Huskers Looking Ahead During Lower Key Off Season

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It’s been sort of a running joke among Nebraska football followers the past decade…winning the “Off season National Championship” every year.

Without a lot of successful football seasons to fall back on, Big Red faithful have chosen to look ahead with unmatched optimism over the past several winters, knowing in their heart of hearts that a return to the glory days was right around that turn of the calendar.

Unfortunately, the two things haven’t correlated very often.

This off season is a little bit different. Coming off two consecutive bowl game appearances, there is far less consternation about the condition of the program overall. Now it’s about taking the next step up to Big Ten title contention.

As for the current off season, very few are touting the Huskers 2026 high school recruiting class, with good reason. With the final high school signing day just around the corner on February 4^th, Nebraska currently sits last in the Big Ten conference and 105^th in the nation with just 11 signees (although their average “star” ranking would put them closer to the Top 25.) The small class still features a couple of big talents, like five-star defensive back Danny Odem and four-star offensive lineman Claude Mpouma. With one of the smallest graduating classes in the country, plus an incoming transfer class of 16, Head Coach Matt Rhule – focused on staying under the NCAA mandated 105 man roster limit – took a chance on having a small recruiting class in 2026 and looking ahead to 2027.

Time – and the Transfer Portal – will tell if this calculated gamble pays off.

Focus on 2027 Class Could Pay Off to be Big

Meanwhile, less national news-worthy moves continue during this off season, with the potential to pay off big down the road.

While Nebraska sacrificed the 2026 recruiting class in order to get the roster better positioned moving forward, the 2027 class continues to be a high priority. The revamped Huskers staff is on the road chasing some of the top high schoolers in the country, including players like four-star wide receiver Isaiah Alvarez from New Jersey and five-star tight end/basketball prospect Amhad Hudson from Louisiana.

Recruits Moving to Nebraska Early

One they don’t have to chase is four-star quarterback recruit Trae Taylor. Taylor has been committed to the Cornhuskers since early May of last year, and been one of the most vocal peer recruiters on social media. Even during difficult moments last season, Taylor has been relentlessly positive in his support of all things Big Red. Recently, he made the decision to relocate from his home in Illinois to Lincoln and plans to attend Omaha powerhouse Millard South High School for his senior year of high school, in order to be closer to the Husker program.

And he’s not coming alone. Fellow Husker commit Antayvious Ellis, a three-star receiver out of Texas is also moving to Nebraska and transferring to Millard South for his senior season.

With a full calendar year still to go before signing day, Nebraska has six commits and a national ranking of #5 at this point. The list is highlighted by Taylor and fellow four-star Tory Pittman III from Omaha Central. This will mean four of the Huskers current six commitments would qualify as in-state recruits.

That’s something of an offseason win right there.