Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule has long shown confidence in trusting young quarterbacks to lead his offense. But this time, the move comes under extremely difficult circumstances. Freshman Dylan Raiola will miss the rest of the season after suffering a significant leg injury. With Raiola sidelined, the attention now shifts to T.J. Lateef, the freshman from Compton, California, who is expected to lead the Huskers when they face UCLA on Saturday night.

While Lateef entered the program with less national hype than Raiola, Lateef is hardly an unknown talent. A former Elite 11 quarterback, Lateef was highly regarded for his balanced skill set, combining strong pocket presence with athletic mobility. Among those rallying behind the young signal caller is former Nebraska linebacker Will Compton, who has long championed Raiola and the Huskers program. “TJ Lateef szn. Excited to see the kid from Compton show what he’s about,” he wrote on X.

Following the loss to USC, Compton also took to social media to publicly encourage Lateef.  “Hats off to Lateef coming into a moment like that. Everyone’s gonna talk trash and question expectations, but they don’t know anything. I see it, and I’m fired up to root for this team every week.”

Replacing Dylan Raiola won’t be easy, but as the saying goes, practice and patience can take a player anywhere. Lateef, meanwhile, has seen limited but promising action this season. In earlier appearances against Akron and Houston Christian, he completed 16 of 19 passes for 261 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing 11 times for 50 yards and two scores. His dual-threat ability has drawn praise from the HC as well. “I think TJ has a bright, bright, bright future. He’s going to do a lot of good things. I thought he might be able to run and make some plays,” Rhule said.

The best part is that Lateef already has the backing of his teammates. Even Raiola was helping him from the sidelines. Reflecting on the challenge ahead, Lateef kept his focus simple. “It just goes back to practice and everything I’ve had to do during practice,” he said. “At the end of the day, I just have to play better.”

Talent evaluators have long seen potential in Lateef’s game. His strong arm, natural composure, and ability to extend plays outside the pocket make him a versatile weapon. Coaches who saw him at the Elite 11 Regional Camp in Los Angeles earlier this year praised his accuracy and maturity, calling him one of the best performers at the event. Let’s see how he handles the challenge of filling those big shoes.

Matt Rhule’s ties get stronger with Nebraska

After months of HC speculation from his former program, Penn State, Matt Rhule finally signed a two-year contract extension with Nebraska through the 2032 season, putting an end to all the rumors. Though his base salary remains the same, he will get performance-based incentives for CFP appearances.

For now, Rhule’s contract averages 11.7 million annually with a $1 million raise each year if Nebraska reaches the playoffs. And his buyout reaches from $5 million to $15 million if he leaves before 2026, while the extra years are valued at $12 million each.

But for Rhule, staying in Nebraska is more than just winning and salary compensation. “The University of Nebraska, the city of Lincoln, and the state of Nebraska are special. It is a place our family is proud to call home,” Rhule said. “We have outstanding leadership from Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold and Troy Dannen, and I appreciate the support and confidence they have shown in our staff. Our focus remains on building Nebraska Football into a perennial championship contender.”

Now, after losing Dylan Raiola and their playoff elimination game against USC, it will be interesting to see how Rhule holds up his team this season.