LINCOLN, Neb.—It seems everyone who follows Nebraska football, and even some of the players, believe the starting quarterback’s job is Zac Lee’s to lose.
Not so fast, Lee says.
“I’ve thrown two passes since I’ve been here,” he said. “There’s not a lot of game experience there.”
But Lee clearly has more experience than anyone else he’s competing against this spring.
Last year’s top backup quarterback, Patrick Witt, left the program in February. That leaves only redshirt freshman Kody Spano, true freshman Cody Green and converted linebacker Latravis Washington to compete with Lee.
Though the coaching staff has said no starter will be named until fall, offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said Lee’s two years in the program give him an advantage.
“He’s really, really confident right now,” Watson said. “He’s been in the system. He knows the terminology.”
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Lee was recruited by former coach Bill Callahan, arriving in January 2007 from his hometown San Francisco City College. He sat out the 2007 season as a redshirt but drew notice as the most valuable player on the offensive scout team.
As the No. 3 quarterback last season, he was limited to mop-up duty in two games. He was on the field for Nebraska’s final series in a 38-7 win over New Mexico State, completing 1 of 2 passes for 5 yards. He entered the 56-28 win at Kansas State on the Huskers’ second-to-last possession, running twice for 17 yards while leading a four-play, 51-yard drive that resulted in the game’s last touchdown.
The son of former NFL quarterback Bob Lee, Zac was ranked as the nation’s top junior-college quarterback by Rivals.com, Scout.com and SuperPrep magazine in 2006. Oklahoma, Fresno State and Mississippi State were among schools that showed interest in Lee before he signed with Nebraska.
He passed for more than 3,400 yards and 35 touchdowns while leading San Francisco City College to a 10-2 record and an appearance in the 2006 California junior-college title game.
Lee sat out the 2005 season before enrolling in junior college, which gave him four years to use three seasons of eligibility at Nebraska.
“Nothing that you do in high school or junior college matters once you get here,” Lee said. “Everyone on this football team is a talented player. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be here. I have to keep working, keep getting better, hopefully earn the trust of my teammates and make the coaches happy.”
Lee already has won over teammates. Nose tackle Ndamukong Suh said Lee’s athleticism caught his eye when Lee was on the scout team. Suh said he also was impressed with the amount of time Lee spent studying film during the offseason.
“Once he gets that offense down pat, he’ll be just as good, maybe a little better than Joe,” said Suh, referring to last year’s starter, Joe Ganz.
Running back Quentin Castille said Lee, like Ganz, would give the Cornhuskers a running threat. Castille admitted that Lee beat him in a few running drills over the winter.
“He surprised me how fast he was. I was kind of intimidated,” Castille said, cracking a smile.
Bob Lee played 12 years in the NFL (1969-80), eight with the Minnesota Vikings. Zac said his dad is his biggest fan, but he doesn’t offer advice unless asked.
“He understands this is my situation,” Zac said. “He’s a huge part of me getting here.”
Now Zac Lee is out to stamp his own identity as a quarterback in the Big 12 by taking ownership of the starting job by August.
“This is why you come to a big college football program, a big school,” he said. “You want to be the guy. You want to be the guy in every situation.”
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