Nebraska Football Eyes 2027 RB Xavier Bala as Recruiting Momentum Shifts
Nebraska’s 2027 recruiting class took a hit recently with the decommitment of four-star wide receiver Jabari Watkins. That one never quite felt locked in, and now it’s officially off the board. But the Huskers may not be waiting long to bounce back.
All signs are pointing toward a commitment from three-star running back Xavier Bala, who’s expected to announce his decision on January 10th. And if the latest projections are any indication, Nebraska is sitting in a strong position.
Bala may be listed as a three-star in the 247Sports composite rankings - checking in at No. 409 overall in the 2027 class - but Rivals sees him as a four-star talent. Either way, he’s a name to know.
At 6-foot, 215 pounds, Bala brings a physical, downhill presence to the backfield, and he’s been a force on the field. In 2025, he rushed for over 1,300 yards - his second straight 1,000-yard season - showing both consistency and big-play ability.
Recruiting insiders like Steve Wiltfong have logged predictions for Nebraska, and both the Rivals Recruiting Prediction Machine and 247Sports Crystal Ball are leaning Huskers. That’s a good sign, especially considering Bala’s offer list reads like a who’s who of college football: Alabama, Ohio State, and Penn State have all shown interest, along with regional programs like Boston College, Syracuse, and UConn. This isn’t just a fallback plan - Bala is a legitimate Power Five-caliber back.
Transfer Portal Watch: Nebraska Linked to Former Michigan State RB Makhi Frazier
While the Huskers are working to lock up future talent, they’re also addressing more immediate concerns in the running back room - and that means looking to the portal.
With Emmett Johnson off to the NFL and Jamarion Parker also gone, Nebraska’s depth at running back has taken a hit. One name that’s surfaced as a potential addition is former Michigan State running back Makhi Frazier.
Frazier, a Texas native and former three-star recruit, showed flashes last season in East Lansing. He rushed for 520 yards on 4.5 yards per carry, adding two touchdowns. Against Big Ten competition, he logged 73 carries for 314 yards - a respectable 4.3 average - and did so behind an MSU offensive line that struggled to create much of anything.
That’s the intriguing part. Nebraska’s offensive line had its issues in 2025, but if there was one thing it could do, it was run block. Plug a back like Frazier into a system that can open up lanes, and you might see another level to his game.
Still, if Nebraska does bring in Frazier, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them add another back as well. The room is thin, and if the Huskers want to replicate or build on the ground success they had in 2025, they’ll need more than just one new face.
The bottom line? Nebraska’s backfield is in transition, but there’s a plan in motion - one that includes both high-upside high school recruits and experienced portal options. With Bala potentially on the way and Frazier in the mix, the Huskers are looking to reload, not rebuild.