Nebraska Madness: WR/TE Breakdowns
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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.
Team Omaha:
Wide Receivers
Dae’Vonn Hall Dae’Vonn Hall 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR Bellevue West | 2024 State NE (2024) | Bellevue West | 6’2″ 175 lbs
Season Stats:43 receptions, 592 receiving yards, 9 touchdowns, 49.3 yards per game, 13.8 yards per reception
Only a sophomore, Dae’Vonn is already one of the most talented pass-catchers in the whole state. Hall is a very polished route runner with very shift feet and a remarkable ability to shake off defenders. Hall can do his damage at any level of the field. Whether he’s going deep or a WR screen, he’s a threat to take any catch to the house. He’s a player that coaches like to find creative ways to get him the ball, and it’ll more than likely pay huge dividends.
Joe Roll Joe Roll 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Gretna | 2023 State NE (2023) | Gretna | 5’10″ 180 lbs
Season Stats: 55 receptions, 877 receiving yards, 8 touchdowns, 67.5 yards per game, 16.5 yards per reception.
Super underrated! Joe enjoyed an excellent breakout season in 2021 and is second among returning receiving yardage leaders. Joe and QB Zane Flores Zane Flores 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB Gretna | 2023 State NE (Team Omaha QB) had incredible chemistry as they seemed to find each other when the Dragons needed a big play the most. Joe has a top-tier football IQ, especially when it comes to finding the soft spots in the defense. Roll has tremendous footwork, great speed/acceleration, and tracks the ball very well on those deep throws.
Tight Ends
Caleb Schnell Caleb Schnell 6'3" | 200 lbs | TE Gretna | 2023 State NE (2023) | Gretna | 6’3″ 200 lbs
Season Stats: 33 receptions, 529 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns, 48.1 yards per game, 16 yards per reception.
Caleb is a player that got his first taste of varsity action as a sophomore and then broke out big time as a junior. Caleb has a solid build for a tight end and was a very reliable target for QB Flores. Schnell is a master of working the field in between the seams. He can make catches over the middle and has the wheels to turn upfield and gain additional yardage after the catch. Caleb is also versatile in regards to how you line him up. He can produce out of the tight end spot, in the slot, and behind the line of scrimmage.
Team Lincoln:
Wide Receivers
Malachi Coleman Malachi Coleman 6'5" | 195 lbs | WR Lincoln East | 2023 State NE (2023) | Lincoln East | 6’5″ 180 lbs
Season Stats: 17 receptions, 561 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns, 56 yards per game, 33 yards per reception
The biggest riser to come out of the 2021 season and the top-ranked 2023 player in Lincoln East’s Malachi Coleman Malachi Coleman 6'5" | 195 lbs | WR Lincoln East | 2023 State NE . Malachi broke out as a two-way star, but we’ll have him catching passes for this team. Malachi is a player that can stretch the field with his 4.4 speed and out-muscle and out-jump most defensive backs for the ball. He is a threat to make a catch anywhere on the field and take it to the crib. Malachi is soaring through the recruiting ranks and has earned a 4-star rating and several Power Five scholarship offers.
Beni Ngoyi Beni Ngoyi 6'4" | 195 lbs | ATH Lincoln High | 2023 State NE (2023) | Lincoln | 6’4″ 190 lbs
Season Stats: 25 receptions, 467 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns, 51.9 receiving yards per game, 18.7 yards per reception.
Pairing Malachi with Beni is very unfair, but we’ll do it anyway. Beni is one of the premier athletes in the 2023 class and the entire state. He has proved that with countless displays of his speed, gravity-defying hops, and super quick feet. One thing about Ngoyi’s game that I think needs to be noted is his body control and strong hands through the catch. He is a great all-around athlete that could also be on the defensive side of this team because of his pass-coverage skills.
Tight Ends
Carsten Bluhm Carsten Bluhm 6'5" | 220 lbs | TE Lincoln Southeast | 2023 State NE (2023) | Lincoln Southeast | 6’5″ 230 lbs
Bluhm is a tight end that is up-and-coming for the 2022 season. He has great size and should see more targets with the departure of a solid senior class. Bluhm’s bread and butter is his blocking ability, where he served up tons of pancakes and delivered some punishing blocks. Carsten’s name is growing in recruiting circuits, and I believe he will have a solid season in 2022.
