Over 35 Recruits Set to Visit Nebraska for Second Annual Blackout Game Against Washington

The Huskers are expecting a loaded group across the 2027, 2028 and 2029 classes for Saturday night’s Halloween showdown.

Blackout Game | Nebraska Athletics

Nebraska’s second annual Blackout game is also shaping up as one of its biggest recruiting weekends of the year.

The Huskers will host more than 35 prospects Saturday night when Washington comes to Memorial Stadium, a group that includes 22 four-star or better recruits. That almost tops the more than 25 visitors expected for Indiana earlier this month. This will be back-to-back recruiting weekends for the Huskers with 20+ blue-chip recruits.

Trae Taylor | @Trae6Taylor/Instagram

2027 Commits Lead the Way

Twelve members of Nebraska’s 2027 class are on the list, headlined by five-star quarterback Trae Taylor. Four-star safety Tory Pittman, four-star interior lineman Jordan Agbonoma, four-star running back Amir Brown, four-star defensive lineman Nehemiah Ombati, and four-star cornerback Jailen Hill round out the group’s top-rated names.

Six three-star commits will also be in the building: Barrett Kitrell, Matt Erickson, Jayden Travers, Eli Harris, Ma’atoe Moe, and Joey Hunter.

Name	Position	State	Star Ranking
Trae Taylor	QB	NE	Five-Star
Tory Pittman III	S	NE	Four-Star
Jordan Agbonoma	IOL	GA	Four-Star
Amir Brown	RB	NC	Four-Star
Nehemiah Ombati	DL	MN	Four-Star
Jailen Hill	CB	CA	Four-Star
Barrett Kitrell	IOL	NE	Three-Star
Jayden Travers	DL	MD	Three-Star
Eli Harris	LB	GA	Three-Star
Ma'atoe Moe	EDGE	UT	Three-Star
Joey Hunter	TE	GA	Three-Star

Israel Johnigan is making his second visit to Nebraska this season. | @johnigantest4/instagram

2028 Class Packs the Four-Star Talent

The 2028 group is the biggest on the list at 23 prospects, and 15 of them are four-stars. The offensive line stands out with tackles Vincent Shields (CA), Declan Heying (IA), Kajus Muralis (IL), and Amaree Joshua (GA), plus interior lineman Josiah Eney (MD).

Nebraska will also host four-star defensive linemen Isaac Kalubi Lukini (ON) and Brynnen Thompson (DE), edge rushers Steven McClendon (GA) and Owen Price (NE), and linebacker Nazeree Guy (TX). Tight ends Xevien Brinson (GA) and Israel Johnigan (MO), wide receiver Ryan Richmond-McDavis (CO), running back Noel Washington (CA), and cornerback Kia Jones Jr. (PA) complete the four-star group.

A lot of the 2028 recruits will be making their first trips to Nebraska, so the Huskers will need to make a strong first impression. If they do so, these recruits will find their way back to Nebraska for a spring practice.

Name	Position	State	Ranking
Xevien Brinson	TE	GA	Four-Star
Isaac Kalubi Lukini	DL	ON	Four-Star
Brynnen Thompson	DL	DE	Four-Star
Steven McClendon	EDGE	GA	Four-Star
Ryan Richmond-McDavis	WR	CO	Four-Star
Vincent Fields	OT	CA	Four-Star
Declan Heying	OT	IA	Four-Star
Kajus Muralis	OT	IL	Four-Star
Kia Jones Jr.	CB	PA	Four-Star
Josiah Eney	IOL	MD	Four-Star
Amaree Joshua	OT	GA	Four-Star
Israel Johnigan	TE	MO	Four-Star
Nazeree Guy	LB	TX	Four-Star
Owen Price	EDGE	NE	Four-Star
Noel Washington	RB	CA	Four-Star
Kaden Myers	IOL	CO	Three-Star
Tyjah Brown	DL	MS	Three-Star
Malik Muhammad	EDGE	GA	Three-Star
Micah Santiago	DL	NE	Three-Star
LeRoi Kamito	EDGE	KS	Three-Star
Thomas Minor	DL	OH	Three-Star
Flourish Odin	DL	GA	Three-Star
Tristian Johnson	ATH	MO	Three-Star

Roy Manning | Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Big Emphasis on Edge and DL

Nebraska’s pass rushers and defensive linemen will be well represented Saturday night, with nine DL and five edge prospects across the 2027, 2028, and 2029 classes. Six of the 14 are four-stars.

Both position coaches are in their first season in Lincoln. Edges coach Roy Manning followed defensive coordinator Rob Aurich from San Diego State, where the Aztecs ranked second nationally in pass-efficiency defense and led the country with three shutouts in 2025. Manning has also coached at Michigan, USC, and Oklahoma, and he won three Big Ten titles as a linebacker at Michigan.

Defensive line coach Corey Brown arrives with 20 years of experience as a defensive assistant, including 18 as a DL coach. At Miami (Ohio), his groups combined for 105 sacks from 2023 to 2025, which ranked 14th nationally. He produced a different first-team all-conference lineman in each of his last three seasons there.

Manning and Brown took over a room that generated just 22 sacks last season, among the worst in the Big Ten, and they have turned it around quickly with 19 sacks through seven games. Now the revamped room is hosting 14 DL and edge prospects across the 2027, 2028, and 2029 classes, including six four-stars, who can see the unit up close on Blackout night

Nebraska Blackout Field | Nebraska Athletics

Chance to Make a Statement

The setting is hard to beat. The Huskers will take the field at night in front of a blacked-out Memorial Stadium with the Blackshirts logo at midfield, and the night kickoff makes it easier for recruits to experience the full game-day atmosphere.

Nebraska is also coming off a bye week following three-point losses to Indiana and Oregon, and it fell 21-17 to USC in last year’s Blackout game. A win in front of this group would only strengthen the pitch.

Check back after the game for reactions from some of the visitors.

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