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Recruiting Blitz: Nebraska's biggest 2027 needs

IMG_6599-2by: Tim Verghese01/26/26TimVerghese

In this week’s edition of Recruiting Blitz, Inside Nebraska’s Tim Verghese discusses Nebraska’s biggest needs as the Huskers turn attention fully to the 2027 recruiting cycle

Nebraska boasts a top-ten recruiting class early on, headlined by elite quarterback Trae Taylor and blue-chip in-state safety Tory Pittman. Verghese first discusses the coaching staff’s efforts on the road this month and what lies ahead this week. Then, with the staff focusing on 2027 targets, what are the key positions the Huskers need to address? Verghese shares the four he believes are imminent needs for the staff

Nebraska visits elite 2027 DL Marcus Fakatou

Matt Rhule and Nebraska Director of Player Personnel Keith Williams are in California visiting with some of Nebraska’s top targets on the West Coast. The two made a stop through Orange (Cali.) Lutheran, the program that produced TJ Lateef, to see one of the nation’s top defensive linemen.

Oregon, USC, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Michigan are among top contenders for Marcus Fakatou, a top-30 prospect and the No. 2 defensive line prospect nationally per Rivals. The 6-foot-7, 295 pounder was originally a class of 2028 recruit, but reclassified in November, accelerating his recruiting process.

The four-star visited Nebraska twice in 2025. He made his way to Lincoln for the first time in June, for the Hudl Futures Forum and admittedly didn’t think much of it at the time. That first trip gave him a glimpse of the program, but not enough to develop a true impression. At the coaching staff’s insistence, he returned in September to see the Huskers take on Michigan. After taking in his first game in Memorial Stadium, Nebraska earned some staying power.

“They’re honestly in my top ten now,” he told Inside Nebraska after the visit. “I didn’t think anything of Nebraska, I kind of just didn’t have it in my head but then after coming back a second time, they’ve slipped into my top ten.” 

This is a key week for Fakatou’s recruitment, as he aims to cut down his list of 30+ offers down to a top eight. He’s visited with coaches from Texas, USC, UCLA, Arizona, Penn State, BYU, Oregon, Notre Dame and Texas A&M so far this week. Only eight will make the cut and receive visits from the elite defensive lineman and his family. Will Nebraska make the cut?