.COSTA MESA, Calif.– Nebraska quarterback dedicate TJ Lateef is taking his high school team to brand new levels, a handful of months before he enrolls in Lincoln as component of a recruiting lesson that he anticipates to perform the exact same for Matt Rhule’s Huskers.Lateef, a four-star possibility in the 247Sports Compound, sent Orange Lutheran High School to a 42-20 success on Friday evening over Junipero Serra. Lateef made up 3 goals and also assisted Orange Lutheran fight back a second-half rally after Serra cut a 28-point halftime deficit to eight.Orange Lutheran, 8-3, is actually positioned 16th nationally by MaxPreps. It will certainly participate in No.
7 St. John Bosco next week in the school’s first-ever look in the CIF-Southern Section Branch 1 semifinal sphere. The winner could possibly deal with No.
1 Mater Dei in the champion round.Lateef, 6 feet 1 1/2 inches and also 195 pounds, stated he is actually “one hundred percent locked in” on Nebraska ahead of the start of the early signing time period on Dec. 4. He’s a feature in the Huskers’ 20-member course that stands 20th nationally after the flip on Thursday of four-star linebacker Dawson Merritt from Alabama to Nebraska.” We’re going to acquire a pair even more people (to flip),” Lateef mentioned Friday evening.
“Our experts’re visiting surprise the planet.” Nebraska remains to operate to flip Millard South strict side Chase Loftin coming from Fla Condition. Loftin, a four-star prospect, helped his Omaha crew get Nebraska’s Class A championship with a succeed on Friday evening. It will definitely deal with two-time defending champ Omaha Westside at Memorial Arena.
Four-star pass receiver Cortez Mills of Ranch, Fla., an Oklahoma devote, likewise remains a target of the Huskers.Nebraska aide Keith Williams viewed Lateef on Friday night at Orange Coastline University. Orange Lutheran jumped bent on a 28-0 lead as Lateef scored on a 12-yard operate and hooked up for 22 gardens with Arizona State strict end dedicate AJ Ia.Adversity struck for Orange Lutheran in the third one-fourth as Serra, behind quarterback Ryan Hopkins, a 2026 target of numerous Big 10 plans, led a return. Lateef left the ready one play in the third quarter with a lower leg trauma, but he went back to direct two goal pushes in the fourth quarter, negotiating a protector to hit completion zone coming from 4 lawns out for the last rating.” I simply had to keep the people settled, and our experts took energy back,” Lateef mentioned.
“I’m always going to stay tranquil. Keep the very same man in the hardest opportunities.” Lateef committed to Nebraska in May after his April go to for the spring season activity. He’s kept solid to the Huskers by means of a memorable fall in Lincoln that consisted of the development of accurate freshman Dylan Raiola as the top QB as well as the adjustment at offending organizer, along with Dana Holgorsen joining the course in early November and managing as the play agent this week.Williams as well as quarterbacks train Glenn Thomas have actually kept normal call throughout the time with Lateef, that’s tossed for greater than 2,000 lawns as a senior.Lateef has actually not however seen along with Holgorsen.
Rhule mentioned recently he would love to maintain the previous scalp trainer at West Virginia as well as Houston on team to work the Nebraska offense in 2025. Of Raiola, Lateef mentioned, “I value Dylan. He’s a fantastic soccer gamer.
However my opportunity is mosting likely to come. I’ll use as well as compete and also allow the remainder participate in out. One thing regarding me, I am actually not heading to duck competition.
He is actually an excellent soccer player. Yet I am actually, also.” Lateef claimed he considers to enlist at Nebraska in January.Required analysis( Picture: Mitch Sherman/ The Athletic).