"I turned and had pressure in my face": Nebraska QB Daniel Kaelin recalls eye-opening 'welcome to college football' moment 

Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Daniel Kaelin talked about the moment he realized he was now playing college football on "The Let It Fly" show last week. He enrolled at the school in January.

"It was our second practice, and it was third down stuff and there was a play … I ended up looking the wrong way," Kaelin said. "So, I messed up the play, but I knew I had a checkdown, and I turned and had pressure in my face, so I just threw it away.

"I thought I threw it somewhere that no one could get it. I think it was Tommi Hill, but the speed that he broke on the ball all the way to the sideline, and he caught it. The speed is different."

Daniel Kaelin was a three-star prospect, according to 247sports.com, and had a strong final year with Bellevue West, a high school in Nebraska, throwing for 2,225 yards, 17 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Kaelin is part of Nebraska's skilled quarterback room, including true freshman Dylan Raiola, a marquee recruit. Kaelin, Raiola and Heinrich Haarberg, who will be a junior and played in 10 games last season, are competing for the starting job. All three played for both teams in the spring game.

Dylan Raiola could stop Daniel Kaelin from playing

Dylan Raiola is a five-star quarterback prospect, and one of the most talked about players in the 2024 class.

Raiola originally committed to the Georgia Bulldogs and was highly likely to become their next strong quarterback. But in December, Raiola decommitted from Georgia and signed with Nebraska.

Daniel Kaelin also signed in December after committing in May 2023.

Bringing in such a highly touted quarterback prospect could limit Kaelin's chances of playing for the Cornhuskers. But he's embracing the challenge. Both participated in the Elite 11 last summer.

"That only pushed myself and all the guys to improve," Kaelin said. "It’s only going to elevate my play.”

Raiola's arrival should force Kaelin and the rest of the Nebraska quarterbacks to up their games. The QB position was something that the Cornhuskers struggled with during the 2023 season.

Nebraska played three quarterbacks last season: Heinrich Haalberg, Jeff Sims, and Chubba Purdy (the younger brother of San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy). Together, the trio had a completion rate of 52.1%, scoring 10 touchdowns and having 16 interceptions. Sims has transferred to Arizona State, while Purdy has moved on to San Jose State.

If his high school play repeats, Raiola could easily better the outcomes from last season.

Whatever happens, the Nebraska Cornhuskers have two strong young quarterbacks who can push their program forward.

Do you think that Daniel Kaelin will start this season over Dylan Raiola?