Nebraska QB Anthony Colandrea Compared to Johnny Manziel's 'Explosive' Playmaking by Rival Coach

New Nebraska quarterback Anthony Colandrea earned himself an interesting comparison ahead of the 2026 season.

"He's a problem," a Mountain West coach told ESPN's Adam Rittenberg. "He is a dynamic athlete. What type of a true quarterback he is will be interesting to see how he grows in their offense, but he's so good at escaping the pocket and running for explosive plays. He's a good football player. He's tough. He's going to give some people issues. He's probably 5'11", but he's fast. He's got some of that Johnny Manziel feel to him, where he's explosive."

Colandrea, a senior, joined the Huskers on the transfer portal after stints with Virginia (2023-24) and UNLV (2025), winning Mountain West Player of the Year honors last season after throwing for 3,459 yards, 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions while rushing for 649 yards and 10 scores.

Replicating that in the Big Ten, a dramatic step up from the competition in the Mountain West, will be a test. But Colandrea has intriguing talent, to say the least, especially if he's earning comparisons to Johnny Football's legendary college football career.