Nebraska charging to flip Florida State 4-star TE commit, top in-state target Chase Loftin

Nebraska is getting Omaha (Neb.) Millard South four-star tight end Chase Loftin back to Lincoln for a visit this weekend and the Cornhuskers are now trending to flip the Florida State commit.

The No. 2 player in Nebraska this cycle, Loftin pledged to FSU on June 29, choosing the ACC school over the in-state program, Missouri, Texas A&M and others. As the Seminoles have crumbled on the field in 2024, though, their recruiting class has began to wither.

Mike Norvell’s class currently ranks No. 23 in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings, but now has just 11 commits overall. Loftin is still in the class, as of Oct. 31, but the Huskers are working hard to change that.

On3 VP of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong, as well as Nebraska insiders Sean Callahan and Bryan Munson, have all placed picks in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine for the in-state school to flip Loftin. According to Callahan, multiple factors, including NIL, have Nebraska in position for the big recruiting win.

“I think it’s a number of things, but clearly Florida State’s start to the season and where things are at with the Seminoles from where he committed in the summer, it’s different. He’s from Omaha, and being able to play at Nebraska just makes a lot of sense,” Callahan told On3’s Josh Newberg.

“The Huskers do play three tight ends regularly in games right now with Matt Rhule and what they do. Obviously NIL, I think Nebraska, to get a guy like Loftin you’ve got to be competitive. I think the Noles, to get him out of (the state), to beat other teams like Texas A&M that were involved, there was quite an NIL market. Not only does Nebraska offer a great opportunity for him as a tight end, I think competitively too as far as what it will take NIL to get a guy like him, they’re going to be able to get that done as well. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he ends up a Husker here at some point in the coming days ahead.”

Huskers making charge for top-20 recruiting class

Nebraska’s class currently features 20 commits and ranks No. 24 in the nation, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. Headlining the class is another Omaha native in Westside four-star linebacker Christian Jones, the top-ranked player in the state.

Jones is one of five blue-chippers in the class and he soon could be flanked by Loftin. Five other Nebraskans are in the mix for head coach Matt Rhule, including Omaha Millard North three-star linebacker Pierce Mooberry, Millard North three-star safety Caden VerMaas and Omaha North three-star defensive lineman Tyson Terry.

“I don’t know if it’s this weekend or how it’s all going to play out with (Loftin), but it’s the only visit he’s going to take,” Callahan said. “He’s not going to go anywhere else, so there’s just so many things that point to — this is going to be a guy that probably ends up as a Husker.”

Loftin is the No. 331 overall prospect and No. 19 TE in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.