Heinrich Haarberg talks Nebraska football QB room, plus more Cornhuskers news

Originally posted on Husker Big Red | By Chris Peterson | Last updated 12/28/23

Former starting quarterback Heinrich Haarberg talks about the Nebraska football QB room that will feature two freshmen.

All of a sudden, Heinrich Haarberg is the old man in the Nebraska football quarterback room. The five-game winner in 2023 even found a little humor in that on a radio appearance earlier this week, when he was addressing the additions to the room of five-star Dylan Raiola and Elite 11 QB Daniel Kaelin.

“I’m glad both of them are coming in,” Haarbarg said of the new Nebraska football QBs. “Now it’s three scholarship quarterbacks. Two of them are freshmen. I’m the old head, which is funny. Shoot, I can’t even go on O Street. I’m not 21 yet.”

All class by Heinrich Haarberg here. Give it a listen.

"I'm glad both of them are coming in…" he said of the young QBs. "Now it's three scholarship quarterbacks. Two of them are freshmen. I'm the old head, which is funny. Shoot, I can't even go on O Street. I'm not 21 yet." https://t.co/t6qZDhehAM

— Brian Christopherson (@Husker247BC) December 27, 2023

I’ve repeatedly talked about how I think Haarberg is a great third quarterback to have in the room with Raiola and Kaelin. He only reinforced that belief in his radio appearance. There’s certainly a chance he could play this season and I hope that while he develops more at quarterback, he gets a chance to be used in other roles too.

I’m not that enamored with him as a tight end. I wouldn’t mind him catching a pass or two like against Minnesota, but I see his ability as a power runner as his best asset for Nebraska football. Surely, giving him a full offseason and 100 percent time in the QB room, which he will get, according to the same interview, will help him improve as a passer if he’s needed next season.

You have to love the attitude though. It doesn’t seem like the transfer portal is on his radar at all, which makes me happy because I see a Taysom Hill type of role being successful with Heinrich Haarberg.

Another transfer portal linebacker to track

Nebraska football offered Xe’ree Alexander, a three-star transfer linebacker from Idaho. He spent one season with the Vandals and earned FCS Freshman All-American honors.

Alexander would be a great addition. However, another potential linebacker target for Nebraska football could be former Syracuse linebacker Stefon Thompson.

Syracuse linebacker Stefon Thompson has entered the transfer portal, @chris_hummer and I have learned for @247sports.

Has career totals of 169 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks.https://t.co/vMPKhOjaAd pic.twitter.com/632y8EhJTB

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 27, 2023

Thompson has 169 career tackles, 20 tackles for loss, as well as 10.5 sacks. He played for Tony White and would have multiple years of eligibility. He’s 6-foot-1, 235 pounds, and would be a perfect fit for the 3-3-5 defense since he has played in it before.

Nebraska hasn’t offered or shown any interest yet. But man, it seems like a great fit.

This article first appeared on Husker Big Red and was syndicated with permission.

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