Nebraska fans got a scare this weekend when one of the biggest pieces of the Huskers’ 2027 class showed up at Florida State, but Timi Aliu wasted no time putting the brakes on any flip talk.
The 6-foot-4, 295-pound offensive lineman from Locust Grove High School in Locust Grove, Georgia, is one of the headliners in Nebraska’s class and has the size and flexibility to fit at tackle or guard. He is also part of the group Geep Wade has built in his first cycle overseeing the offensive line room in Lincoln.
Aliu’s visit to Tallahassee naturally set off some alarm bells. Florida State was playing New Mexico State on Saturday night, and because Tallahassee is much closer to home, the trip drew attention in Lincoln. But Aliu made his stance plain on social media Friday afternoon.
“Nothing to worry about y’all,” Aliu wrote on Friday afternoon, adding a laugh emoji. “We at GBR next week.”
That lines up with his plan to take an official visit to Nebraska when the Huskers open the season against Ohio.
The Nebraska connection appears to run deeper than just a pledge on paper. Aliu has built relationships with Wade and several other 2027 commits, something he has talked about before.
Earlier this year, he said, “It was really just a blessing to be part of something so great at Nebraska,” Timi Aliu said earlier this year. “And knowing a few of the guys that would be with me, like Trae Taylor, Jordan Agbanoma, and Khalil Taylor, to name a few.
I also think about how blessed I am to be a Husker. And I loved the summer, just getting to talk with all of the guys.”
Still, Florida State isn’t exactly a random stop. Aliu knows some people there and has reportedly developed good relationships with the coaching staff, which is why this kind of recruiting fight never fully goes away. Not with a player this highly regarded.
According to Rivals Industry Rankings, Aliu is the No. 267 player in the 2027 class, the No. 22 offensive tackle and the No. 25 player in Georgia. He already holds more than 30 offers, with Power Conference schools such as Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, North Carolina, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Tennessee in the mix.
For now, though, Nebraska has Aliu saying exactly what Husker fans wanted to hear. The question is whether that confidence holds all the way to December, when signing day arrives.
In Other News...
Nebraska Got Some Rare Star Power As One Commit Keeps Turning Heads
Nebraskas opener against UNLV already had a little extra shine to it, but the presence of Tom Brady made the scene feel bigger than a typical season-starting match. The Las Vegas Raiders part-owner was on hand during the Spikes Under the Lights tournament and spent time around the Cornhuskers, including interactions with Harper Murray and Lexi Rodriguez, giving the program a rare dose of star power in a setting that usually belongs to the players and coaches.
And while that cameo drew plenty of attention, Nebraska commit Trae Taylor kept building his own buzz with another notable high school football performance. There was also a leaguewide wrinkle to keep an eye on, with the Big Ten announcing a new injury report policy for the 2026 season, a change that could alter how teams handle information going forward and add another layer of interest for a program trying to keep momentum rolling on and off the field. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraskas Top QB Commit Is Already Facing An Unwanted Distraction
Trae Taylors commitment gave Nebraska a marquee arm for the future, but the chatter around the five-star quarterback has already drifted into an area no program wants to manage this early. A heavy rushing workload in a recent high school game drew concern from Nebraska staff and Taylors father, adding a layer of attention around how the prospect is being used on Friday nights while the Huskers try to keep their top quarterback pledge on track.
The issue only grew louder when Taylors father said Nebraska coaches planned to reach out to the high school about the quarterbacks usage, a claim the schools coach pushed back on. Now the situation has spilled into public view, with Taylors performances and workload getting a closer look than Nebraska would prefer for a committed recruit still finishing out his prep career. [Read more 🡒]
Emmett Johnson Is Giving Chiefs A Real Role Decision
A preseason like the one Emmett Johnson put together for Kansas City tends to force a conversation before the real games even begin. The rookie fifth-round pick showed he can handle work on the ground and still stay involved as a receiver, finishing August with 26 carries for 123 yards and a touchdown while adding six catches for 35 yards.
His final tune-up against Seattle only added to the case, as Johnson ran seven times for 39 yards and hauled in two passes for 15 more. For a Chiefs offense that likes options, the question now is less about whether Johnson can contribute and more about what kind of role he has earned when the roster decisions tighten up. [Read more 🡒]