Top Players Coming Back from Cancelled 2020 Season

The year 2020 brought forth various changes and sacrifices in response to COVID-19 safety protocols. For athletes in the Omaha Public School system, this meant the cancellation of sports for the fall season. This difficult decision left a lot of talented players without a season to showcase their talents. Look for the following players to make up for lost time and put up great senior campaigns. <hr /> [player_tooltip player_id="147502" first="Deshawn" last="Woods"] (Omaha Central) - OL 6’5" 290 lbs Four-star OL Deshsawn Woods was among the players that were sidelined for the 2020 football season. Despite the lost season, Woods still maintained his status as the top overall recruit in Nebraska’s 2022 class. The lineman from Omaha Central has received a lot of attention from top Division I programs including LSU, Arizona State, Missouri, and Miami among many others. [caption id="attachment_165302" align="alignleft" width="239"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/06/E37mUdyWEAMyKDd.jpg"><img class="wp-image-165302" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/06/E37mUdyWEAMyKDd.jpg" alt="" width="239" height="359" /></a> <em><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Deshawn chose Mizzou over Arizona State on 7/3</span></em>[/caption] &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; In Woods’ sophomore year he looked all the parts of a top tackle prospect. Woods has quick feet with a very strong punch and solid build. He uses his strength to overwhelm defenders and finish through his blocks. Woods should shine as the top prospect in the state playing alongside a strong Omaha Central offensive line. [player_tooltip player_id="147503" first="Devon" last="Jackson"] (Omaha Burke) - LB/EDGE 6’2" 200 lbs [player_tooltip player_id="147503" first="Devon" last="Jackson"] made up for the lost football season by absolutely dominating at Nebraska’s state track meet (Class A 100m dash and 200m dash champion). During the 2019 season, Jackson was utilized as an edge-rusher to create as much chaos in the backfield as possible, and he did just that. Jackson’s lean, athletic frame and quickness allow him to blow up plays behind the line of scrimmage. He is a true sideline to sideline linebacker that helps limit big runs and able to drop back in coverage. With a four-star rating, many top FBS schools are vying for the jet-quick linebacker, among them are Arizona State, Miami, and Oklahoma along with plenty of other programs. [caption id="attachment_165310" align="aligncenter" width="371"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/06/E4VrJEBVgAEIMsm.jpg"><img class="wp-image-165310" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/06/E4VrJEBVgAEIMsm.jpg" alt="" width="371" height="492" /></a> <span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>Arizona State has emerged as one of the favorites to land Jackson.</em></span>[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="164281" first="Keshaun" last="Williams"] (Omaha North) - WR/ATH/CB 6’1" 180 lbs [player_tooltip player_id="164281" first="Keshaun" last="Williams"] is a candidate to have a breakout season. As a sophomore, Williams hauled in 23 catches for 380 yards helping create big plays for the Vikings offense. Williams is a smooth route-runner with an eye for soft spots in the defense’s coverage. He has excellent footwork and a good release, using these to create separation. He should be the primary target for the Omaha North offense. On defense, Williams contributed 50 total tackles and created turnovers as well. His athleticism allows him to drop into pass coverage or help set the edge in rush/pass-rush situations. Williams is a player that can flat-out ball on either side of the field, expect Keshaun to come out hot and produce a great season. &nbsp; &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="164282" first="Darnell" last="Coles Jr"] (Omaha Central) - CB 5’9" 150 lbs Darnell, the defensive back for the Central Eagles, has been working on improving his craft over the past year. Coles Jr. has been participating in camps and combines to make up for the lost time. An already talented runningback, Coles Jr. is trying to pick up on the nuances of being a highly effective defensive back. In summer camps it is evident that he is learning the role very well. He has very fluid hips and quick footwork, combined with natural playmaking instinct, he should be able to contribute a lot of production for the Eagles’ defense. As mentioned before, he can also see a lot of time in the backfield or lined up as a wideout, depending on depth. Coles Jr. will have his time to shine and show off his coverage chops going into his senior year. https://twitter.com/DarnellColesJr/status/1410266887909433349?s=20 <hr /> &nbsp;