Nebraska’s 2027 class is already drawing attention, and two of its biggest names are getting national shine before they ever take a snap together at Millard South.
Trae Taylor and Tay Ellis, both Nebraska commits, have built plenty of buzz because of the connection they already share off the field. This fall, that relationship gets a football test too, with the quarterback and receiver both transferring to Millard South to get ready for their future as Huskers.
That pairing has now landed on a national list. On3 High School analyst Andy Villamarzo ranked Taylor and Ellis as the No. 6 quarterback-receiver duo in the country, and according to a recent On3 article, they were the only pair on the list committed to the same college program.
Taylor may be the headliner as a 5-star quarterback, but Ellis brings real production of his own. And with one of the top quarterbacks in the 2027 class delivering him the ball, the numbers could get loud in a hurry.
Taylor’s resume already jumps off the page. In 2025, he completed 205 of 251 passes for 3,571 yards, with a 38-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He also ran 77 times for 633 yards and 12 touchdowns, helping Carmel Catholic (IL) finish 8-3 and reach the second round of the Illinois Class 7A playoffs.
Ellis has his own track record, too. Last year, he hauled in 65 catches for 808 yards and nine touchdowns. Over three varsity seasons in Texas, he finished with 156 receptions for 2,310 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Now the two will get a chance to show Nebraska fans what they can do together before they ever arrive in Lincoln. If the national rankings are any indication, Millard South’s one-year showcase could be a memorable one.
In Other News...
Adrian Martinez Is Still Repping Nebraska In A Big Way
Adrian Martinez is spending part of his offseason back in Nebraska, and he is not doing it quietly. The former Cornhusker quarterback has been training alongside former North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton while both prepare for the 2026 NFL season, and the two have even been working out with high school players at Gretna East, turning their own prep into a teaching moment for the next wave of quarterbacks.
For Nebraska fans, it is a familiar sight with a new twist: Martinez still carrying himself like a program ambassador while chasing his next NFL opportunity, and Payton doing the same as he tries to carve out his own place at the pro level. Before the drills began, Martinez also spoke with the Gretna East players about injuries and adversity, a reminder that the path from college standout to NFL roster hopeful is rarely smooth, even for quarterbacks who already know what it means to lead. [Read more 🡒]
PFF Just Sent Nebraska Fans A Big Anthony Colandrea Message
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The challenge now is turning that promise into production against a much tougher schedule. Colandreas arm and legs both flashed last season, and Nebraska is banking on him to raise the ceiling of the offense, but the margin for error gets thinner in the Big Ten. The biggest question hanging over his season is the one that has followed him before: whether he can keep the ball out of harms way enough to let the rest of the talent around him show up. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Cannot Keep Dodging This Running Back Question Much Longer
Nebraska has spent the better part of the summer with an uncomfortable question hanging over its running back room, and Mekhi Nelsons situation has only made it harder to ignore. Nelson was arrested in Florida on battery charges, then saw prosecutors decline to file charges, but the on-field side of the equation has remained murky as he has not taken part in team activities since the arrest.
The longer the silence lasts, the more it shapes the conversation around a position group that could use clarity before the season starts to take shape. Nebraska is expected to address Nelsons status publicly soon, and with Big Ten Media Days approaching, the program will likely have to explain where things stand and what it means for a depth chart that is already not especially deep behind Emmett Johnson. [Read more 🡒]