Nebraska quarterback Tanner Lee will enter the 2018 NFL Draft, foregoing his final year of collegiate eligibility.
To Husker Nation: Thank You! pic.twitter.com/1MQYtpMusL
— Tanner Lee (@TannerLee13_) December 28, 2017
“After weeks of prayer and consideration with my family, I’ve decided to enter the NFL Draft and pursue an opportunity that I feel is the best for myself and my family at this time,” Lee wrote in a post he shared to Twitter.
After transferring to Nebraska from Tulane following the 2015 season, Lee started all 12 games for the Huskers in 2017, throwing for 3,143 yards with a 129.4 passer rating. Lee finished the season second in the Big Ten in yardage and fourth in touchdown passes (23), but it was a campaign that was marked by the negative more than the positive.
Lee threw a conference-leading 16 interceptions and struggled with consistency throughout most of the season. He completed just 57.5 percent of his passes and finished with a 61.1 QBR, ranking No. 54 in the nation.
Entering the year, Lee had plenty of hype. National writers loved the NFL quarterback attributes – the size, arm strength and decision making – and throughout most of fall camp, local media saw the goods too. Lee just struggled to match the hype once the season began.
With Mike Riley – the coach who brought Lee to Lincoln – let go at the conclusion of a 4-8 season and Scott Frost entering the fray, the writing seemed to be on the wall for Lee's departure. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound, pocket-passing quarterback would have struggled to fit into Frost's up-tempo scheme.
The Huskers currently have three scholarship quarterbacks left on roster with redshirt sophomore Patrick O'Brien, redshirt freshman Tristan Gebbia and incoming freshman Adrian Martinez.
Derek is a newbie on the Hail Varsity staff covering Husker athletics. In college, he was best known as ‘that guy from Twitter.’ He has covered a Sugar Bowl, a tennis national championship and almost everything in between (except an NCAA men’s basketball tournament game… *tears*). In his spare time, he can be found arguing with literally anyone about sports.
