Matt Rhule shares how Heinrich Haarberg has grown this spring

As Nebraska gets set to head into Year 2 under coach Matt Rhule, one of the big question marks is what happens at quarterback. Veteran Heinrich Haarberg returns, but he could be pushed by five-star freshman Dylan Raiola.

But Rhule saw plenty of development out of Haarberg this spring, with the veteran impressing as he looks to keep a hold on the starting spot.

“I think you saw a lot of the stuff. He still has the ability to tuck the ball down and run,” Rhule said after the team’s spring game. “He’s truly a dual-threat at quarterback who can change the game. But I just love him taking what’s there. I love him being explosive, pushing the ball down the field, deep balls down the field, elite balls in the middle of the field.

“But I also love him moving within the pocket, taking checkdowns, taking a bad play and getting out of it. I think it’s really, really important in our job.”

While there currently doesn’t appear to be a ton of drama surrounding the quarterback position in Lincoln, Neb., that can change in a hurry. A bad game or two for Haarberg and fans will be clamoring for Raiola to get his shot.

Rhule knows that’s part of the equation. But he wants the competition itself to fuel growth.

“You guys haven’t asked the question yet but at some point you guys are gonna be like, ‘When are you going to name a starter?'” Matt Rhule said. “I love it. I go to dinner with Eric Crouch and Eric tells me that his entire rookie season or freshman year here he had to wait. He couldn’t sleep on Friday nights because at Saturday morning they’d go to breakfast before the game and then coach (Turner) Gill would tell them who was starting that week. Like, that is Nebraska.

“So what I love is we’re going to focus on Dylan, I get that. But you could see the improvement in Heinrich. You could see Danny (Kaelin) as a true freshman go out there and complete 60% of his balls, whatever he did today.”

Rhule noted he’s not opposed to playing multiple quarterbacks if the situation calls for it. He thinks there can be some advantages there, particularly because different guys have different skillsets.

“I want the quarterback play to be great,” Matt Rhule said. “So each guy from there then has to bring their own unique sensibility. Dylan makes these types of plays, Heinrich can make these types of plays. I personally believe it’s going to take all of us to play pretty well at the quarterback position in the Big Ten.”

There’s another reason that’s important: longevity.

The more the college football season has been stretched out, the more important it has become to develop quality depth. Particularly at quarterback.

“I personally believe throughout the course of the season, like we have aspirations of regaining Nebraska’s place and winning national championships,” Matt Rhule said. “How many games is that now to win a national championship? Between the Big Ten championship game, if you don’t have a bye it’s 15 or 16 games, yes? So play one quarterback through that… so watching Heinrich blossom and get better is so, so important. Watching Danny, watching Dylan. … I just want the quarterback play to be good, and it’s a credit to Glenn (Thomas), he’s done a really nice job with them.”