Heinrich Haarberg could play ‘a lot’ alongside Dylan Raiola

Like any starting quarterback, the 19-year-old was in full leadership mode by Tuesday, deflecting attention.

“It’s about our team — I don’t want to make it about me or what I did,” Raiola said. “I can’t win the game by myself. It’s going to take all 11 (players) on both sides of the ball.”

One of those 11 on offense just might be the guy Raiola beat out for the starting job.

Rare is the moment when a backup college quarterback could learn tough news and still have the exact same reaction as his offensive coordinator.

But Heinrich Haarberg and Marcus Satterfield agree on what his role should be now.

“His whole thing was, ‘I don’t want to stand over there and hold a clipboard, let me go play,’” Satterfield said on Tuesday of Haarberg’s response. “And so we’re going to find ways to get him in the game.”

A 6-foot-5, 225-pound QB, who ranks among the fastest players on the team, prompts a play-caller to get creative. Satterfield intends to be.

He joked Haarberg will have to keep “19 helmets” for all the scenarios that might involve him having a “green dot” in-helmet device should he play QB or, not having the green dot if he’s elsewhere on the field.

And asked to assess how NU might run the ball — given starter Dylan Raiola is more of a pocket passer — Satterfield himself noted the Huskers still had Haarberg, who led the team in rushing last season with 477 yards and five touchdowns.

“Heinrich’s going to be out there on the field with Dylan a lot,” Satterfield said. “… We can be creative and do a bunch of different things.”

With Satterfield so closely mirroring comments made by NU coach Matt Rhule on Monday, reporters speculated whether the reputed vision for Haarberg’s skillset might be closer to gamesmanship — at least vs. UTEP — than a gameplan.

But Haarberg played tight end, albeit briefly, in Nebraska’s 13-10 loss at Minnesota last year. And NU has a history of utilizing quarterbacks at different positions.

None is more famous than Eric Crouch, who started the 1999 season as the backup to Bobby Newcombe before seizing the job, in part, with a spectacular catch-and-run against California. Luke McCaffrey played receiver and tailback for NU in 2019 and 2020. Taylor Martinez played receiver for one ill-fated play in the 2010 Big 12 Championship, when Rex Burkhead failed to connect with him on a deep ball.

Rhule compared Haarberg to former Husker quarterback and coach Scott Frost, who played NFL safety after a successful collegiate career. The comparison is apt; Haarberg is bigger than Frost, and perhaps as fast.

Teammates didn’t hesitate to lean into Haarberg’s athletic prowess.

“He’s an incredible athlete,” NU receiver Jahmal Banks said. “When he’s coming downhill, I don’t know too many people who’d want to (tackle) Heinrich Haarberg. You’re going to see that. It’s going to be showcased.”

Haarberg is part of a Husker offense that could allow Satterfield to open up his playbook more than he did in 2023, when he was hamstrung by injuries to his receivers and struggles by transfer quarterback Jeff Sims, who committed six turnovers in seven quarters before sustaining an ankle injury.

“You can be as creative as players will allow,” Satterfield said. “And they’re going to allow us to be very creative.”

Satterfield would like more definition at running back, though, where four backs — Rahmir Johnson, Emmett Johnson, Gabe Ervin and Dante Dowdell — remain pitched in a battle for playing time.

“I don’t want to go through a season with four running backs,” Satterfield said. “I want one or two guys who can go out there and carry the ball, pass protect, be physical and know their assignments very well.”