Husker Big Red Daily: A $2.5 million QB, multiple RB starters for Nebraska football, and a Carter Nelson update

Welcome to Husker Big Red Daily, your daily stop for the latest Nebraska football news, recruiting buzz, transfer portal updates, and Huskers headlines. Here’s a quick look at the latest storylines surrounding Nebraska athletics.

Nebraska football fans have been following the running back competition closely this fall, with three contenders battling it out for the No. 1 job: Mekhi Nelson, Jamal Rule, and Isaiah Mozee.

The running backs, along with running backs coach E.J. Barthel, met with the media on Tuesday. Barthel said some interesting things, but maybe the most notable was that Nebraska football had “multiple starters” at running back.

“We have multiple starters. We have guys that can go be the guy. Different skillsets in the room, but the top of the room, I feel really comfortable with multiple guys starting right now,” Barthel said.

As far as who gets the first carry against Ohio, it doesn’t really matter. In my eyes, it will be Isaiah Mozee. He seems to have the fewest question marks, and maybe had the best offseason.

Jamal Rule, who is an avid bowler, feels like he will make an impact as a freshman. Mekhi Nelson also had over 100 yards in the Las Vegas Bowl. He was electrifying in that game. So all three Nebraska football running backs should have a role.

I expect each to have over 100 carries this season, a big departure from a year ago, when just about every carry went to Emmett Johnson, rightfully so.

Anthony Colandrea will be paid $2.5 million this season

Another Nebraska football headline from Tuesday is that quarterback Anthony Colandrea will make $2.5 million this season. Pete Nakos of On3.com reported that 13 different quarterbacks will make over $3 million this season in college football.

Colandrea is just under that. That’s also a lot higher than the just over $1 million that was reported during the offseason. You wonder if Nebraska sweetened the pot, hoping to get him back for another season, or maybe the first number reported was just inaccurate.

Either way, the Huskers are paying a premium for Colandrea. Let’s hope he plays like a $2 million quarterback.

Carter Nelson is getting “better and better”

The former top-100 recruit, Carter Nelson, who signed with Nebraska over Georgia back in the 2024 class, has played in every game the past two seasons, mostly on special teams.

Nelson has one touchdown reception. Fans have been wondering what his role will be this season. Tight ends coach Marcus Satterfield talked about the former four-star recruit on Tuesday, saying he’s hard on Nelson because he knows how good he can be.

Satterfield did say that the junior tight end has been getting “better and better.” He also said Eric Ingwerson has earned a “role.” Freshman Luke Sorensen has garnered positive buzz, too, and it feels like all three of those guys will get snaps behind Luke Lindenmeyer this season. He’s the only sure thing.

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