Matt Rhule and Nebraska are in a tough spot right now. After wrapping up last season with a 7-6 record, fans are really hoping he can turn things around this year. The offseason moves in the transfer portal have been key to making his vision for the team a reality. But the big question is, did he do enough to upgrade the roster? Rhule bagged 15 players in the transfer portal to strengthen his squad. However, a head coach should always have one eye on the future. That means the recruiting classes of 2026 and 2027.
The 2026 class is yet to get going for Nebraska. They are currently in the 17th position in their conference when it comes to commitments for next year. Just 4 commitments: one 4-star and three 3-star players. Compare that to USC, which has had 26 commitments. One notable target for the Huskers’ 2026 class is 4-star defensive lineman Titan Davis, who seemed like a perfect fit at first.
But it looks like he’s had a change of heart and is no longer interested. The defensive star, who is considered the No. 2 player in Missouri and the No. 8 defensive lineman in the entire 2026 class according to On3’s Industry Rankings, was supposed to take an official visit with the Nebraska Cornhuskers on June 13. But there is a twist. He just trimmed his final destination to the top four schools, and Rhule’s Nebraska didn’t make the cut.
The Saint Louis prospect could have been a huge asset to the Huskers’ DL room. His unbelievable size and giant speed made him a force to be reckoned with when he closed the gap in two steps. As a junior for DeSmet, Davis racked up 46 total tackles and nine sacks. He led the Spartans to a 14-game winning stretch and a state title, finishing as the No. 15 team in Missouri, as per the On3 Composite Rankings. So, losing the grip on him can be a huge blow for Rhule.
Articulating the bad news, Wilson Dittman posed a reality check: “Titan Davis was arguably the most important Nebraska target of this cycle. They needed to land him. Instead, they are out of the running before getting an official visit. The concerns about DL recruiting are even more serious.”
Sure, it’s a break for Rhule to pause and reflect on where they have gone wrong or what can give the other schools (Alabama, Penn State, Michigan, and USC) an edge over them. But that’s not the end of the world for the Huskers’ DL class. The targets on the list look pretty stacked up.
Four-star defensive tackle Valdin Sone has already placed the Huskers in his final top 10. Among those 10, the reports suggested he has a genuine fondness for Florida, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. DL coach Terry Bradden can make a harder push for him if they manage to get an official visit. They have a handful of young DLs waiting in the wings, but yes, fostering growth should be the priority. The crucial position depth can make a real difference in Rhule’s make-or-break year.
But among those four rivals, who will be the one to topple Nebraska in landing Davis at the end of his search? Well, it’s not obvious; rather, the DL purposefully chose not to make it pretty obvious.
Titan Davis chooses to keep his recruiting details close to his chest
The NIL era is all about beating your own drums, announcing all your moves over social media to make solid branding, and putting the other schools on their toes. The money they want to brag about demands careful flexing on social media. But Titan has been far away from this trend.
You must not have read very long paragraphs or interviews on why he likes certain schools, their coaches, and their culture. And that’s for a reason. He might have cut down the schools from 14 to 4 over this spring; he is not keeping anyone on a guess. He is not posting photos with every other coach of every school with a cryptic caption.
“I tell everybody Titan is a quiet guy,” his mother, Jessica Johnson, told On3’s Steve Wiltfong in March. “He’s not going to be posting and bragging. Even when he goes to game days, he’s not the type of kid to take out his phone and take pictures and videos. I knew that the videos that he had come across and sent from that game-day visit were special to him. I knew he hadn’t done that at any other visit or game day. I know he was excited for me to get there.” It will be interesting to see where he lands, bringing an unparalleled talent, class to their table.
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