It's been clear that the Nebraska football team has changed the way it's reloading for the 2026 season. While its high school recruiting has been anything other than impressive, it's taken aim at the JUCO ranks over the last few weeks. Along those lines, Taylor Schaefer is the latest big target who will see what the Huskers have to offer up close and personal.
Schaefer, a linebacker from Iowa Central C.C., is one of the most sought-after JUCO players at his position in the class. He's gotten a ton of attention from major programs. Iowa State was one of the leaders in his pursuit, but the Huskers are thought to be big-time contenders.
Just how close Nebraska is to landing the talented defender will become clearer when he makes an official visit to Lincoln on Black Friday. He'll take in the Huskers going up against the Iowa Hawkeyes in both teams' regular-season finale.
Nebraska football hosting JUCO Taylor Schaefer for Thanksgiving visit
Schaefer doesn't have the Badgers on his list of real contenders for his services, but he did grow up in Big Ten country while playing high school football at Brussels (Wisc.) and Southern Door High School. He's made it clear he's familiar with the biggest teams in the conference, and that's likely why the Cornhuskers are far from the only school from the region giving him a run.
Minnesota also looks like one of the bigger contenders to land Schaefer.
It's safe to assume that Nebraska knows it needs to patch up a less than impressive 2026 recruiting class with an influx of talent. The Huskers will almost certainly be big players in the transfer portal, but they also want to get some talented JUCO kids in as stopgaps until the Top 5-ranked 2027 class really comes together.