Miami Northwestern three-star edge rusher Patrick Payton gave a verbal pledge to the Cornhuskers on Friday.
"They have been with me from the start," Payton told 247Sports over the phone. "They were one of the first schools that offered me and they have been talking to me ever since. I feel like it's one of the places that I can be great at."
Payton totaled 17.5 sacks as a junior at Miami High. That included a five-sack performance against Miami Columbus, who went on to win an 8A state title.
"They see me as a pass rusher," Payton said. "I'm going to be an outside linebacker that just comes off the edge."
Payton is listed at 6-5, 205 pounds. He is the nation's No. 30 ranked outside linebacker prospect according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.
The Cornhuskers now hold six commitments in the Class of 2021 as Payton joins a class that also includes four-star linebacker Randolph Kpai, offensive tackle Teddy Prochazka, offensive guard Henry Lutovsky, linebacker Christopher Paul Jr. and offensive tackle Branson Yager.