21 Favorite Nebraska 2024s w/o an Offer
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Hello, PRzNebraska subscribers! If you missed my previous feature on the Nebraska site from last week, you, unfortunately, the did not get to see my rundown of some of my favorite underrated 2023s from the Cornhusker State, as well as a brief…
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Continue ReadingHello, PRzNebraska subscribers! If you missed my previous feature on the Nebraska site from last week, you, unfortunately, the did not get to see my rundown of some of my favorite underrated 2023s from the Cornhusker State, as well as a brief synopsis of our PrepRedzone Prospect Index and how that particular service can help prospects and recruits in a few simple steps for zero costs to the recruit themselves. If you want the details, go check out the feature here –>
However, today we’ll be getting into an entirely new grade of Nebraska ballers who are poised to make some waves on the recruiting scene before their time as prep football players have concluded. These 2024 prospects are currently the best in the state without a collegiate offer, and boy oh boy, can these fellas ball. Speed, strength, athleticism, physicality, and playmaking ability are all present in droves in these 21 recruits, and I’m also excited to have players represented from the big lights of Omaha, Bellevue, and Millard down to the small towns of Battle Creek, Oakland-Craig, and Hershey. Get to know these 21 Best Nebraska 2024s w/o an Offer right here with PRZNebraska. Thanks for reading!
My Favorite Nebraska 2024s w/o an Offer
Fernando (JR) Lecuona Fernando (JR) Lecuona 6'3" | 240 lbs | DL Millard South | 2024 State NE (Millard South) DL/OL. 6’3, 240 lbs. @JrLecuona
As a sophomore on varsity, Lecuona contributed on both sides of the football and I like him as a defensive lineman and future defensive tackle. The Millard product is great at using his hands to disengage from blocks and can sift through traffic and multiple blocking attempts around the LOS while maintaining his eyes on the ball. His upper body strength helps him to easily absorb offensive lineman’s initial punch, and when he gets his hands on his opponent’s chest plates he can extend and shed easily, then get after the football with solid pursuit angles and burst for his size. Lecuona is overall a strong prospect, especially for his age, with solid change of direction skills and an efficient and disruptive ability to get off blocks. I also love his motor and how hard he’ll work to run down the football from his DT spot. He’s never out of the play. Currently, his only college recruiting attention came from a Doane University gameday invite in the fall of 2021.
Sophomore Year Varsity Highlights
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Cooper Johnson Cooper Johnson 6'6" | 290 lbs | OL Lincoln Southeast | 2024 State NE (Lincoln Southeast) DT/OT. 6’5, 265 lbs.
Great size at 6’5, 265 pounds, and going into his first season an upperclassman. As a RT, Johnson looks comfortable and somewhat bendy in his pass set, is strong, has an understanding of leverage and how to work opponents to the turf when they get out of position, and is always looking to finish. At 6’5, I also like how he gets his hands up and under the chest plate of smaller defensive lineman, and he’s got a strong initial punch to go along with the base and lower body strength to eat up power rushes from opposing defensive lineman, as well as the foot speed to counter speed, rushes upfield. He’s still got a lean frame that could hold a lot more muscle and shows off noticeable pop and body control for a young buck at that size. There’s a clip around 1:40 into his junior tape that shows off how well he can run in the open field, and I overall think there’s a ton of potential and upside in the Lincoln product. Lineman are always at a premium and he looks like he’s got the tools to be a good one at the next level.
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JT Brands JT Brands 6'2" | 270 lbs | DL Oakland-Craig | 2024 State NE (Oakland-Craig) DL/OL. 6’2, 260 lbs. @brands_jt
No reported college interest or offers, but recorded 15 reps on the bench press at 225 in August of 2021 and posted a 56’8.5″ toss in the shot put this spring for OC’s track and field team. Sheds blocks like he’s pushing elementary school players out of the way and closes on the football like a LB rather than a defensive lineman. Possesses a ton of natural pop, is strong enough to work through double and triple-team attempts, and stuffs ball carriers in their tracks. Uses his hands very efficiently as a DL or OL and has a nasty streak that results in more than a few bodies roughly finding the ground due to his wanting to finish. Looks like the baddest dude on the field in his sophomore tape and is going to be even more of a force as an upperclassman. If you recruit Nebraska and like small-school recruits, he’s a surefire stud that needs more college recruiting attention. Would be an excellent OG or DT at the next level.
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Parker Borer Parker Borer 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Boone Central | 2024 State NE (Boone Central) RB. 5’10, 170 lbs. @ParkerBorer
Posted 1,021 rushing yards, 10 TDs, 21 tackles, and an interception in 2021. Invited to Kansas State, Nebraska, NDSU, and Iowa individual prospect camps for this summer. The sophomore tape shows off a three-phase contributor as a RB, CB, and kick returner, and I am a huge fan of the sophomore when he has the ball in his hands. He’s a big play waiting to happen, with game-breaking speed and burst, contact balance, and some very shifty and well-timed cuts in the open field. He’s got an unassuming gait that doesn’t accurately show how fast he’s running, but on film, he just easily runs by pursuing defenders when he’s racing to the edge or has already found daylight through the hole. If you miss a tackle or let Borer get the edge, he is 100% going to hurt your defense, and I love seeing RBs still scoring untouched touchdowns more than two minutes into his tape. The kid can run the rock!
