Nebraska’s summer on the recruiting trail picked up another jolt Monday night, when 4-star wide receiver Khalil Taylor announced he was officially committing to Matt Rhule and the Cornhuskers.
Taylor gives Nebraska its 22nd addition in the 2027 class and its third receiver. He also represents a win over both Penn State and Matt Campbell, with Nebraska pulling him away after he had previously committed to the Nittany Lions last year, back when James Franklin was still their head coach. There had been talk earlier this spring that Campbell had worked him back into the fold, but Monday’s announcement settled that.
The Huskers still have more work to do with the 2027 group, but if they can hold onto the players they’ve already landed, this class has a chance to stack up with some of Nebraska’s best in a long time. That stands in sharp contrast to the unusually small and low-ranked 2026 class, which had plenty of fans uneasy about where things were headed under Rhule.
Nebraska volleyball also has a national stage this summer. Three Huskers - setter Campbell Flynn and middle blockers Manaia Ogbechie and Keoni Williams - were named to the 14-player Team USA roster for the NORCECA Women's U21 Pan American Cup, set for July 7-12 at the Covelli Center in Columbus, Ohio.
The U.S. is grouped with Canada, Mexico, and Venezuela, and its first game is Tuesday at 6 pm (CT) against Venezuela.
Monday brought a mixed bag in the recruiting world for Nebraska football. The Huskers missed on 3-star defensive back Kamauri "Bam" Whitfield, who chose Florida earlier in the day, but they answered a few hours later with Taylor’s commitment.
There was also a federal development involving a former Nebraska basketball target. Guard Kerr Kriisa was indicted on five charges after an FBI investigation that alleges he carried out several fraud incidents, including pretending to be his mother and claiming she had cancer.
And Nebraska’s quarterback recruiting story remains one to watch. The Huskers landed Trae Taylor early, and even though the Illinois native has repeatedly said he isn’t going anywhere else, CBS Sports’ Cody Nagel still believes a flip could happen. If it does, Nagel says it would be to Ohio State.
Nebraska baseball added to the day as well, landing a commitment from Millard West 2027 pitcher Colton Williams. The 17-year-old is already showing real arm strength, with Prep Baseball saying his fastball has reached 89.4 MPH.
In Other News...
Nebraska Just Entered A High Stakes Battle For A Legacy Defender
Nebraska has jumped into the mix for a name that already carries plenty of weight in football circles, extending an offer to a young defensive line prospect with one of the sports most recognizable family backgrounds. The Huskers are now part of a growing list of major programs pursuing him, and the appeal is obvious: a talented lineman with bloodlines that connect him to both the NFL and the broader sports spotlight.
What makes this one worth tracking from Lincoln is that Nebraska is not just making an early courtesy call. The recruit is planning multiple visits to campus over the next year, giving the Huskers a real chance to make an impression as the race develops. Penn State, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Rutgers, Virginia Tech and Indiana are among the schools already in the picture, which means Nebraska is entering a crowded battle where early momentum may matter as much as any offer on the table. [Read more 🡒]
Can Rob Aurich Finally Fix Nebraskas Biggest Problem Up Front
Rob Aurich arrives in Lincoln with a clear defensive identity, and that matters for a Nebraska front that has been searching for more consistency and more bodies it can trust. At San Diego State in 2025, he ran a 4-2-5 look with a four-man front built around technique and a steady rotation up front, the kind of approach that can keep linemen fresher and create a better weekly floor if the pieces fit.
For Nebraska, the appeal is obvious because the 2026 defensive line should have enough returning talent and transfer help to at least try that model under Aurich and line coach Corey Brown. The bigger question is whether the Huskers can turn that depth into real disruption, especially from players like Riley Van Poppel, whose next step has been a talking point, while younger options and newcomers compete for snaps in a room that suddenly feels deeper but still unproven. [Read more 🡒]