Class A Top 10 Power Rankings (Spring Edition)
In this article:
With Spring just around the corner (fingers crossed), I wanted to release my top 10 team rankings before the start of camps and college visits. My criteria for this list relied on; players lost, returning players, and finish to their…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWith Spring just around the corner (fingers crossed), I wanted to release my top 10 team rankings before the start of camps and college visits. My criteria for this list relied on; players lost, returning players, and finish to their season. I didn’t factor in schedules because it is still early, and I want to focus on “player power.” After watching which players stand out in camps and which players begin to rise the recruiting ranks, I will revisit these power rankings before the start of summer and then again before the season starts.
I encourage all feedback, which encourages some (friendly) discourse and builds up some hype for football season.
1. Omaha Westside Warriors
Westside has one of the deepest squads in the state and they will come back next year with more experience and confidence. The Warriors do say goodbye to a phenomenal 2022 class featuring star players like Dom Rezac, Jack James Jack James 6'2" | 250 lbs | OL Omaha Westside | 2022 State NE , Tommy Connelly Tommy Connelly 6'0" | 185 lbs | LB Westside | 2022 State NE , etc. but they do have a very promising 2024 class waiting in the wings. 2024 QB Anthony Rezac Anthony Rezac 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE is a star in the making and showed tons of poise and maturity when he took over QB1 duties. Anthony isn’t the only Rezac to watch; twin brother Teddy has developed into a great DB behind the tutelage of older brother Dominic. Caleb Benning Caleb Benning 5'11" | ATH Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE is also an elite athlete that is already making recruiting noise and will be a pivotal part of their defensive success. Add in players like Jahmez Ross Jahmez Ross 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE , Jonquel Osler Jonquel Osler 6'0" | 225 lbs | DL Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE , and the many other great players and you have yourself a tough squad to beat.
2. Gretna Dragons
Regardless of what has happened off the field for the Gretna Dragons, what was shown on the field can not be denied. Gretna fielded one of the most explosive offenses and paired it with a very stingy defense. Seniors like Mick Huber Mick Huber 6'0" | 190 lbs | LB Gretna | 2022 State NE , Jake Lukis Jake Lukis 6'3" | 265 lbs | DL Gretna | 2022 State NE , and Brayden Chaney Brayden Chaney 6'1" | ATH Gretna | 2022 State NE will be missed, but the Dragons did a good job getting their depth players some game reps. They do bring back the best QB in the state, Zane Flores Zane Flores 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB Gretna | 2023 State NE , along with his favorite target Joe Roll Joe Roll 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Gretna | 2023 State NE . Gretna will also have key pieces along the trenches returning like Mason Goldman Mason Goldman 6'6" | 255 lbs | OL Gretna | 2023 State NE , Korver Demma Korver Demma 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Gretna | 2023 State NE , Bennett Stock Bennett Stock 5'11" | 240 lbs | OL Gretna | 2024 State NE , etc. This is a team with TONS of playmakers and a huge chip on their shoulders. I wouldn’t put it past the Dragons to return and go scorched earth on their 2022 opponents.
3. Bellevue West Thunderbirds
Losing your starting QB, 2,000-yard RB, two Elite tight ends, 3 or 4 out of 5 linemen, 2 dominant defensive linemen, a tackling machine at LB, and your two starting corners is less than ideal, buuuuuutt this is Bellevue West we are talking about. They don’t rebuild, they reload, and that won’t change in 2022. Stepping up is stud 2024 QB Kaelin Daniel and 4 star WR Dae’Vonn Hall Dae’Vonn Hall 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR Bellevue West | 2024 State NE along with junior ATHs Kyrell Jordan Kyrell Jordan 5'8" | 160 lbs | WR Bellevue West | 2023 State NE and TK Barnett TK Barnett 5'9" | 165 lbs | ATH Bellevue West | 2023 AL . Stud LT/LG Kellen Steuben-Allen Kellen Steuben-Allen 6'2" | 270 lbs | OL Bellevue West | 2023 State NE -Allen will be the leader of the OL. Defensively, they have several players with tons of talent that look more than ready to step up (Hudec and Jacobmeier). This is a very hardworking group that carries with them a winning culture. Expect some growing pains here and there, but Bell West should be among the elite teams.
