Matt Rhule must be living in the future. Remember how spot-on the Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach was with his transfer season predictions? “Think this year, we’re going to end up with 30-50 guys (Nebraska players) in the portal with the roster (limit). … I don’t want any of them to go into the portal. I want them all to stay here and develop. It’s just the new world we’re in. It’s going to be different.” Well, he was right. Rhule’s program lost 36 players. However, amidst the losses, there is a win worth celebrating. While head coaches are still setting up their 2026 class, Rhule got his man for the 2027 class. Was it an easy chase? 

Not at all! The young chap had 40 offers in hand. But Rhule and co. had already wooed the hot recruit to bring him home. After all, the head coach had to have handy his long-term replacement for his quarterback, Dylan Raiola. 

Elite talent alert in Matt Rhule’s Nebraska 

The 2024 season has been a mixed bag for Rhule’s Huskers. They were out for revenge against the Colorado Buffaloes for that tough 36-14 loss back in 2023. It felt like it was time for things to turn around with their new QB, Raiola. After all, last season, Rhule’s team did crush the Buffs in that impressive 28-10 victory. So expectations were pretty high—if not for the Natty, then at least to be right in the thick of the playoff race. But no, it did not happen. Even though they qualified for the Pinstripe Bowl, their first bowl appearance in 8 years, they wrapped up the season with a 7-6 overall record. While Rhule must be focusing on the 2025 game plan, he keeps himself ahead of time when it comes to the recruiting race, especially the quarterback position. That’s because his 2024 plan with Raiola backfired.

Rhule tried to spread some terror with Raiola pulling off a Patrick Mahomes look. But when it came to the quarterback’s gridiron skills, the Mahomes touch vanished like a poof! From afar, it looked all good. The quarterback completed 19 of 27 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns in less than three quarters of action against UTEP. But at the same time, he struggled heavily with sacks. One particular game to be remembered was against Illinois when Raiola’s signal-caller took three sacks. So, it’s obvious that Rhule can’t wait to have someone powerful for the quarterback position. Turns out the universe granted his wish.

May 1 ushered in some good news as On3 Recruits confirmed that they have landed 14-year-old 4-star quarterback Trae Taylor. “🚨BREAKING🚨 Elite 2027 QB Trae Taylor has committed to Nebraska🌽 Taylor is the No. 3 QB in the class.” As per the reports, there were 40 participants in the Taylor chase. However, the young chap from Mundelein (Ill.) Carmel Catholic curated a list of the final four.

Oklahoma, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Georgia, South Carolina, Miami, and Colorado were all in the mix for Taylor, along with a bunch of other schools. But when it came down to his final four list, it was just Huskers, LSU, Michigan, and Texas A&M. And Rhule’s program ultimately won the race. “I feel Coach Rhule and Coach (Glenn) Thomas can really grow me as a man on and off the field,” Taylor said. “Their system that they have it fits the offense I’m running right now in high school that I’m having a ton of success in. Coach Rhule and Coach Thomas both have been at the highest level and have seen what it takes to get there, and I feel they can really prepare me for the NFL.”

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Taylor is tabbed by the On3 Industry as the nation’s No. 3 quarterback and No. 40 prospect overall. With this, the Huskers’ fandom is buzzing with this news. 

Nebraska fans’ mixed reactions after Matt Rhule’s latest recruiting win 

Taylor’s action time in Rhule’s squad will begin after Raiola departs for the NFL by 2027. Till then, the quarterback got to keep up with his high numbers as he did as a sophomore. Back at Carmel Catholic, the 14-year-old threw 3,061 yards, 20 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. So, going by his stats, the fans might already be counting the days for Taylor to take over. One of the fans is already envisioning Rhule lifting the Natty, as their comment read, “Nebraska is back. When will they win their next Natty?”

Rhule must have done his study on the young chap before chasing him down. As per the sources, back in high school, Taylor developed himself as a runner, despite his long-term projection as a pro-style quarterback. His high school film shows a high comfort level in the pocket and impressive arm talent. Considering all these points, a fan is super sure about the future for Rhule’s Huskers: “Top ten class.”

Back in 2023, when Raiola was still a 5-star Husker recruit, he was touted as the number one QB and the number one overall high school football player in the ’24 recruiting class. Eventually, he lost all the glamour and slipped from first to sixth overall national pick. That’s what a fan was reminded of and projected the same future for Taylor. “Oh but u guys will drop him in rankings bc he’s committed to Nebraska just like u did with Dylan.”

It’s not that Rhule will have the seat ready for his new quarterback. Taylor will have to battle for the starting job in Lincoln with redshirt freshman Marcos Davila, freshman TJ Lateef, and 2026 prospect Dayton Raiola. In that case, he might even give up considering the competition. That’s what a fan commented, “He’ll be in portal in 36 months….book it.”

When was the last time the Huskers brought home a Natty? Back in 1997. It has been 28 YEARS! So, they will need someone who is the best, the No.1 or No.2. Given that Nebraska once won back-to-back championship titles in 1970, 1971, and 1994, 1995, a fan believes that they deserve the best number. “Number 3?!!!!! We don’t want number 3 we want 1 or maybe two. Go home, kid, this is Nebraska and we deserve number one!!!” If luck is returning to Lincoln, it’ll be Matt Rhule who shapes it, starting with transforming Trae Taylor into a breakout star.