Nebraska’s quarterback recruiting board is already starting to tilt toward the next cycle, and one September visit could tell a lot about where things are headed.
The Huskers have 2027 quarterback Trae Taylor locked in, so attention is now shifting to 2028 passer Owen Herrick, a 3-star recruit who is already looking like a major name to watch for Nebraska. Herrick has been upbeat about the program since landing an offer earlier this summer, saying he believes Matt Rhule’s team is “on the rise.” He’ll get a firsthand look at that progress when he comes to Lincoln for Nebraska’s game against Bowling Green.
That visit matters for another reason, too. Rhule already knows the area Herrick calls home, and there appears to be a real connection developing between the quarterback and Nebraska’s staff.
Herrick is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound quarterback at Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he is entering his junior season. He’s already one of the more established quarterbacks in Western Pennsylvania after helping Central Catholic reach the PIAA Class 6A state championship game as a sophomore.
According to the Rivals Industry Rankings, Herrick is the No. 417 player in the 2028 class, the No. 28 quarterback, and the No. 13 player in Pennsylvania. He may still be flying a little under the radar, but more Power Conference programs have started to notice him this summer.
His offer list includes Arkansas, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Illinois, Kent State, Liberty, Miami (Ohio), Minnesota, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Syracuse, Toledo, UConn, and Nebraska.
On the field, Herrick put together a strong sophomore season in 2025, completing 157 of 287 passes for 2,469 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. That works out to a 54.7 percent completion rate and 164.6 passing yards per game, according to MaxPreps.
He’s also off to a solid start in 2026. In Central Catholic’s 45-30 season-opening win over Bergen Catholic on August 28, Herrick went 13 of 21 for 123 yards, two passing touchdowns, and no interceptions. He also ran three times for 15 yards and a touchdown, finishing with three total scores on the season so far.
The Bowling Green game will be Herrick’s first Nebraska visit since this spring, and with plenty of other schools in the mix, September 12 could give the Huskers a real shot to build a major lead in his recruitment.
In Other News...
Nebraskas First 2026 Depth Chart Raised A Few Eyebrows Fast
Nebraskas first official depth chart for the 2026 season arrived before the matchup with Ohio, and it did more than just sort out the pecking order for the opener. It also gave a clearer look at where the staff thinks things stand on both sides of the ball, with the chart drawing attention for a few notable changes as the Huskers begin the new year.
The timing matters even more with the program still working the recruiting trail and the pro pipeline at the same time. Nebraska is set to host 2028 quarterback target Owen Herrick, a prospect the staff views as a top name on its board, while seven former Huskers have already landed on NFL practice squads around the league, a reminder that the roster churn never really stops in Lincoln. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraskas NFL Talent Gap Just Got Harder For Huskers Fans To Ignore
As NFL teams trimmed their rosters to 53 players this week, the Nebraska pipeline to Sundays looked thinner than it has in years. Only eight former Huskers who finished their college careers in Lincoln are on active NFL rosters, the fewest in five years, a number that lands at a time when the program is already trying to show it can keep pace with the Big Tens elite talent factories.
The broader picture is even harder for Nebraska fans to miss. The Huskers have had only five players drafted over the past four years, and the program has not produced a first- or second-round pick since 2011, a stretch that stands out next to the draft output of Ohio State and Michigan. Nineteen former Huskers were among the players cut during roster reduction, though a few could still latch on with practice squads, leaving another reminder that Nebraskas next NFL success story is still waiting to fully emerge. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Just Added More Buzz To A Home Atmosphere Fans Treasure
Nebraskas home crowd routine has become part of the programs identity, and the latest sign of that came with Tuesdays announcement that the 2026 season-opener against Ohio is already sold out. The sellout stretches the Huskers streak to 411 consecutive games, a run that keeps Memorial Stadiums reputation intact as one of the sports most reliable draws, even with the game still well down the road.
Athletic director Troy Dannen and coach Matt Rhule have both pointed to ticket sales and the atmosphere around home dates as part of what makes Nebraska such a difficult place for visitors. The calendar also has a little extra flavor coming, with a themed game against Bowling Green built around America 250 and a drone show, plus a concert by Cole Swindell adding to the event feel that has become part of the Husker experience. [Read more 🡒]