Team 308:
Wide Receivers
Ashton Gragg Ashton Gragg 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR Central City | 2023 State NE (2023) | Central City
Season Stats: 55 receptions, 729 receiving yards, 8 touchdowns, 64.4 yards per game, 13.3 yards per reception
Ashton is a little-known prospect with big-time pass-catching abilities. Ashton is one of the top returning receiving yardage leaders and should continue that momentum into his senior year. He is a bigger receiver with great length. Ashton might be one of the more underrated route runners in the ’23 class. He has a great release and is excellent at the top of the route. He is also used in different ways, as shown by his 73 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. Do NOT sleep on this guy right here!
Xander Provance Xander Provance 6'4" | 200 lbs | ATH Chadron | 2023 State NE (2023) | Chadron | 6’5″ 195 lbs
Season Stats: 20 receptions, 391 receiving yards, 4 receiving touchdowns, 39 yards per game, 19.6 yards per reception.
Xander is an intriguing 2023 prospect. Provance is a tall, lengthy player that can play receiver or defensive back. He is versatile when it comes to where he can line up. He can play as both an X and a Y, with Chadron coaches looking for ways to move him around pre-snap and get him the ball. Xander can also turn on the jets when he hits the open field. He will be a player to keep tabs on throughout the season because he is due to explode next year.
Tight Ends
Race McClure Race McClure 6'2" | 220 lbs | TE Ogallala | 2023 State NE (2023) | Ogallala | 6’3″ 240 lbs
Season Stats: 11 receptions, 257 rushing yards, 4 touchdowns, 32 receiving yards per game, 23.4 yards per reception.
Race is a player that could play either side of the ball at the next level. He is a talented defensive end but has the athleticism to catch and block as well. McClure is also a physical blocker that can clear running lanes and deliver some pancake blocks. Also, don’t think that McClure is only power and force because he can also do damage after the catch. He took advantage of his limited targets and averaged 23 yards per reception.
Team 402:
Wide Receivers
Kade McIntyre Kade McIntyre 6'4" | 195 lbs | ATH Archbishop Bergan | 2023 State NE (2023) | Archbishop Bergan | 6’4″ 205 lbs
Season Stats: 37 receptions, 873 receiving yards, 14 receiving touchdowns, 67 yards per game, 23 yards per reception
Kade blew up during his junior year, in which his connection with older bro Koa was basically unstoppable. McIntyre was one of the top home-run threats in 2021, with an average of 23 yards per reception. Kade uses his strength and length to create separation in his routes. He is practically automatic on 50/50 balls, making them more 85/15 balls with his ability to high-point the ball and strong hands to hold on through contact. Great blocker too. This is a dangerous pass-catching trio!
Carsen Staehr Carsen Staehr 5'11" | 150 lbs | WR Aurora | 2023 State NE (2023) | Aurora | 6’0″ 155 lbs
Season Stats: 52 receptions, 630 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns, 52 receiving yards per game, 13 yards per reception
With two big pass catchers on Team 402, I think Carsen’s ability to work all field levels would be the finishing touch to a dynamic offense. Carsen is a speedy, shifty receiver who can work the flats, middle of the field, and take the top off a defense. He has 4.6 speed and quick feet to help him create separation from defenders. Carsen adds extra value with his return abilities (stud on defense too). His concentration through the catch is also phenomenal, and he had a Julian Edelman-like falling catch that was sick. Very impressive athlete.
Tight Ends
Benjamin Brahmer Benjamin Brahmer 6'6" | 210 lbs | TE Pierce | 2023 State NE (2023) | Pierce | 6’6″ 210 lbs
Season Stats: 63 receptions, 1,119 receiving yards, 14 touchdowns, 86 yards per game, 17.8 yards per reception
Ben is such a unique player because of his size and athleticism. He is bigger and more physical than most receivers but has the fluidity and hands of an elite wideout. Since these are all super teams anyways, why not throw the big man in at tight end and let defenses figure out a way to stop this offense. Ben already has tremendous chemistry with his Team 402 QB and Pierce teammate Abram Scholting Abram Scholting 6'0" | 180 lbs | QB Pierce | 2023 State NE , so he should have no problems dominating in these hypothetical final four.
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