Nebraska hosted a group of official visitors over the weekend for its spring game festivities, but it’s hard to say any were bigger than Orange County (Calif.) Lutheran High School four-star quarterback TJ Lateef.
The Huskers have made him their top priority in the 2025 class, and it appears to be paying off. Lateef locked in an early OV with the program in Lincoln, and coming out of that trip, Nebraska looks to be trending as the favorite in his recruitment, according to On3’s Steve Wiltfong.
“I’m not sure on his timeline right now, but coming into the visit, I liked Nebraska’s position,” Wiltfong said Monday during his show the On3 YouTube channel. “He’s the guy they’ve marked as QB1 on their board and have recruited him as such.
… And I’m not sure any other program in the country has given him that treatment. And he feels that he is a majority priority for them as they build competitive depth in their quarterback room behind Dylan Raiola and Daniel Kaelin. He would be a major addition for them to come in and push the room and see what happens.”
Lateef excited about the direction of the Huskers program
The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder received an offer from the Huskers in early February after their staff visited him at his school, and a little less than two weeks later, he locked in an official visit. He hasn’t been to Lincoln before, but is eager to learn more about what Matt Rhule and Co. are building.“I just can’t wait to get out there,” he told On3’s Chad Simmons ahead of the visit. “I’m just looking to see the environment and how much their fans pour into their football team and I just can’t wait to see them compete at the spring game. I just feel the want for me to go there by the coaches. I feel loved by the staff and how much they communicate with me and my family.”
Multiple coaches are in contact with Lateef, and they’ve made him feel like a top priority.
“I would say they are recruiting me pretty hard,” he added. “I feel like a priority, and it makes me feel good I’m not chasing a logo — I want to go where I feel wanted.”
Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn and a number of others are in contact with Lateef as well, but so far this is the only official visit he has locked in.
He’s yet to set any sort of commitment timeline, and he hasn’t cut any schools out of his recruitment. But the Huskers, who are trending in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM), have made a strong impression.
“They want me there, I feel like that’s the main thing,” Lateef said. “Nebraska is high on my board I feel pretty good about them. I am not sure when I will commit yet. I feel like when it’s time, I will know.”
