5 days Ago
The guy they call “Grandad” walked to the podium Thursday and grinned at a roomful of reporters. Jalyn Gramstad, Nebraska’s backup quarterback, had come a long way from his days slinging the ball in the GPAC. The 2023 NAIA player of the year returned for his second season at NU, doing so in part at the urging of Husker starter Dylan Raiola, a “great friend” who likes “chopping it up” in film study sessions.
Gramstad figured he knew midway through last season he wanted to come back — a “no-brainer,” he said — but texts between the old guy and the young star affirmed his decision. “That’s kind of my guy to bounce things off of,” Raiola said of Gramstad, who spent four years at Northwestern College in Iowa. He won personal accolades and a national title there while carrying, in the back of his mind, a question.
People are also reading...
Could he make it at a major football school? So Gramstad tried out at a Nebraska camp last summer. The Huskers liked what they saw, added him to the roster, and assigned him scout team quarterback duties in 2024 as Raiola took over as a true freshman and Heinrich Haarberg backed up Raiola. Haarberg moved to tight end.
Another 2024 freshman, Danny Kaelin, transferred to Virginia. So, for the Pinstripe Bowl, Gramstad moved into the backup role and started to prepare like he was one snap away from playing. Somewhere in the last nine months, he also acquired the nickname from Nebraska’s staff.
“Grandad.” Gramstad is 23 years old and younger than several Huskers on the team. But he’s much older than quarterbacks Raiola, redshirt freshman Marcos Davila and true freshman TJ Lateef.
“He really does act like a grandad,” Husker offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen said. “He’s a great leader, he’s got a ton of experience. I was glad that he came back.
He gives us another guy who knows the offense. Smart kid.” With Gramstad, coach Matt Rhule said, the ball goes where it’s supposed to go based on the defense and who’s open.
Holgorsen said Gramstad throws “a good ball” and is well-liked by teammates. Raiola sees a quarterback who’s won big — albeit at the NAIA level — and offers an honest opinion. “It’s a conversation every day and I’m very grateful that I have him,” Raiola said.
“I can talk to him, approach him, and it’s the same back.” Off the field, Raiola said, they have “a lot of fun.” On it, Raiola prepares to make the freshman-to-sophomore leap while Gramstad, still angling for an NFL opportunity, hones his game the best he can.
He had his good days in practice against Nebraska’s top defenses, giving “Banter” to now-defensive coordinator John Butler when he did. He made the travel roster, seeing Big Ten stadiums that dwarfed the venues he played in the Great Plains Athletic Conference, which includes Concordia, Doane and Hastings in Nebraska. Gramstad noted other differences — the amount of weight training and nutrition resources at Nebraska vs.
the NAIA level, the size of players, the time commitment — but found similarities, too. Defensive schemes. Offensive schemes.
Rules and parameters. “My first game last year, against UTEP, and I was warming up, my first time being out there, in front of the crowd,” Gramstad said. “And I was joking with Coach (Glenn) Thomas — ‘still 100 yards.
’ At the end of the day, it’s football.” That comes with a well-known offensive coordinator who “pushes us really hard,” and high-profile friend who projects to be a 2027 NFL draft pick. Gramstad wouldn’t mind trying to make a pro roster himself, knowing what career most likely awaits after his playing days are over.
“I have a degree in business finance, but I don’t really have a big passion to become a banker or a financial advisor,” Gramstad said. “I would tell you I want to do coaching.” Photos: Inside Nebraska football's spring practice on Thursday, March 27 Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg (left) is defended by Vincent Shavers during a team practice on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska outside linebackers Phil Simpson (from left), linebackers coach Rob Dvoracek and head coach Matt Rhule speak during a team practice last Thursday at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Andrew Marshall (left) and Jeremiah Charles compete for the ball during a team practice on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska defensive backs coach Addison Williams talks to players during a team practice on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska defensive coordinator John Butler demonstrates a drill during a team practice last Thursday at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen looks on during a team practice on Thursday at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Kwinten Ives picks up a pass during a team practice on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska's Cortez Mills (left) and Preston Okafor (center) run drills in front of special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler during a team practice on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Rocco Spindler (left) and Tyler Knaak in action during practice last week at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Teddy Prochazka (65) talks with Elijah Pritchett (57) during a team practice last week at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler talks in front of Malcolm Hartzog during a team practice on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Jason Maciejczak (left) and Sam Sledge do drills during a team practice on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. iNebraska's Dylan Raiola makes a throw during a team practice on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska quarterbacks coach Glenn Thomas looks on during a team practice on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Tyler Knaak (left) and Brock Knutson run drills during a team practice last week at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska practices at Memorial Stadium on Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Lincoln.
Nebraska's Dylan Raiola celebrates during practice on Thursday at Memorial Stadium. Subscribe for the best Husker news & commentary Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!.
