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Nebraska Loses Transfer Portal Quarterback Commit

Kenny Minchey, who verbally committed to the Huskers on Sunday, signed instead with an SEC suitor a day later.
Trevor Tarr|
Kenny Minchey (8) was presumedly going to compete to become Nebraska's quarterback for the 2026 season. However, it now appears the Huskers must once again head into the open market.
Kenny Minchey (8) was presumedly going to compete to become Nebraska's quarterback for the 2026 season. However, it now appears the Huskers must once again head into the open market. | MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Nebraska's transfer portal haul seemed to start off with a bang when the Huskers secured the verbal commitment of former Notre Dame quarterback Kenny Minchey on Sunday. However, just a little over 24 hours later, the junior-to-be has signed with another school.

Reported as the first verbal commitment to Nebraska of the 2026 transfer portal window, Minchey appeared to be in line to battle for the starting job in Lincoln. But according to multiple reports,
Minchey flipped his commitment Monday and signed with Kentucky, where he will be set to play under first-year head coach Will Stein.

Stein spent the 2025 regular season as Oregon's offensive coordinator. Under his guidance, the Ducks produced 38.0 points per game on their way to averaging over 457 yards of offense per contest.

Minchey is rated as the No. 44 overall player in the transfer portal and 10th best available quarterback. In three years at Notre Dame, Minchey saw action in 10 games and totaled 212 passing yards while completing 23-of-29 attempts. He also showcased an opportunistic ability as a runner. On nine career carries, Minchey has totaled 96 yards and two rushing scores.

While the news definitely caught Husker Nation off guard, it does reopen the door to an interesting topic. Former starting quarterback Dylan Raiola entered the transfer portal on Jan. 2 but has yet to find a new school to call home. Though there are no reports suggesting either Nebraska's staff or the Raiola camp is interested in a reunion, it would not be the first time a player withdrew from the portal and remained at his former school.

Other early quarterback targets the Huskers may consider include DJ Lagway, formerly of Florida, Aiden Chiles (Michigan State), and Anthony Colandrea (UNLV). Lagway is the highest-rated available quarterback of that bunch, currently listed as the No. 17 overall player and sixth-best available quarterback. Next is Chiles, who spent the last two seasons as Michigan State's starting signal caller. Per On3, the will-be senior is the No. 88 overall player still available. Colandrea also would offer one year of eligibility remaining, and is ranked the No. 152 available player.

As of Monday evening, Raiola is still without a home. He is currently ranked the No. 12 overall prospect and fifth-best available signal caller. Whomever the Huskers elect to target next, expect this staff to do it in a hurry. With only one scholarship quarterback on the roster set to make a return, Nebraska will almost certainly need to add multiple players to its room over the coming weeks.

Quarterback TJ Lateef throws a pass while left tackle Elijah Pritchett blocks during Nebraska's 2025 game against Iowa.
TJ Lateef started in the final four games of Nebraska's 2025 season at quarterback. He will have three years of eligibility remaining. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN

The Huskers do have TJ Lateef still within the room, and he has shown flashes of becoming an eventual starting quarterback for Nebraska at some point in his career. However, after the way the 2025 season came to a close, offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen and company made it apparent that additions would be made. While they ultimately assumed that was going to be Minchey, Nebraska is now left to search for another man.

Lateef threw for 904 yards and five scores during the 2025 season as a true freshman. He also had120 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground. While the talent is inarguably there, this staff needs more bodies in the quarterback room, regardless of how the depth chart shakes out next fall.

Expect news to come as early as tomorrow as Nebraska looks to secure visits from other signal callers still available. Though Minchey's recruitment never panned out, do not expect head coach Matt Rhule to go without a plan.

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Trevor Tarr
TREVOR TARR

Trevor Tarr is the founder of Skers Scoop, a Nebraska football media outlet delivering original coverage through writing, graphics, and video content. He began his career in collegiate athletics at the University of South Dakota, producing media for the football team and assisting with athletic fundraising. A USD graduate with a background in journalism and sports marketing, Trevor focuses on creative, fan-driven storytelling in college football.

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