5-Star OL Shocks the Nation, Commits to Nebraska Over Gators, Texas, and Tennessee
In a seismic twist that has college football fans reeling coast to coast, 5-star offensive lineman Kaeden “Tank” Mitchell, widely regarded as the top trench warrior of the 2025 class, has committed to the Nebraska Cornhuskers, stunning blue-blood programs like Florida, Texas, and Tennessee — all of whom were considered finalists for his signature.
Mitchell, a 6’7”, 330-pound mauler from Buford, Georgia, had been courted relentlessly by SEC juggernauts. Just last month, he posted photos donning Florida’s iconic blue and orange alongside Billy Napier, and two weeks later, he was seen on the sidelines in Austin with Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian giving him the “future first-rounder” pitch. Yet on Monday morning, in a jaw-dropping live announcement on ESPN2, Mitchell unzipped his jacket to reveal a Nebraska jersey — the iconic red “N” emblazoned proudly across his chest.
“Everyone expected me to follow the hype,” Mitchell said. “But I’m not built to chase trends. I’m built to make history.”
Mitchell’s decision has already ignited a firestorm. Fans from SEC schools flooded social media with disbelief, accusations of tampering, and speculation that Nebraska’s revamped NIL collective — The 1890 Initiative — played a massive role in swaying the elite lineman. While no evidence has surfaced of improper inducements, the optics are hard to ignore. Nebraska, which hasn’t sniffed the College Football Playoff and hasn’t won a conference title since 1999, just poached a cornerstone recruit from the SEC’s inner circle.
Insiders say head coach Matt Rhule personally led the recruitment, flying to Georgia multiple times, even attending one of Mitchell’s high school playoff games in the rain. Rhule reportedly told Mitchell, “You’ll be remembered forever if you rebuild a dynasty. You’ll be just another name if you follow the pack.”
Kaeden’s father, Marcus Mitchell, a former Florida Gators linebacker, was visibly emotional during the commitment. “I wanted him to be a Gator. I won’t lie,” he admitted. “But this was his call. He believes in Nebraska. And I respect that.”
For Nebraska, this is more than just a recruiting win — it’s a statement. A once-dominant program lost in the wilderness for decades has just laid claim to the most physically dominant lineman in high school football. It’s the kind of move that reshapes narratives and reopens pipelines.
Not everyone is applauding, though. Florida message boards erupted with theories, some accusing Mitchell of “chasing a bag,” while Tennessee fans called it “the biggest recruiting L of the decade.”
Time will tell if Mitchell’s bold choice pays off — or if it’s remembered as a headline-making misstep. But one thing is clear: Nebraska just changed the game. Again.