4. Creighton Prep Jr. Jays
Creighton is a school that needs to be taken more seriously going into 2022. They have a very, very impressive 2023 class that would love to go out as champs. They maintain a great core of players along their offensive and defensive line with Sam Sledge Sam Sledge 6'4" | 270 lbs | OL Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE and Rocco Marcellino both having outstanding junior years. Prep also returns some really good defenders in John Pargo Jr John Pargo Jr 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE , George Egan George Egan 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE , Ahmar Brown Ahmar Brown 6'1" | 185 lbs | LB Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE , and others. The main returning factor is stud RB CharMar Brown CharMar Brown 6'0" | 200 lbs | RB Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE , who will be looked at as the driving force behind this offense. Creighton has the firepower and toughness to match up well against any team.
5. Elkhorn South Storm
Elkhorn South is in a similar spot as Creighton, they did lose some valuable players, but they have a great returning group of players. At the top of the list is elite Edge rusher Maverick Noonan Maverick Noonan 6'4" | 230 lbs | DL Elkhorn South | 2023 State NE who will form a destructive team with fellow DL Noah Bustard. Offensively, Cole Ballard Cole Ballard 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB Elkhorn South | 2023 State NE will be back as the feature back for the Storm and should produce another great season. There are some questions under center and along the offensive line with the departure of many senior OL/DL players, but the rotational depth players from last year should step up nicely. Elkhorn South always fields a mean defense and their offense knows how to come up big in crucial moments. Don’t sleep on the Storm!
6. Millard South Patriots
Millard South was a tough team to rank because of how many top-tier players they are losing. QB Gage Stenger Gage Stenger 6'2" | 190 lbs | ATH Millard South | 2022 State NE , RB Christian Nash Christian Nash 6'0" | 220 lbs | RB Millard South | 2022 State NE , Jake and Justin Gassaway Justin Gassaway 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Millard South | 2022 State NE , Antrell Taylor Antrell Taylor 5'9" | 165 lbs | ATH Millard South | 2022 State NE are just some of the skill position players departing Millard South. This would be alarming, but the Patriots do return some very talented players. Camden Kozeal Camden Kozeal 5'11" | 195 lbs | QB Millard South | 2023 State NE is a very athletic quarterback with a strong arm and is quick on his feet. On defense, the Patriots will have great returning players at every level; Lance Rucker Lance Rucker 6'3" | 205 lbs | ATH Millard South | 2023 State NE and Bryson Zimmerman on the DL, Grant Renken Grant Renken 6'0" | 200 lbs | ATH Millard South | 2023 State NE at LB, and Gavin Nunnally and Brock Murtaugh Brock Murtaugh 6'2" | 200 lbs | DB Millard South | 2023 State NE in the secondary. Despite the turnover, I still think Coach Wisdom will have this team ready to go come kickoff.
7. Omaha North Vikings
I don’t think anyone will be taking Omaha North lightly after last season. After missing out on their 2020 season, North returned in 2021 to a slow 0-5 start to their season. They were able to rally and pull off 6 straight wins and ended up in the Class A semi-finals. The Vikings will lose some tough players to replace in Keshaun Williams Keshaun Williams 6'1" | 180 lbs | ATH Omaha North | 2022 State NE , Ceontre’ Brown Ceontre’ Brown 5'11" | 215 lbs | DL Omaha North | 2022 State NE , Orland Hernandez, and several others, but they do return some very exciting players. Tre Brown is a very talented WR/DB who can make a play and flip the momentum at a moment’s notice. North’s rushing leader Te’Shaun Porter Te’Shaun Porter 5'11" | 200 lbs | RB Omaha North | 2023 State NE will also be back after rushing for 1,300+ yards. On defense, the Vikings will field two monsters in freshman phenom Tyson Terry Tyson Terry 6'2" | 270 lbs | DL Omaha North | 2025 State NE and the superphysical Tyler Stewart Tyler Stewart 5'10" | 225 lbs | DL Omaha North | 2023 State NE (both of which are coming off impressive state wrestling championships). They also feature two of the most impressive 2025 QBs in Nate Collins Nate Collins 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Omaha Burke | 2025 State NE and Sebastian Circo. If history is any indication, Coach Martin will get the most out of the talent on his team, and the sky’s the limit for this squad.
