Nebraska football offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen addressed the media on Tuesday, his first appearance at the podium since news of Dylan Riaola’s decision to enter the transfer portal surfaced.
Holgorsen confirmed the impending departure for the sophomore quarterback.
“I really loved working with Dylan, he’s a great kid,” offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen said Wednesday. “He gave a lot to this place for two years. Just look at what’s going on across the landscape of college football, how many quarterbacks have popped in the portal that were starting at their school. It’s just the new norm, so I can’t speak for him. I enjoyed working with him, and I wish him the best. But at the end of the day, Coach Rhule hired me to come in here and get us as good as we can on offense, and I don’t feel like we’re at that point right now. So we’ve got to continue to improve.”
Raiola took a big leap in his second season as a starting quarterback, completing over 70% of his passed for 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns with only six interceptions in nine games before a broken fibula ended his season — and perhaps altered his path, Holgorsen speculated.
“You look at that USC game, I still believe if that wouldn’t have happened, things are different,” Holgorsen said. “I think we win that game, and I think that gives us momentum, and who knows how the end of the season ends, and who knows where we’re at right now? But all I do is think about where we’re at right now, and what we’ve got to do to get better.”
One option it appears the Huskers may pursue is adding a quarterback via the transfer portal, which is open from Jan. 2 through Jan. 16.
“You get the best available,” Holgorsen said of what he’s looking for in a quarterback. “Is it a pocket guy? Is it a dual-threat guy? Is it more of a runner? You look at the overall body of work, and it’s just so different now, where we’re actively watching quarterbacks — and have been watching quarterbacks — to try to make those decisions.”
Holgorsen said he’s planning on watching a lot of film to see what’s out there.
“The way I look at it is you get the best player you can,” Holgorsen said. “I think we can mold our coaching around what the best player is, and what those skill sets are. Mobility is important.”
Currently, Nebraska’s quarterbacks on the roster include freshman TJ Lateef, redshirt freshman Marcos Davila and senior Jalyn Gramstad. However, Holgorsen is keeping all options on the table.
“I can argue it would be good to bring young kids in, I can argue it’d be good to bring an older kid in,” Holgorsen said. “I just think you need to look at it because competition is very important in that position.
Now, Holgorsen and the Huskers are shifting their attention to preparing Lateef ahead of the bowl game against the 10-2 Utah Utes on Dec. 31. Currently, Lateef’s working his way back from a hamstring injury that he suffered in the Huskers’ 40-16 loss to Iowa on Nov. 28.
“I just think there’s going to be a confidence level to go with his calmness,” Holgorsen said. “It’s killing him that he’s not practicing right now, because he wants the reps. He just loves the game, and he’s really fired up about this opportunity to go into this game knowing that a lot’s riding on him being the starting quarterback.”
This season, Lateef’s played in five games, starting three of them. He’s completing 62.1% of his throws for 722 yards and four scores while adding 27 carries for 98 yards and three more touchdowns.
“My main job is to coach TJ and the rest of the offense to get us ready to go play in a bowl game,” Holgorsen said. “That’s number one on my list.”
Nebraska will travel to Allegiant stadium in Las Vegas to play Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 31. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.
