Trae Taylor, a top quarterback prospect for the class of 2027, surprised many when he announced he would commit to Nebraska. During a ceremony at Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, Ill., Taylor was seen throwing an Illinois hat, which one analyst thinks might harm him in the future.
Jake Butt Warns Trae Taylor’s Illinois Hat Toss Could Hurt Him Down the Line
Jake Butt, a former player, analyst and current commentator for UFL broadcasts on Fox, expressed dismay regarding the situation.
I know this is meant to be funny and light hearted, but I’ve never felt this made the prospect look good. Especially knowing how good of a Coach/ Person
Bret Bielema is.Lastly, in the world of the transfer portal, it’s never good to unnecessarily burn bridges. He could end up… https://t.co/kZQmOq8GIB
— Jake Butt (@Jbooty88) May 1, 2025
Butt said he understands it was intended as a joke, but for top players like Taylor, it doesn’t reflect well on his image or any player, regardless of their status.
He added that the gesture was ill-advised considering how well-regarded Bret Bielema is as a coach and person. Butt noted that, given the current state of the transfer portal, it is wise not to burn bridges unnecessarily.
Butt also expressed concern that Taylor might want to join Illinois in the future, but his joke during his ceremony might hinder that possibility.
In the video, Taylor initially picked up an Illinois hat and put it on, seemingly indicating his commitment to the school.
However, that gesture turned out to be misleading. To the surprise of many, he took off the Illinois hat and put on a Nebraska hat, creating a moment of shock and ambiguity. Ultimately, it appeared he chose to play for Nebraska.
Taylor seemed to have second thoughts, commenting, “Stay home and go to Illinois.” By that point, however, his initial actions had already generated considerable backlash from fans and even drew a response from current Illinois QB Luke Altmyer.
Altmyer commented, “(Corn) ball, no pun intended,” which he later deleted. In response to the criticism, Taylor released a video apology on Thursday.
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“I did want to film this video to apologize to the Illini Nation,” Taylor said. “Throwing the hat the way I did during my commitment is not the way I want to be perceived, and I know that was very disrespectful.
“I really just want to get on here and say that that’s not who I am. That’s not the way I want to be known. The moment got to me a little bit, and I just want to say ‘sorry.’ I’m very grateful for all the support that the Illini Nation has brought to me and the coaching staff.”
These two teams aren’t scheduled to play in 2025, but the Cornhuskers are slated to visit Illinois in 2026.
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