Nebraska’s quarterback picture for the future is starting to come into focus, and the Huskers may already have their next priority lined up.
The biggest piece is in place for the 2027 class. Nebraska has the top-ranked quarterback committed in that cycle, at least by the 247 Sports composite rankings, with Trae Taylor holding firm despite other schools trying to flip him, including Ohio State. The source here is clear on the belief that as long as Matt Rhule is Nebraska’s head coach, Taylor will sign with the Huskers.
That commitment has opened the door for Nebraska to move ahead with 2028 quarterback recruiting, and the timing matters. The goal is to get a quarterback locked in soon after his junior season at the latest, and Nebraska appears to be working on that track.
One name rising to the top is Jaxson Carper, a 6-foot-3, 160-pound quarterback from California. He’s ranked No. 365 in the 2027 class by the 247 Sports composite rankings and is currently a three-star, though the expectation is that he could eventually move into blue-chip territory.
Nebraska hosted Carper on a visit in June, and the Huskers may be in front in a recruitment that also includes UCLA, Iowa, Arizona, and Kansas among the main contenders. Bryan Munson of Husker Online reported this weekend that Carper will return for the Ohio State game in the fall, which is a strong sign for Nebraska’s pursuit.
On the field, ESPN FPI is giving Nebraska a 7.3 percent chance to make the College Football Playoff and has the Huskers ranked 30th entering the season. That number sounds a little higher than many would have guessed.
The schedule helps explain why. Nebraska’s non-conference slate is manageable, and there’s a real path to a 5-0 start before Indiana comes to Lincoln.
If the Huskers win that one, the rest of the year gets a lot more interesting.
Washington comes to Lincoln too, but Nebraska also has road games at Oregon, Iowa, and Illinois, plus a home date with Ohio State. A nine-win season would push the Huskers into playoff conversation, even if that would be a major jump. A seven-win season, meanwhile, would still count as a solid result given the schedule.
Nebraska also took a hit in the MLB draft. Ty Horn went 94th overall to the Reds, and Carson Jasa was selected 98th overall by the Cubs, which all but closes the door on either pitcher returning next season.
It’s a positive sign for the program in the long view, but it leaves Nebraska without two important arms. Both pitchers have been the No. 1 for the Huskers at different points.
That matters because rebuilding the pitching staff is going to be a major task if Nebraska wants to get back to the NCAA Tournament and make a run to a Super Regional. Cooper Katskee also transferred, leaving three starters or key relievers from last season gone.
In Other News...
Nebraskas New Look O-Line May Be Revealing One Key Answer
Tree Babalade has spent spring practice trying to make Nebraskas reshaped offensive line feel less like a collection of newcomers and more like a unit. The 6-foot-5, 330-pound transfer is in the mix at right tackle after a season in which injuries kept the Cornhuskers searching for answers up front, and he has been part of a group that includes Brendan Black and Paul Mubenga showing early chemistry as the line works to become more mobile and more physical.
For Nebraska, the appeal is obvious. Coaches and teammates have seen a group that looks better suited to protect the quarterback and create more push in the run game, two areas that have to stabilize if the offense is going to take a step forward. Babalades role is still part of the competition, but his size and spring progress have already made him one of the more important names to watch as the line continues to sort itself out. [Read more 🡒]
Trae Taylor Just Gave Nebraska Fans A Reason To Exhale
A little more than a year after Trae Taylor moved to Millard South High School to get closer to Nebraskas program, the quarterback commit is suddenly carrying a different kind of buzz. Rivals and On3 both bumped him to five-star status after his performance at the Elite 11 Finals, and the rise fits the kind of junior-year production that has kept him squarely in the conversation as one of the top young passers in the country.
For Nebraska fans, the timing matters almost as much as the ranking. Any time a high-profile commit starts drawing extra attention, the worry is whether the recruiting picture might shift, especially with transfer chatter never far away in modern football. Taylors camp has already pushed back on that noise, and for now the Cornhuskers can at least exhale knowing their prized quarterback remains tied to the class and to the program he moved closer to join. [Read more 🡒]