A few transfer portal quarterbacks Nebraska football should consider

Nebraska football knew it was going to need a quarterback.

I’m convinced that was the case behind the scenes. You could sense where this was headed the week of the Iowa game. Whatever that report was from CBS, it foreshadowed things to come.

Dylan Raiola is entering the portal. Nebraska football can move on to a more mobile quarterback, with about $3.5 million it can spend on his replacement, or the Huskers can add a quarterback and an elite running back.

Chris Hummer of CBS Sports is reporting that Raiola is considering Oregon among other schools. There are tons of other rumors, but the bigger issue for the Huskers is who will be the replacement?

Here are some options based on who is available right now.

Sam Leavitt, Arizona State

It might take all of Raiola’s NIL budget to land the former Arizona State quarterback, who battled injuries this season but had 29 total touchdowns, over 3,200 total yards and just six interceptions in 2024. He also led ASU to the Big 12 championship that season and the College Football Playoff.

Leavitt had 1,928 total yards and 15 touchdowns total in just seven games this season. Oregon was among the teams mentioned in contention for him, too.

Raiola could change the calculation. Either way, Leavitt feels like he would be an upgrade. It won’t be easy to land what many consider the top quarterback available, but the Huskers have to at least try, and they do have money to spend.

Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati

Sorsby is a good quarterback. But you have to ask, is he that good? This is the guy that Curt Cignetti didn’t really want when he took the job at Indiana. Sorsby had 45 touchdown passes for the Bearcats the past two seasons and passed for 2,800 yards in each. This year, the senior, with one year left to play, threw 28 touchdown passes compared to five interceptions. He also ran for 580 yards after running for 443 in 2024. He’s got 1,295 rushing yards and 22 career rushing touchdowns.

Sorsby could be a great bridge option, too, as TJ Lateef gets more seasoning. Ideally, Lateef would start for a couple of seasons before giving way to Trae Taylor.

One thing this should teach Matt Rhule is that relying on a freshman is too risky. The Huskers can’t do that again, even with Taylor in a couple of years.

Katin Houser, East Carolina

Another potential option, based on the players currently in the portal is Katin Houser. He passed for 3,300 yards last season and had 19 touchdown passes. That’s 37 touchdown passes over the past two seasons.

He started some games for Michigan State before transferring. I’m not certain he would win the job over Lateef, but that would provide some ample competition.

Zane Flores is another name. He’s not proven and would be another who would be capable of pushing Lateef, but wouldn’t come in as the starter like the first two names on the list.

Nebraska football needs a guy like that or next year might get ugly.

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