If the hype for Nebraska football commit Trae Taylor was through the roof before this week, it’s not clear there’s a word for where the excitement for the 5-star quarterback is these days. Taylor was named the MVP of the Elite 11 Finals on Friday. He earned that honor after the conclusion of The Opening Finals at Nike's World Headquarters. He now prepares for a senior season at a new school, knowing that he’s walking a historic path and it’s more than just being the first Husker commit to earn the honor.
Getting the Elite 11 MVP title isn’t a guarantee that a quarterback will have a successful college career or a successful NFL career after, but it’s certainly a big step in the right direction. A look at who won the award before Taylor shows that quite a few of those who won it were or are among the best quarterbacks in the sport.
The Nebraska commit has shown plenty of talent leading up to Friday’s moment. After all, he climbed from a middle-of-the-pack 4-star QB to the top quarterback in the class according to 247Sports. He’s also had more schools come calling for him since he’s committed to the Huskers, including Ohio State. It just so happens the Buckeyes have one of the last Elite 11 Finals MVPs.
It’s not like he didn’t already demonstrate that he’s one of the best quarterbacks in his class before 247Sports made it official. Taylor put up incredible numbers in the 2025 season at Carmel Catholic (IL). In 11 games, the Husker commit threw for 3,571 yards, 38 touchdowns, and just 3 interceptions. He also ran 77 times for 633 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Trae Taylor gives Nebraska football another historic hope for brighter days in Husker program
Taylor transferred to Millard South (NE) this offseason and will join a team that went 12-1 this past season and won back-to-back Class A State championships. He’ll take over as the starting quarterback, replacing Jett Thomalla, who, despite not receiving an offer from Nebraska, signed with Alabama in the 2026 recruiting cycle.
The list of college football and NFL talent that Trae Taylor joined really is impressive going back to 2000:
- 2025: Dia Bell
- 2024: Keelon Russell
- 2023: Julian Sayin
- 2022: Jackson Arnold
- 2021: Cade Klubnik
- 2020: Caleb Williams
- 2019: C.J. Stroud
- 2018: Spencer Rattler
- 2017: Justin Fields
- 2016: Tua Tagovailoa
- 2015: Shea Patterson
- 2014: Blake Barnett
- 2013: Malik Zaire
- 2012: Richard Lagow
- 2011: Neil Burcham, Tanner Mangum, & Jameis Winston (Co-MVPs)
- 2010: Jeff Driskel
- 2009: Jake Heaps
- 2008: Raymond Cotton
- 2007: Blaine Gabbert
- 2006: John Brantley
- 2005: Matthew Stafford
- 2004: Mark Sanchez
- 2003: Rhett Bomar & Matt Tuiasosopo (Co-MVPs)
- 2002: Kyle Wright
- 2001: Ben Olson
- 2000: Brodie Croyle
Sure, like any list about recruiting, there are plenty of guys who have been completely forgotten. But even guys who aren’t household names, like John Brantley, were usually starting quarterbacks for their respective schools.
Shorten the timeline (perhaps the Elite 11 people are getting better at singling out the true talent that will get quarterbacks to the next level, and Trae Taylor joins a group that has dozens of NFL starts). In fact, every Elite 11 Finals MVP who won the award from 2016 who was eligible to start at least one game in the NFL has done that. Even the big “miss” of the last 10 years, Jackson Arnold has been and still will be a starting quarterback for every college team he’s played for.
Trae Taylor winning the award doesn’t guarantee success for the quarterback or for Nebraska football. But looking at past Elite 11 Finals winners, especially more recently, shows that history is on the player and his future team’s side.
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