TJ Lateef isn’t backing down in Nebraska football QB battle 

If Anthony Colandrea is going to be coronated as the Nebraska football starting quarterback, someone forgot to tell TJ Lateef.

The former blue-chip recruit, who was an Elite 11 performer coming out of high school, started four games last season for Nebraska football, with mixed results.

Lateef won his first start against UCLA. He was nearly flawless, completing 13-of-15 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns. In the next three games, Lateef averaged 146 passing yards and completed just 50.5 percent of his passes with one touchdown and one interception.

Lateef was good at protecting the ball. He just struggled to see the field in what was a baptism by fire. The kid was never supposed to play for Nebraska football as a true freshman.

He showed flashes, enough to think Lateef could be a future starter. The former four-star recruit is hoping that happens this season, even with the addition of Colandrea, who is reportedly making well over a million dollars in NIL money to play for Nebraska.

TJ Lateef isn’t conceding Nebraska football QB job

Money talks, but not as much as production, and regardless of the money, the player who produces the most should be the starting quarterback, and according to Jacory Barney, Lateef has embraced the idea that this is a true competition.

“TJ sees it as a competition…He doesn’t see it as someone coming to take his spot; he’s one of the toughest people I know,” Barney said to reporters on Tuesday.

Daniel Kaelin is also in the quarterback mix for Nebraska. He also started games for Virginia last season, giving the Huskers three QBs with previous Power-4 starting experience.

Kaelin and Lateef might be battling for the backup job. Yet, with Colandrea having just one year to play, this season’s backup could be next year’s starter with Trae Taylor waiting in the wings.

Yet, Barney’s comments are a reminder that the quarterback still in the room from last season — TJ Lateef — isn’t giving up the job without a fight.

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