Nebraska fans may still have questions about how the Huskers navigated the transfer portal this winter, but there’s one move that’s starting to look like a clear win: quarterback Anthony Colandrea. According to Pro Football Focus, Colandrea isn’t just a solid addition-he’s one of the top transfer quarterbacks in the country.
PFF recently rolled out its highest-graded transfer QBs of the offseason, and Colandrea landed at No. 3 overall with a 90.1 grade. That’s elite territory.
Only two quarterbacks graded higher: Byrum Brown, formerly of USF and now at Auburn (91.5), and Brendan Sorsby, who transferred from Cincinnati to Texas Tech (90.5). That’s some impressive company, and it puts Colandrea ahead of several other big-name transfers heading into spring ball.
So what’s behind the high grade? For starters, Colandrea was the Mountain West Player of the Year-a title that doesn’t come easy, even in a Group of Five conference.
He showed poise, playmaking ability, and the kind of decision-making that translates to the next level. His film backs up the numbers: quick release, solid pocket presence, and the ability to extend plays without forcing the issue.
That’s exactly the kind of quarterback Nebraska has been searching for.
The rest of PFF’s top eight is filled with names making similar jumps from smaller programs to Power Four schools. Drew Mestemaker (88.3) is heading to Oklahoma State from North Texas.
Darian Mensah (84.1) made the move from Duke to Miami. Katin Houser (84.0) went from East Carolina to Illinois.
Rocco Becht (80.0) is now at Penn State after playing at Iowa State, and Colton Joseph (78.9) joins Wisconsin from Old Dominion. Colandrea, though, tops them all among Big Ten-bound quarterbacks.
That’s a big deal for Nebraska. Especially when you consider that Kenny Minchey, the Huskers' first quarterback commit from the portal, ended up flipping to Kentucky.
Minchey didn’t log enough snaps last season to qualify for PFF’s rankings, but in hindsight, Nebraska may have come out ahead anyway. Colandrea brings more proven production, and now, validation from one of the sport’s top analytics outlets.
Sure, some skeptics might point out that Colandrea’s numbers came in the Mountain West-a league not exactly known for defensive juggernauts. But that argument doesn’t hold much weight when you look at the rest of the top transfer QBs. Most of them are also making the leap from Group of Five to Power Four, and Colandrea still graded higher than all but two.
As Nebraska gears up for spring practice, Colandrea’s arrival gives the program a much-needed boost of optimism. He’s not just another name on the roster-he’s a quarterback with the tools and track record to make an immediate impact. And in a Big Ten that’s only getting deeper and more competitive, that’s exactly what the Huskers need.