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Nebraska Madness: Defensive Backs
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.
Last but not least, the defensive backs. I didn’t stick to the traditional secondary of 2 corners and 2 safeties. I decided to just select the 4 players that I thought would work the best together.
Team Omaha
Blayke Moore Blayke Moore 6'2" | 200 lbs | DB Gretna | 2023 State NE (2023) | Gretna | 6’2″ 200 lbs
Season Stats: 74 tackles, 5 interceptions
Blayke is a player that I believe has a high ceiling and is only starting to scratch the surface. Moore is technically sound and can change his direction without compromising his speed. He can line up at safety, bump up to OLB, and he can line up in the slot. Moore has great size and knows how to lay a hit.
John Pargo Jr John Pargo Jr 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE . (2023) | Creighton Prep | 5’10” 180 lbs
Season Stats: 50 tackles, 9 passes defended, 4 interceptions, 4 blocked punts
John Pargo is a very impressive prospect because of how dangerous he is in all aspects of the game. He plays tough, physical coverage and is aggressive when the ball is in the air. Pargo is a smart player that puts himself in a position to make big-time plays. Even on special teams, he showed his playmaking skills with 4 blocked punts.
Caleb Benning Caleb Benning 5'11" | ATH Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE (2024) | Omaha Westside | 5’11”
Hudl | Twitter
Season Stats: 68 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 9 passes defended, 4 interceptions, forced fumble.
Caleb is already turning lots of heads as a sophomore and with good reason after the season he had. After the Warriors lost a great 21 class, they looked at the young DB to step up and he did in a big way. He mostly played safety where his presence became a deterrent for QBs looking to throw deep to his side. Any pass coming Caleb’s way is going to end up batted away or going in the opposite direction.
Jeremiah Truitt Jeremiah Truitt 5'10" | 165 lbs | DB Omaha Westside | 2023 State NE (2023) | Omaha Central | 5’10” 165 lbs
Season Stats: 20 tackles
Jeremiah is a huge sleeper at cornerback! He doesn’t have huge stats, but it is likely because Qbs found little to no success throwing his way. In 9 games, Truitt only allowed 3 receptions… insane! When you watch his tape it’s clear that he has put in a lot of time into his craft. He has quick feet and does a great job keeping his man in front of him! With so many tough receivers in this situation, he will be crucial in clamping up some of the state’s top receivers.
Team Lincoln
Tairen Rahe Tairen Rahe 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Lincoln Southwest | 2023 State NE (2023) | Lincoln Southwest | 6’1″ 175 lbs
Season Stats: 12 tackles and an interception
Tairen, like Jeremiah, is a sleeper DB with lock-down abilities. Tairen’s size, length, and hops help him match up well against anyone. He has a quick back-pedal and closing speed when the ball is in the air. He’s very smooth when flipping his hips and keeps a disciplined eye on the ball. With Rahe holding down one corner spot and Adonis the other, it’s going to be really hard to throw on this secondary.
Adonis Hutchinson Adonis Hutchinson 6'1" | 170 lbs | ATH Lincoln | 2023 State NE (2023) | Lincoln | 6’1″ 170 lbs
Season Stats: 40 tackles, 4 passes defended, and a fumble recovery.
Adonis is one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2023 class. He is an impact player on all three sides of the game. On defense, Hutchinson is a top-notch cornerback with elite speed and is very fluid with his movements. One thing I like about Adonis’ game is that he doesn’t shy away from contact, whether he’s making a tackle on a RB or battling for the ball in the air, Adonis is gonna scrap.
Javon Leuty Javon Leuty 6'0" | 165 lbs | ATH Lincoln | 2023 State NE (2023) | Lincoln | 6’0″ 160 lbs
Season Stats: 68 tackles 2 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions
Javon is a player on the come-up. Leuty is a very smart player that recognizes and reacts to plays quickly. He had two very nice “heads up” interceptions where he read the pass, hustled his way over, and capitalized on the receiver’s miscues. Javon would likely play one of the safety positions on this squad where his speed and instincts will help him shut down the deep pass. Javon is gaining more traction on the recruiting trail and a strong senior year will put him over the top.
AJ Seizys AJ Seizys 6'1" | 185 lbs | ATH Lincoln East | 2023 State NE (2023) | Lincoln East | 6’1″ 185 lbs
Season Stats: 53 tackles, 2 interceptions
AJ was surrounded by a deep group of skill position players last season and should step into a more prominent role in 2022. AJ is a versatile defensive back that can play anywhere in the secondary. He may end up playing receiver at the next level, but I think what he shown us defensive back has warranted a spot on here.
