as the MAC’s preseason favorite.
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Three Nebraska Wild Cards Could Reshape Fall Camp Fast
Fall camp is about to give Nebraska a clearer look at a few players who could matter a lot by the time the 2026 season rolls around. Janiran Bonner, Dawson Merritt and Carter Nelson all missed spring practice because of injuries, but each still sits in the group of wild cards who could change the feel of the roster if they get on the field and stay there.
Bonners versatility gives the staff plenty to think about, Merritt brings the kind of linebacker upside that keeps coaches interested even after a stop-start injury path, and Nelson remains one of the more intriguing developmental pieces on the roster after moving from wide receiver to tight end. The common thread is health, and Nebraska will spend camp finding out whether these three can turn potential into something more concrete before the season starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska's Offense Is Drawing Real Belief From Its New Quarterback
Anthony Colandrea has spent spring practice getting a closer look at what Nebraska wants to be on offense, and the early impression is a confident one. The quarterback said he likes the way Dana Holgorsen has blended concepts from his previous stop at UNLV into the Huskers system, with Colandrea pointing to a group of receivers and an offensive line that give the unit a chance to do more than just get by.
There is still a learning curve, though, and Colandrea did not gloss over it. He talked about the jump from the Mountain West to the Big Ten and the challenge of facing a defense that has been complex throughout camp, but he also said the offense is starting to get more comfortable with the system. For a Nebraska attack looking for a cleaner identity, that kind of belief from the new quarterback matters, even if the real proof is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]