A QB commitment, a portal parade and Bahl being Bahl
From commitment stunts to portal exits and Jordy Bahl doing Jordy Bahl things, Nebraska sports stayed in motion to start May.
Hey, May.
It’s that time of the year where summer is on the horizon and it feels like things should be slowing down. You know, however, that college sports news doesn’t take a breath even if you’d like it to.
This week was a whirlwind of decisions: some just beginning their Nebraska journey, some ending it, and one Papillion native continuing to dominate on a national level.
Here’s your rundown.
The quarterback room grows
Nebraska football’s quarterback pipeline continues to flow with the commitment of 2027 four-star quarterback Trae Taylor. He made it official on a live YouTube stream.
There was a little “drama,” if you’d call it that, when Taylor first put on an Illinois hat and announced he’d “stay home.” He then tossed the hat to the side, switching to a white Nebraska hat and unveiling a Huskers baseball jersey. Talk about a Big Ten bait-and-switch.
Taylor, ranked the No. 2 prospect in Illinois and the No. 3 quarterback in his class by 247Sports, cited trust in the coaching staff.
“Coach Rhule and Coach Thomas, they've all been very genuine,” he said. “I really believe that they can get me to the next level, which is the NFL.”
Andrew Ivins, 247Sports’ Director of Scouting, described Taylor as a “cerebral quarterback prospect” who thrives in structure but can also extend plays under pressure. That kind of dual-threat intelligence is what Matt Rhule wants. Taylor will join a quarterback room that includes Dylan Raiola, Marcos Davila, TJ Lateef and Dayton Raiola (a 2026 commit).
We’re a long way from 2027 but it’s never too early for a QB to commit, right?
CharMar chooses The U
Nebraska swung big for running back CharMar Brown but in the end, the former Creighton Prep star and FCS standout chose Miami.
Brown rushed for 1,181 yards and 15 touchdowns last season at North Dakota State, earning the Jerry Rice Award as the nation’s best freshman in the FCS. He had a solid list of programs interested, including Cal and Nebraska, but Miami sealed the deal.
For Nebraska, missing on an Omaha-born talent stings. Sometimes, however, it just comes down to fit and Brown saw Miami as the better stage.
It’s another reminder that even with in-state ties and hometown loyalty, the portal is a business. This time, Miami seems to have made the better pitch.
Who's winning the transfer portal in the Big Ten 'post-spring'
Early in spring practice, Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule said he didn’t anticipate the Huskers trying to add a running back during the spring transfer window. There’s depth at the position in Lincoln—four scholarship backs—but little proven production
To the portal they go
Nebraska’s transfer portal activity heated up this week and it wasn’t just one name.
Kicker Nico Ottomanelli is leaving with four years of eligibility remaining.
“I am grateful for all my memories, teammates, and coaches,” he wrote in his announcement.
Ottomanelli was the top kicker in New Jersey coming out of high school but redshirted last season. He exits a program still searching for consistency on special teams.
He wasn’t alone. Tight end Ian Flynt, defensive lineman David Borchers, wide receiver Hayes Miller, offensive lineman Grant Seagren and cornerback Evan Taylor all entered the portal this week. Most were redshirts with limited (or no) game experience, but their departures signal the ever-churning reality of roster management under the current NCAA rules.
At the same time, Nebraska has been adding key players like Alabama offensive tackle Elijah Pritchett and Oklahoma edge rusher Dasan McCullough.
A new general to manage Nebrasketball
Luca Virgilio is now Nebraska men’s basketball’s general manager and his promotion marks a new era in how the program operates.
Previously the director of basketball strategies and business operations, Virgilio’s expanded role includes managing roster composition, player acquisition (high school, transfer portal, international), evaluation, retention and serving as a bridge to the 1890 NIL collective.
In a world where college basketball increasingly mirrors professional sports, this move aligns Nebraska with schools like Arkansas and Villanova that have already adopted the GM model.
With six transfers joining the Huskers this offseason, the move signals more than just a title change. It’s a commitment to adapting fast. In the NIL and portal era—just like we talk about in football!—you’re not just recruiting talent. You’re running a full-blown enterprise. Virgilio’s promotion shows Fred Hoiberg’s program is leaning in.
Jordy Bahl is doing it all (again)
Let’s not forget the dominance happening just a few blocks over at Bowlin Stadium.
Jordy Bahl is once again one of the 25 finalists for the USA Softball/ESPN Player of the Year award. That’s no surprise.
Bahl’s batting .468 with 17 home runs this season and has already notched 55 runs, 56 RBIs, and 15 doubles. That also means she’s the first Husker to record both 15 doubles and 15 homers in a single season. That would be impressive enough, but she’s also 20-5 in the circle with a 1.56 ERA and 218 strikeouts.
Bahl ranks in the top six nationally in nearly every pitching metric and is climbing the all-time program charts for both batting average and slugging percentage. She’s also only a junior.
Bahl is one of seven Big Ten players to make the list, and the first Husker since Taylor Edwards in 2011. The list will be narrowed from 25 to 10 on May 14.
There’s never a dull time of the year in college sports, and that’s especially true now with the evolution of the transfer portal. We’ll always have you covered here at Counter Read.
Want to be sure we touch on a specific topic in a future Friday Five? Let us know. We’re always here to listen.