8. Lincoln Southeast Knights
Southeast is a team that says farewell to a really good 2022 class but has an equally as good 2023 class ready to take over. Leading the charge for the Knights are LT Gunnar Gottula Gunnar Gottula 6'6" | 270 lbs | OL Lincoln Southeast | 2023 State NE and RB/LB Max Buettenbeck who are two bruising players at their positions. Some interesting offensive players for the Knights are Carsten Bluhm Carsten Bluhm 6'5" | 220 lbs | TE Lincoln Southeast | 2023 State NE , big 2024 OL Cooper Johnson Cooper Johnson 6'6" | 290 lbs | OL Lincoln Southeast | 2024 State NE , Manny Appleget Manny Appleget 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Lincoln Southeast | 2023 State NE who will all see bigger roles in 2022. Will Jesske Will Jesske 6'0" | 200 lbs | LB Lincoln Southeast | 2023 State NE and Lance Hesselgesser Lance Hesselgesser 6'1" | 190 lbs | LB Lincoln Southeast | 2023 State NE will be pivotal for the Knights front seven, with Sam Gandara and Sam Dorfmeyer being players to keep an eye out for. The main question will be regarding who will take the snaps next year between Maddox Cummings or Owen Baxter Owen Baxter QB Lincoln Southeast | 2024 State NE .
9. Burke Bulldogs
The Burke Bulldogs are a team to really keep an eye on for the 2022 season. They lose a tremendous amount of talented players like Devon Jackson Devon Jackson 6'2" | 200 lbs | LB Omaha Burke | 2022 State NE , Alec Cook Alec Cook 6'3" | 230 lbs | ATH Omaha Burke | 2022 State NE , Donovan Moody Donovan Moody 5'10" | 170 lbs | ATH Omaha Burke | 2022 State NE , Trae Starks Trae Starks 6'1" | 175 lbs | ATH Omaha Burke | 2022 State NE , etc. but they also had a great influx of young talent last season. The biggest surprise was the emergence of their trio of freshman studs in Chrisitan Jones, Titan Glassman, and Cameron Bell. They are already looking like stars at their respective positions, with Jones already receiving D1 FBS offers. I’m excited to see the Bulldogs unleash TE Cayden Echternach Cayden Echternach 6'4" | 235 lbs | TE Bellevue West | 2023 State NE and his massive potential. There are several players throughout the depth chart that I expect to be great contributors like Bryton Nelson Bryton Nelson 6'0" | 170 lbs | WR Omaha Burke | 2023 State NE , Payton McDonald Payton McDonald 6'3" | 295 lbs | OL Omaha Westside | 2023 State NE , and Brandon Rummel. Also returning from injury are Mason Jones-Blankenship and Za’Kye Parrot, both of which are great prospects but suffered injuries.
10. Papillion-La Vista Monarchs
The Monarchs are a team I think could make a splash next season, despite a great loss of talent. They have two very promising young QBs in Connor Ossenfort, and Tavien Pirtle Tavien Pirtle 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Papillion-La Vista | 2024 State NE , both of which I think have tons of promise. At RB, they have a future star in Payton Prestito Payton Prestito 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB Papillion-La Vista | 2024 State NE and Jordan Barrientos Jordan Barrientos 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Papillion-La Vista | 2024 State NE , who I believe will also shine with more reps this season. The biggest losses for the Monarchs come on the offensive and defensive lines where it will be hard to replace the insane production of Hubert and stud trench monsters Spencer Smith Spencer Smith 6'7" | 240 lbs | OL Papillion - La Vista | 2022 State NE , Alec Blevins Alec Blevins 6'6" | 265 lbs | OL Papillion - La Vista | 2022 State NE , etc. Defensively I really liked John Brase John Brase 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB Papillion-La Vista | 2023 State NE , freshman stud Keynan Cotton, and Cal Price. If they can answer the questions along the OL/DL, this team has the firepower and young talent to be really good.
Just missed the cut:
Lincoln East Spartans
- The loss of the top QB in Noah Walters Noah Walters 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Lincoln East | 2022 State NE , along with tons of great-skill position players and linemen, may be hard to overcome. East does bring back a lot of good players, namely #1 2023 player Malachi Coleman Malachi Coleman 6'5" | 195 lbs | WR Lincoln East | 2023 State NE . Not counting them out just need to see more.
Lincoln Southwest Silver Hawks
- A very, very strong 2023 class could show out in 2022. Ling, Fritton, Baptista, Berry, Jackson are all names to know.
North Platte Bulldogs
- Kinkaid and Roblee are going to be exciting to watch in 2022. This is a team that is right on the fringe for me. QB?
Millard North Mustangs
- Rough 2021 season, but they faced some injuries and a tough schedule. Expect the youngsters to come out with something to prove.