Nebraska adds another big piece to top-5 2027 recruiting class

A season-ending injury to quarterback Dylan Raiola and losses in three of its past five games has put a damper on this year for Nebraska, which entered 2025 as a potential College Football Playoff darkhorse.

But that hasn’t slowed the momentum on the recruiting trail for Matt Rhule and Co. particularly in the 2027 class. The Huskers picked up their sixth junior commitment on Sunday, nabbing four-star running back Amir Brown out of Rolesville (N.C.)

“The fans blew me away,” Brown told Rivals’ Chad Simmons. “They’re the No. 1 fan base. So passionate. They love their program. The environment is different — it’s a quiet place, but on game day the fans make it crazy.

… I knew on the first visit. The second one made it clear. My mom and dad knew it too. The staff, the energy — everything felt right.”

Brown was an early commitment for Bill Belichick and Co. in Chapel Hill, but opted to back off that pledge last month. Notre Dame was a school that quickly jumped to the top of his list, but Nebraska ultimately won out.

“This commitment is very different. I took more time and thought about it a lot more,” he told Simmons.

Huskers loading up on blue-chippers

Brown’s commitment is the second for Nebraska this month, joining Texas-based wide receiver Tay Ellis. The Huskers have five commitments since August 15 and currently hold the No. 5 class nationally in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

Four-star wide receiver Jabari Watkins gave his commitment in September, along with massive in-state offensive lineman Matt Erickson out of Omaha. Those two joined early fall commitments from Tory Pittman, the nation’s No. 2 safety and Trae Taylor, the No. 4 QB in the class.

The 2027 class is shaping up to be a pivotal one for Rhule and his staff. The Huskers, who are one of the youngest teams in college football this season, have only nine commitments in their 2026 class after three-star quarterback Dayton Raiola decommitted from Nebraska last week.

Instead, they’re much more likely to focus their efforts on the transfer portal this year and go for a deeper class in ’27. And they’re already off to a strong start there.