Matt Rhule isn’t leaving the future of Nebraska football to chance - not when it comes to his quarterback room. With Dylan Raiola set to lead the Huskers in the near term, Rhule is already looking downfield to 2027, and that vision includes Trae Taylor, a borderline five-star quarterback and the No. 4 prospect in his class.
Taylor is making a bold move for his senior season, relocating roughly 500 miles from Carmel Catholic in Illinois to Millard South High School in Nebraska. That’s not a small shift - geographically or logistically - but it’s one that signals just how serious both Taylor and the Huskers are about his development.
The move isn’t just about football - though that’s clearly the driving force. Taylor and his mother are renting a home in Lincoln, while he commutes to Omaha for games.
That setup isn’t cheap, but Nebraska’s NIL infrastructure is stepping in to help. According to reporting from Mitch Sherman, entities connected to the Huskers are ensuring that Taylor’s family won’t be footing the bill alone.
Whether through direct reimbursement or future NIL compensation, the financial support is already in motion.
And let’s be clear - Taylor’s market value as a quarterback makes this housing arrangement look like a rounding error. As a high-level recruit with national attention, he’s already represented multiple brands on Instagram.
Nebraska state law allows high school athletes to earn NIL money, provided they don’t directly promote their school. That legal gray area is where Taylor’s deal lives for now.
“One way or another, he’s getting the money,” Sherman said on a recent podcast, adding that if the family spends $30,000 on housing, Nebraska-connected sources will make sure that figure shows up in Taylor’s NIL package down the line. For a player of his caliber, six-figure - even seven-figure - compensation isn’t out of the question.
But the move to Millard South isn’t just about NIL or proximity - it’s about preparation. Rhule didn’t just sign off on the relocation; he helped guide it.
Millard South isn’t your average high school program. They’ve won back-to-back Class A state titles and run a pass-heavy offense that throws the ball 65-70% of the time.
That’s exactly the kind of system a quarterback like Taylor needs to sharpen his reads, timing, and decision-making before he ever suits up in Memorial Stadium.
“Coach Rhule actually helped point me to a school that they thought would be best for me,” Taylor said in an interview on Carriker Chronicles. He made it clear that Rhule was in the loop the whole way.
The goal? Maximize live reps and get fully acclimated to the Nebraska football ecosystem well before his freshman year.
Taylor isn’t just moving closer to campus - he’s embedding himself in the program. He’s already spending time around Nebraska’s facilities, talking with current players daily, and planning to attend every major recruiting event. He’s not waiting to be a Husker - he’s acting like one now.
And he’s already thinking like a recruiter, too. Two top in-state targets, Barrett Kitrell and Knylonn Haynie, are firmly on his radar. Taylor’s not just building his future - he’s helping shape the future of Nebraska football around him.
Rhule’s long-term vision is clear: build a quarterback pipeline that doesn’t just rely on one name. With Raiola in the present and Taylor on deck, Nebraska’s QB room could be in the best shape it’s been in years. And if everything goes to plan, Taylor’s early move to Nebraska might be remembered as the first big play in a career full of them.