2027 quarterback recruit Trae Taylor inks NIL deal with Leaf Trading Cards

Trae Taylor has already emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2027 cycle.

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound quarterback from Mundelein (Ill.) Carmel Catholic has picked up scholarship offers from Colorado, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Ole Miss. He camped at 15 schools in June.

Taylor has now signed an NIL deal with Leaf Trading Cards. As a high schooler in Illinois, he’s able to monetize his name, image and likeness without losing eligibility. On3’s Vice President of Recruiting and Transfer Portal Steve Wiltfong has learned it’s a five-year agreement in the six-figure range priced between $100,000 and $200,000.

He’s not the first top 2027 quarterback to sign a lucrative endorsement deal with Leaf, Peyton Houston signed with the brand back in May which was described as life-changing. Since the inception of NIL in college sports in the summer of 2021, the race has been on for trading card brands to sign top high school recruits.

Leaf has worked with a number of high-profile athletes in the last 30-plus months, signing deals with Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava and USC Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams. Taylor joins USC quarterback commit Julian Lewis, Florida quarterback DJ Lagway, Tennessee quarterback commit George MacIntyre and Houston as the the latest high school signees.

The 2027 quarterback camped at Notre Dame in June and has the Fighting Irish high on his list with hopes to return for a gameday visit. He told On3’s Mike Singer in June that he also wants to take visits to gameday trips to Michigan, LSU, Purdue, Michigan, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Illinois, West Virginia and Iowa.

“They said they will not offer any 2027 quarterbacks until after three games of our sophomore year,” Trae Taylor told Singer about earning an offer from Notre Dame. “They have said they fully expect that I’ll be one of the quarterbacks that they will offer.

“It would mean the world if I got that offer.”