Ryan Walters Has High Praise for Nebraska QB Anthony Colandrea

Defensive coordinator Ryan Walters expressed high praise for Nebraska quarterback Anthony Colandrea as the Washington Huskies prepare for a challenging matchup against the Big Ten rivals. Coming off a string of games dominated by traditional pocket-passing quarterbacks, Washington's defense will face one of the most dynamic offensive threats in the conference in Colandrea.

In his first season with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, the former Virginia and UNLV quarterback has been instrumental for offensive coordinator Dana Holgerson, leading the team to over 400 yards of total offense per game and 35 points per contest. Over his seven appearances this season, Colandrea has thrown for 1,570 yards, 14 touchdowns, and only 4 interceptions.

While his accuracy and arm talent are notable, it's his dual-threat capabilities that make him a particularly difficult opponent. Colandrea has contributed 334 yards rushing on the season, just 57 yards behind Nebraska's star running back Jamal Rule. Walters, who has faced Nebraska five times in his playing career and four times as a coach, characterized Colandrea as "the most challenging quarterback that we will have faced to date."

He emphasized Colandrea's effectiveness on the ground, noting that the quarterback "runs like a running back," can knock opponents out of bounds, cut back against the grain, and possesses exceptional speed. Colandrea's ability to evade defenders and make accurate throws further enhances his threat level. Walters has previously won two out of three matchups against Nebraska, dating back to their days in the Big 12.

As the Huskies head to Nebraska for what promises to be a crucial game, Walters aims to secure another victory against a program he is intimately familiar with.