The Cornhuksers just received a commitment from 4-Star Blue Chip recruit Kalil Taylor. Taylor is the 4th top 100 recruit Matt Rhule, and his staff have landed in the 2027 cycle. What makes Taylor such a big addition is that he’ll team up with another Taylor in the class, QB Trae Taylor.

Wide receiver Kalil Taylor made it very clear from the start his decision would be greatly affected by who the quarterback would be on the team he selected. After playing with QB Trae Taylor on the 7-on-7 circuit, that became Nebraska. The other school Kalil Taylor gave strong consideration was Penn State. Their future QB more than likely will be Alex Manske. The 6’3”, 210-pound freshman from Algona, Iowa was an Elite 11 finalist in 2024, held a Nebraska offer, and at one time was high on Nebraska’s QB list.

I found the connections between Nebraska or Penn State, Matt Rhule or Matt Campbell, and Trea Taylor or Alex Manske interesting. Nebraska and Penn State have gone head-to-head over multiple players in this recruiting cycle, and with Iowa and Nebraska being bordering states, Rhule and Campbell have competed for several of the same players since Rhule’s arrival at Nebraska. It often came down to if that player wanted to play in the Big Ten or the Big XII. Manske eventually went to Iowa State and followed Campbell to Penn State.

So, with both schools in the Big Ten, how did Nebraska and Trae Taylor beat out Penn State and Manske for Kilil Taylor? In the end I think it came down to Kalil Taylor having built a strong relationship with Trae Taylor. The time together on the 7-on-7 circuit may have been the difference.

I’ve heard several people scoff at 7-on-7 play, saying it isn’t real football. I’m an old school football guy. Flag football is almost a dirty word to me. Real football requires contact, blood, and pain, both mentally and physically. 7-on-7 isn’t that. But it brings value. I’ve watched Trae Taylor in action, and he’s grown as a player because of 7-on-7. It’s what pushed him to the top of the heap and made him the Elite 11 MVP. So, yes, there is value to be found in playing. There are relationships to be built as well.

Trae Taylor isn’t on campus yet, but the addition of Kilil Taylor proves yet again why it was so beneficial to get Trae Taylor’s commitment as early as Nebraska did. The Huskers continue to reap the benefits of his peer recruiting. First, it was Tay Ellis, now Kalil Taylor. Both played 7-on-7 with Trae. Both love what Trae brings to the position, and both want to be a part of what they think that potential can be. So, in the future you may hear announcers say, “Touchdown Nebraska! T-N-T strikes again.”  If you do, it’ll be Taylor to Taylor or Trae to Tay, either way, it’s T-N-T.

Is 2028 the Year of the Explosion

As I said, Trae Taylor isn’t on campus yet, and there is no guarantee he’ll start in 2027. In fact, if Anthony Colandrea has the type of season we all hope he has, and with the new 5-for-5 rule, Trae probably won’t start until 2028. If nobody gets anxious and jumps in the portal and everybody sticks around, there are some big names that will be on that 2028 roster.

Wide receivers could include Jeremiah Jones, Quinn Clark, Keenan Smith, Cortez Mills, Nalin Scott, Larry Miles, Kalil Taylor, and Tay Ellis. And don’t count on but never forget, with the 5-fo-5, Jacory Barney, Nyziah Hunter, and Kwazi Gilmer could all still be Huskers in their 5th year.

Throw in tight ends Joey Hunter, Luke Soresen, and Carter Nelson along with running backs like Isiah Mozee, Jamar Rhule, and Amir Brown and the list of potential receivers on the field can only make a quarterback smile. Pick five, any five to be on the field with Trae Taylor with Dan Holgorsen calling the play. Would you want to be the defensive coordinator trying to get your defense in position for what you were about to see?

Plus, who will the Huskers add in the 2028 class? Don’t count your chickens until they hatch, but Matt Rhule has a plan. Now he must execute it.

GO BIG RED!! SIMPLE, FAST, VILOLENT!!

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