While bowl win is top priority, Huskers excited about QB future

Nebraska’s coaching staff has been doing a bit of a balancing act since the start of preparations for the upcoming Music City Bowl vs. Tennessee on Dec. 30.

While the Huskers obviously still have a lot to play for and plenty of incentive to end the season with a bowl victory, they have made it a point to use their 16 allotted bowl practices also as a chance to get an early jump on next season.

Considering the massive amount of turnover that will occur as soon as the Music City Bowl comes to a close, it’s easy to see why.

Nebraska’s current top-three quarterbacks on the depth chart - Tommy Armstrong, Ryker Fyfe and Zack Darlington - will be swapped out for three new faces starting next spring in Tanner Lee, Patrick O’Brien and incoming freshman Tristan Gebbia.

When asked earlier this week if any young players had stood when looking ahead to next season, head coach Mike Riley immediately pointed to Lee and O’Brien, who have already begun their competition for the Huskers’ starting job in 2017.

“I hate to single any people out, but I will say this: the two quarterbacks look good,” Riley said.

Offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf might not say it, but there’s little arguing that his offense should look completely different next year with quarterbacks he hand-picked to run his system.

Lee, a transfer from Tulane, served as NU’s primary scout team quarterback this season while sitting out. After throwing for 3,601 yards and 23 touchdowns in nearly two full seasons as a starter with the Green Wave, Lee transferred to Nebraska and drew instant praise from his new coaches.

O’Brien, who split reps with the scout team and the varsity offense, was a four-star prospect in the 2016 class who ranked as the No. 7 pro-style quarterback in the country.

“I think both of them are very smart,” Langsdorf said. “They are well on their way to having a really good understanding of what we’re doing. They’re accurate throwers, which is really evident in our practices. We complete a lot of balls when they’re in.

“They throw the ball down the field nicely and are doing a nice job of checking the ball down to the backs. I’ve been really impressed with both of them in the last week of practice.”

While O’Brien was clearly the more decorated recruit coming out of high school - Lee was only a two-star in 2013 - the hype surrounding Lee since he arrived on campus this fall has many projecting him as the frontrunner for the starting job next season.

In fact, reports from some sources with NFL connections have said Lee not only could go on to be a high draft pick, but potentially even a first-rounder if all goes as planned.

“He’s got a good arm, really smart, quick release,” Fyfe said of Lee. “Obviously he had experience at Tulane, so that helps a lot too, just having that experience. I think he’ll be a good player.”

So while Nebraska clearly needs a strong showing against Tennessee to build some momentum back up going into the offseason, it’s hard for the Huskers not to peek ahead this month and get excited about the future of their quarterback position.

“It’s a good time of year because you have time,” Langsdorf said. “You have time to get your game plan together … and then you’ve got time to look at the future a little bit.

“You get basically an extra spring practice with these bowl practices, so we can take some time with the group going forward and practice the things that they’re going to have to know and get good at. It’s a good time of year.”