Nebraska Madness: Offensive Line
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In the spirit of March Madness and the stage set between the Final Four teams, I decided to make a final four made up of 4 different Nebraska area teams. We divided the state into Team Omaha, Team Lincoln, Team…
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Continue ReadingIn the spirit of March Madness and the stage set between the Final Four teams, I decided to make a final four made up of 4 different Nebraska area teams. We divided the state into Team Omaha, Team Lincoln, Team 402, and Team 308. The goal is to expand on past “All-Nebraska” teams and bring exposure to players from all corners of the state. The winner of the final four will be determined through a Twitter poll vote. Stay tuned to see which squad becomes the “Kings of the Corn.”
- Team Omaha – Omaha schools, Gretna, Elkhorn, Bennington, Bellevue, etc.
- Team Lincoln – Lincoln basically.
- Team 308 – All 308 schools (inc. Grand Island)
- Team 402 – All 402 schools minus Omaha and Lincoln schools. Includes Waverly, A-G, Fremont, Plattsmouth, etc.
Typically, when I try to do “All-____” teams, I try to select the offensive line like an actual offensive line (ex: 2 tackles, 2 guards, and a center), but since this article series is all about super teams, I decided to just put together the best starting five possible for each group. From those five players, I broke down where each one would be starting at. For 3 of the four teams, I did throw in centers, but team 402 ended up mostly tackles and a guard.
Team Omaha: Team Omaha has some maulers on their offensive line. While four of the five linemen mainly play tackle, these are versatile players and can be bumped into the interior line as well. Sam would be my starting left tackle, he is a Husker commit, and his tape shows why the home team worked hard to secure his commitment. I like Kellen at left guard; he has experience at both tackle and guard. Elkhorn’s Ben Reynolds Ben Reynolds 6'0" | 240 lbs | OL Elkhorn | 2023 State NE would hold down the center position. He continues to impress with his strength and snap placement. Henri would be moved to the right guard spot from his usual tackle spot. Gretna’s Mason Goldman Mason Goldman 6'6" | 255 lbs | OL Gretna | 2023 State NE will take over the right tackle spot and make that no pesky edge-rusher gets to the QB.
Sam Sledge Sam Sledge 6'4" | 270 lbs | OL Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE (2023) | Creighton Prep | 6’5″ 260 lbs
Kellen Steuben-Allen Kellen Steuben-Allen 6'2" | 270 lbs | OL Bellevue West | 2023 State NE -Allen (2023) | Bellevue West | 6’2″ 270 lbs
Mason Goldman Mason Goldman 6'6" | 255 lbs | OL Gretna | 2023 State NE (2023) | Gretna | 6’5″ 235 lbs
Henri Supenski Henri Supenski 6'3" | 270 lbs | OL Papillion-La Vista South | 2023 State NE (2023) | Papillion-La Vista South | 6’3″ 270 lbs
Hudl | Twitter
Ben Reynolds Ben Reynolds 6'0" | 240 lbs | OL Elkhorn | 2023 State NE (2023) | Elkhorn | 6’0″ 240 lbs
Team Lincoln: Team Lincoln’s O-line features two pairs of teammates. Husker-bound tackle Gunnar Gottula Gunnar Gottula 6'6" | 270 lbs | OL Lincoln Southeast | 2023 State NE will take care of the left tackle spot and should continue his dominance. Gottula’s apprentice in Cooper Johnson Cooper Johnson 6'6" | 290 lbs | OL Lincoln Southeast | 2024 State NE will man the other tackle spot and provide dual-threat QB Collin Fritton Collin Fritton 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR Lincoln Southwest | 2023 State NE two bookends tackles to hold the pocket. The interior line will include Milford transfer Omarion Weaver Omarion Weaver 5'11" | 270 lbs | OL Lincoln | 2023 State NE . Weaver is a beast as a pulling guard and is one of the most underrated interior linemen in the class. Then the left guard and center positions will be filled by Barrett Walker Barrett Walker 6'4" | 275 lbs | OL Pius X | 2023 State NE and Tyler Castle Tyler Castle 6'0" | 275 lbs | OL Pius X | 2023 State NE r, respectively. Walker has excellent size and normally plays tackle, but for this team, we’ll but him to the interior. Castle is an interior lineman that can transition from guard to center seamlessly. Castle is a high football IQ guy that will be excellent at calling out defenses.
