Wow, I didn't see this coming.
Quarterback Cody Green has requested his release from Nebraska and will transfer, colleague Joe Schad and others are reporting. Green appeared in 17 games the past two season, making four starts for the Huskers. He competed for the starting job this spring, but incumbent Taylor Martinez ended spring practice as Nebraska's No. 1 signal caller. Still, Green indicated he would compete for the long haul.
Nebraska has now lost two quarterbacks this week, as Kody Spano announced he's ending his career because of injuries.
Should the Huskers be a bit concerned about their depth at quarterback?
Martinez can be a game-changer, but he has to stay healthy. He was a totally different quarterback after getting banged up midway through the 2010 season.
Brion Carnes, the Huskers' other scholarship quarterback, looked good in the spring game, but he lacks Green's experience. The biggest question mark is incoming recruit Bubba Starling, who likely would have to pass up a major payday in Major League Baseball to play quarterback for Nebraska. Starling says he'll be enrolling for school July 10.
If Martinez holds up, Carnes keeps developing and Starling sticks with football, Nebraska should be fine. But it would have been nice to have Green for insurance, especially after what happened to Martinez last fall.
Green seems to be looking for more playing time, despite reaffirming his commitment this spring. He told the Lincoln Journal Star in late March:
"I've said ever since I got here that tradition was one of the big reasons why I was here," Green said. "It's the tradition, the people, the family. That's what we are, a big family. We're a big family that will die for each other. You don't want to leave that. It's you. That's one of the main reasons I'm here."
The decision this week to leave Nebraska was excruciatingly difficult for Green, according to a source close to the quarterback. However, it should be noted the two coaches who played lead roles in recruiting Green to NU -- offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson and linebackers coach Mike Ekeler -- no longer are with the program. What's more, the Huskers' offense under new coordinator Tim Beck is expected to feature more running situations for the quarterback, which would be better suited for the ultra-fleet Martinez.
It's a good point about the change on offense. If Green felt he couldn't thrive in the system, it's hard to blame him for seeking a transfer.
Some Huskers fans likely will pass this off as no big deal. But insurance at quarterback can make or break a season, and Green's departure leaves Nebraska in a bit of a bind.