June gave Nebraska football exactly the kind of recruiting momentum staffs dream about: a loaded 2027 class coming together, a growing board for 2028, and a quarterback commitment that keeps looking better by the month.
And that quarterback sits at the center of it all.
When Trae Taylor pledged to Nebraska on May 1, 2025, he was already a consensus four-star and a top-15 quarterback nationally. Since then, the rise has been dramatic. Taylor didn’t just hold his ground - he turned himself into a real contender for the No. 1 spot at the position.
The jump started with his junior season at Mundelein (Ill.) Carmel Catholic.
As a sophomore, Taylor completed 191 of 282 passes for 3,061 yards, 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also ran 41 times for 342 yards and four scores, though Carmel Catholic finished 4-7.
His junior year looked nothing like that. Taylor helped lead Carmel Catholic to an 8-3 record and the second round of the Illinois Class 7A playoffs, while putting together one of the most efficient passing seasons in the country.
He completed 205 of 251 throws for 3,571 yards, 38 touchdowns and only three interceptions. On the ground, he added 633 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 77 carries.
The physical development showed up too. Taylor added noticeable weight, threw with more velocity and kept driving the ball through tough Midwest wind conditions.
That momentum carried into the camp circuit. He stood out repeatedly on the 7-on-7 trail and impressed at every major camp he attended. His performance at the Elite 11 Dallas Regional was widely viewed as the best individual showing by any quarterback across the eight regional events, which earned him a spot in the Elite 11 Finals.
He kept rolling from there. After the three-day Finals in Los Angeles from May 29-31, Taylor was named Elite 11 MVP by Rivals and a co-Alpha Dog by 247Sports. That showing also got him an invite to Nike’s The Opening Finals in Beaverton, Oregon, where the Elite 11 staff selects the official Elite 11 MVP.
Taylor went to Beaverton on June 25-26 looking to win that honor, and he left little doubt with another strong throwing performance. With the offseason wrapped up, there’s not much debate about where he stands in the 2027 quarterback class.
The recruiting services have started to catch up. 247Sports bumped Taylor to five-star status, ranking him No. 8 overall and No. 1 among quarterbacks in its June update.
ESPN has him No. 41 overall and the No. 2 quarterback. Rivals lists him No. 71 nationally and No. 5 at the position.
If he keeps going this fall, he should finish as a consensus five-star.
Taylor’s path to Nebraska has also been unusual. After finishing his junior academic year in Illinois, he moved to Lincoln with his mother and will commute about 60 miles to Omaha, where he’ll play his senior season at Millard South. He made the move to help peer recruit and be around the program as much as NCAA rules allow before enrolling in January.
The competition for him was real. Taylor chose Nebraska over LSU, Texas A&M and hometown Illinois. Ohio State made a late run after his rapid rise became impossible to miss, with quarterbacks coach Billy Fessler visiting Carmel Catholic in early May and Ryan Day getting involved after evaluating Taylor through OT7 events, where Taylor and Day’s son, R.J., both participated.
The Buckeyes pushed. Taylor didn’t budge. He stuck with Nebraska and shut the door on one of college football’s top quarterback developers.
That commitment matters even more because of the five-for-five eligibility model now in place. It gives Nebraska a chance to build real stability at quarterback, something most programs can’t count on anymore.
Taylor has also made it clear he’s open to developing in his first season rather than forcing the issue. That fits Nebraska’s current quarterback picture.
If Anthony Colandrea plays well and is still at Nebraska in 2027, the Huskers would have a clear path into 2028. If Colandrea isn’t the answer or moves on, TJ Lateef and Daniel Kaelin would battle for the job in 2027, which would still leave Nebraska with an experienced Power Four starter while Taylor learns and grows.
There’s also the possibility that one or both would transfer if Colandrea locks down the long-term role before Taylor takes over, but the staff remains high on both quarterbacks and likes the flexibility they provide.
Getting a quarterback is one thing. Getting one who can lift an entire class is another. Nebraska looks like it landed exactly that.
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