Gunnar Gottula Gunnar Gottula 6'6" | 270 lbs | OL Lincoln Southeast | 2023 State NE (2023) | Lincoln Southeast | 6’6″ 285 lbs
Barrett Walker Barrett Walker 6'4" | 275 lbs | OL Pius X | 2023 State NE (2023) | Pius X | 6’4″ 272 lbs
Omarion Weaver Omarion Weaver 5'11" | 270 lbs | OL Lincoln | 2023 State NE (2023) | Lincoln | 6’0″ 280 lbs
Hudl | Twitter
Cooper Johnson Cooper Johnson 6'6" | 290 lbs | OL Lincoln Southeast | 2024 State NE (2024) | Lincoln Southeast | 6’5″ 265 lbs
Tyler Castle Tyler Castle 6'0" | 275 lbs | OL Pius X | 2023 State NE (2023) | Pius X | 6’0″ 270 lbs
Team 308: Headlined by highly-touted tackle Brock Knutson Brock Knutson 6'7" | 270 lbs | OL Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE , team 308’s offensive line is full of some mean dudes. Brock will be in charge of protecting his new teammate Braeden Stull Braeden Stull 6'2" | 170 lbs | QB Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE ’s blindside and will be a great lead blocker for Boyle and Roblee. Much like team Lincoln, I will put the biggest guys on the outside. Mitchell’s Tucker Thomas will hold down the right tackle position where he will use his length to keep defenders at bay. Eli Kehler Eli Kehler 5'11" | 240 lbs | OL McCook | 2023 State NE will be put in at right guard. Kehler is a ferocious blocker that would be a brutal pulling guard. The left guard spot will be designated to GI Northwest’s Isaiah Esquivel Isaiah Esquivel 6'0" | 205 lbs | OL Grand Island Northwest | 2023 State NE . He typically plays tackle but will transition into the interior line, where his athleticism will make him a beast in the run game. Finally, the center position will be going to Ord’s own Bridger Rice. Rice is an absolute anchor in the middle of the line and can hold his own against anybody.
Brock Knutson Brock Knutson 6'7" | 270 lbs | OL Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE (2023) | Scottsbluff | 6’8″ 270 lbs
Eli Kehler Eli Kehler 5'11" | 240 lbs | OL McCook | 2023 State NE (2023) | McCook | 5’11″ 240 lbs
Isaiah Esquivel Isaiah Esquivel 6'0" | 205 lbs | OL Grand Island Northwest | 2023 State NE (2023) | Grand Island Northwest | 6’0″ 200 lbs
Tucker Thomas (2023) | Mitchell | 6’5″ 215 lbs
Bridger Rice (2023) | Ord | 6’3″ 260 lbs
Hudl | Twitter
Team 402: The 402 is home to a ton of fast-rising linemen. Fremont’s Caleb Wagner Caleb Wagner 6'3" | 250 lbs | OL Fremont | 2023 State NE will be the tasked with protecting QB Abram Scholting Abram Scholting 6'0" | 180 lbs | QB Pierce | 2023 State NE ’s blindside. Wagner is a great two-way trench beast that will be a cornerstone for this o-line. Next to him will be Blair’s Seagan Packett, who was a road grader for the Blair o-line in 2021. Here is where there is a little bit of twist; this is the only group without a true center. So, we will be moving the young-gun Dylan Eby Dylan Eby 6'3" | 270 lbs | OL Plattsmouth | 2024 State NE from tackle to center. He’s the younger guy in the group, so he probably might be a little more malleable… and he’s mean as can be on the gridiron! Right guard will be managed by Ashland-Greenwood’s Braxton Buck Braxton Buck 5'10" | 220 lbs | OL Ashland Greenwood | 2023 State NE who is very underrated and packs a mean punch. Last but not least, Columbus’ Santos Gonzalez Santos Gonzalez 6'2" | 285 lbs | OL Columbus | 2023 State NE will be the starting right guard. His size and experience at the position will be a perfect addition to this vicious group.
Caleb Wagner Caleb Wagner 6'3" | 250 lbs | OL Fremont | 2023 State NE (2023) | Fremont | 6’3″ 240 lbs
Seagan Packett (2023) | Blair | 6’2″ 295 lbs
Santos Gonzalez Santos Gonzalez 6'2" | 285 lbs | OL Columbus | 2023 State NE (2023) | Columbus | 6’2″ 290 lbs
Braxton Buck Braxton Buck 5'10" | 220 lbs | OL Ashland Greenwood | 2023 State NE (2023) | Ashland-Greenwood | 5’10″ 220 lbs
Dylan Eby Dylan Eby 6'3" | 270 lbs | OL Plattsmouth | 2024 State NE (2024) | Plattsmouth | 6’2″ 260 lbs
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