Team 308
Seth Gaswick Seth Gaswick 6'1" | 170 lbs | ATH Chadron | 2023 State NE (2023) | Chadron | 6’2′ 185 lbs
Season Stats: 50 tackles, 5 interceptions, 2 passes defended, 2 fumble recoveries
Seth is not just one of the best ball-hawks in the 308 but in the entire state. Seth roams the deep zone as the strong safety for the Cardinals, and has practically made it a no-fly zone. He has a tall, lengthy frame with a big catch radius. When Seth locks onto a ball in the air, he has the speed to close the distance between himself and the ball. He then uses his length to pick it off at the high point. Gaswick and Provance are going to be an issue in for the Cardinal’s opponents in 2022.
Tegan Lemkau Tegan Lemkau 5'10" | 150 lbs | ATH Grand Island Northwest | 2023 State NE (2023) | Grand Island Northwest | 5’11” 160 lbs
Season Stats: 38 tackles, 2 interceptions, and a tackle for loss.
The Viking’s Lemkau is an under-the-radar corner with tons of potential. He only has a few highlight clips, but I did get a chance to watch him in person. He’s a smart corner that does a great job reacting to the play and getting there to make the stop. He has some good length to him and he uses it fairly well.
Jase Carpenter Jase Carpenter ATH Lexington | 2023 NE (2023) | Lexington | 5’9″ 130 lbs
Hudl | Twitter
Season Stats: 54 tackles, 5 interceptions, a fumble recovery.
Jase is a player that looks undersized but plays way bigger than his size. Carpenter is a scrappy defensive back that didn’t back down in coverage to anyone. Carpenter uses his hands very well and has a quick change of direction. He’s aggressive with the ball in the air and doesn’t mind getting a little chippy with receivers in order to come down with the ball.
Carson Murphy Carson Murphy 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH Kearney Catholic | 2024 State NE (2024) | Kearney Catholic | 6’0″ 170 lbs
Season Stats: 24 tackles, 5 interceptions
Carson is a player that I came across after the season and was very impressed. For a young corner, he shows lots of poise and confidence in his ability. You can tell he trusts his skills by how aggressive he is when the ball is in the air. He’s already displaying a penchant for takeaways with his 5 interceptions. Murphy can already recognize when it’s safe for him to jump the route and send the ball the opposite way. It’s also encouraging to see him willing to be out on the island in man coverage.
Team 402
TJ Fitzpatrick TJ Fitzpatrick 6'0" | 165 lbs | DB Plattsmouth | 2023 State NE (2023) | Plattsmouth | 6’0″ 165 lbs
Season Stats: 27 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 9 interceptions.
TJ exploded onto the scene in 2021 when he picked off a crazy 9 passes. Fitzpatrick goes into 2022 as the top-ranked defensive back in the ‘23 class. He thrives on being on an island in man coverage against the opposing WR1. TJ was dominant against some of the best receivers in Class B. Fitzpatrick is a fighter at the point of the catch and he makes sure the ball ends up on the ground or in his hands.
Luke Feist Luke Feist 6'4" | 200 lbs | ATH Beatrice | 2023 State NE (2023) | Beatrice | 6’3″ 200 lbs
Season Stats: 64 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 fumble recoveries, and a pass defense.
Feist is a big-bodied defensive back that thrives off of being physical. He is a great strong safety that can step up into the box and help shut down the run game. One of my favorite aspects of his game is his motor and how he gets after it until the final whistle. Feist is a great athlete that is smooth on the move and physical at the point of contact.
Thomas Spears Thomas Spears 5'7" | 145 lbs | ATH Ashland Greenwood | 2025 State NE (2025) | Ashland-Greenwood | 5’6″ 140 lbs
Season Stats: 68 tackles, 5 interceptions, 3 passes defended, a caused fumble.
Thomas was a pleasant surprise for the Bluejays secondary! The ball-hawking defensive back is one of three freshmen with a starter designation in this series. Spears was wildly impressive and looks like a varsity veteran instead of a freshman. He’s a smaller back but he plays like a giant. He’s physical in coverage and uses his hands very well. Spears is already showing that he not only has the physical traits but he also has a good grasp on the mental part of the game too. Most of his picks were a result of him being a good study and recognizing where the ball is headed. Once he reads, his reaction is quick and efficient. Very impressive young man!
Jackson Cyza Jackson Cyza 6'0" | 150 lbs | DB Fremont | 2023 State NE (2023 | Fremont | 6’0″ 150 lbs
Season Stats: 45 tackles, 3 interceptions, and a sack
I couldn’t find any recent tape on Jackson, but I did get to watch him in person and was impressed. He’s a smooth athlete with sideline to sideline quickness and can close on the ball carrier in a snap. Jackson does a great job tracking the ball and fighting for it when it is in his vicinity. He is a leaner defensive back, but he still does a good job wrapping up and driving when he tackles.