WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The hype train of Tanner Lee’s potential was charging ahead at 100 mph entering Nebraska’s 2017 season opener, but that was quickly derailed after a rough start to the year full of interceptions and inconsistency.
It wasn’t until Saturday night’s 25-24 comeback victory at Purdue that Husker fans finally saw why so much had been made about the junior quarterback.
Even with a non-existent running game and shaky pass protection from his offensive line, Lee ended up putting together far and away the best game of his career and one of the top quarterback performances in NU history.
The former Tulane transfer completed 32-of-50 passes (64 percent) for a career-high 431 yards and two touchdowns, including the eventually game-winning scoring toss to Stanley Morgan with just 14 seconds left.
“I think that’s the most yards I’ve ever thrown for, so that was fun,” Lee said. “I’ve had a couple two-minute drives in the past, but that was probably the best one. That was a lot of fun.”
From a historical standpoint, Lee’s 431 yards tied Zac Taylor for the fourth-highest total in school history and marked just the seventh 400-yard game ever by a Nebraska quarterback.
Following his 303 yards in NU’s loss to Ohio State, Lee also registered back-to-back 300-yard passing games, making him the first Husker to accomplish that feat in conference play since Joe Ganz back in 2008.
What made Lee’s outing especially impressive was how calm and collected he was when the game was on the line in the final minutes.
After Nebraska took over with 1:22 remaining and trailing by five, the New Orleans native completed 7-of-8 passes for 70 yards and the winning score to Morgan, all without any timeouts.
“Really poised,” offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf said of Lee’s performance. “Between not successfully running, the penalties - just being able to stick with it and keep playing and not really be fazed was a real credit to him.
“He was excellent on the phones about some adjustments we made. He kept encouraging the guys, he was great greeting the defense off the field on a stop, just all the stuff you need from a captain. Then of course just making plays. I think all of that stuff showed, and it’s why he’s so important to us.”
Lee had already earned the respect of his teammates before ever taking a live game snap as a Husker, indicated by his selection as team captain before the season.
But a game like Saturday night certainly elevated the confidence and trust the entire locker room has in No. 13 under center.
“That was crazy right there,” sophomore linebacker Mohamed Barry said. “That’s a big-time drive right there. That’s a Tom Brady-type drive right there. When you have ice water in your veins, you make that kind of drive.”