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Dylan Crumley Dylan Crumley 5'10" | 150 lbs | DB Columbus | 2024 State NE (Columbus) WR/KOR/CB. 5’10, 165 lbs. @crumley_dylan
Electric as a kick returner, Crumley has some jets and explodes through holes as a returner, which helped him take a kick back to the house in 2021 and almost added three more. The sophomore lined up all over the gridiron in 2021 and utilizes his speed in every situation possible. If he’s at CB, he can hang with speedy wideouts downfield on vertical routes or use that speed to beat blockers when attempting to hold the edge. As a KOR, we already mentioned that different gear he accesses when bursting through the hole, and on offense, he can easily glide by defenders with the ball in his hand or when running deep routes. There isn’t a lot on the gridiron that can replace speed, and Crumley possesses burners in abundance.
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Izaac Dickey Izaac Dickey 5'10" | 215 lbs | ATH Cross County | 2024 State NE (Cross County) FB. 5’10, 205 lbs. @IzaacDickey
There isn’t anything I love more than football, but when you combine the best position on the gridiron with the small school, non-11man mentality, versatility, and toughness, you have a prospect I am a fan of for life. Dickey represents a lot of those favorite qualities as a Midwestern, small school fullback, and on tape, he shows up as well. The 2024 thumper is a truck stick with the ball in his hands and is a vicious lead blocker who is consistent in identifying and destroying the most dangerous defender in the way of the RB. He’s got solid hand placement, initial pop, and leg drive post-contact, and works to finish opponents after initial contact as well. He’s got a low pad level, fearlessness at the point of attack, and already has state championship experience as an underclassman. That’s a lot of good traits going his way. You can always use a fullback!
Playoffs/State Championship Highlights
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Carson Murphy Carson Murphy 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH Kearney Catholic | 2024 State NE (Kearney Catholic) CB/WR. 6’, 175 lbs. @Carsonmurph3
In a sophomore season that saw Buffalo County’s Kearney Catholic go 11-1, All-State Honorable Mention pick Carson Murphy Carson Murphy 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH Kearney Catholic | 2024 State NE posted a solid personal stat line of 5 INTs, 5 PBUs, and 11 receptions for 5 TDs while manning the CB and WR positions. His speed and ball skills are an asset at both positions, but I particularly like how he shoots out of his breaks when backpedaling and quickly undercuts routes to break up passes or pluck the ball out of the air. He’s a little high in his backpedal, but can quickly make up ground when he sticks his foot in the grass or turns in-phase in man coverage. He’s also comfortable when the ball is in the air and has some juice after the catch. Murphy has been invited to NDSU’s individual camp as well as William Jewell’s.
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S’marious Henderson S’marious Henderson 6'3" | 295 lbs | DL Omaha North | 2024 State NE (Omaha North) OG/NG. 6’4, 335 lbs. @SmariousHenders
Looks massive in his sophomore tape and is/was a huge advantage for the Omaha North squad as Henderson can pull, block, and move out in space in rare fashion for a 6’4, 330+ pounder. He’s quick-footed and graceful, with good balance and the ability to stay upright and move forward through contact. It’s impressive for a prospect of that size, and to go along with it I like his first step as a NG on the defensive side of the ball. The Omaha product is a bulldozer out in space and a great benefit to the Viking’s OL, offense, and program. He received an invite from the recruiting staff at Northwestern for the Wildcat’s “One Day Camps” this summer.
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Cooper Hill Cooper Hill 6'4" | 195 lbs | QB Hershey | 2024 State NE (Hershey) QB/ATH. 6’4, 190 lbs. @CooperH510
Great frame. Hill possesses long legs, a lean, muscular build, and a ton of room to grow. Shows off a strong arm that flicks the ball out of his hand and can deliver accurate passes on both vertical and intermediate routes. However, I love watching him use his legs. He can escape and slip out of pressure and buy time while rolling out to the sideline very easily, and he’s also a dangerous ball carrier who uses those long, strong legs to step through and out of tackle attempts. Especially since he’s playing small school ball, LBs and DBs can struggle to get a clean shot on him. I wish I could see his throwing motion in person, as it’s hard to gauge what his mechanics look like consistently just from tape, but it does seem like there is arm talent there, so college coaches and recruiters will have a fun time projecting him to the college level thanks to his versatility. There’s a common adage that at the prep level you put your best athlete at QB, and that bodes well for Hill and his college football future. No reported college interest right now!
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Asher Jenkins Asher Jenkins 6'1" | 190 lbs | ATH Bellevue West | 2024 State NE (Bellevue West) DB. 6’2, 185 lbs. @asher_jenkins
Long, wiry build that would make a college strength and conditioning coach very excited. Was limited in varsity defensive reps as a sophomore but showed out when given a chance and was an absolute menace on special teams and particularly kickoff coverage. His speed in getting downfield while staying in his lane and blazing by blocking attempts was quite eye-popping and noticeable on tape, and he also used that speed well on defense, where he ran the alley and closed on the ball as a safety in pass coverage with good pace. At all levels of football, young players begin to make a name for themselves on special teams, and success in that phase of football is generally indicative of success with offensive or defensive reps. The future is bright for Mr. Jenkins!
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Sebastien Boyle Sebastien Boyle 5'11" | 210 lbs | RB Scottsbluff | 2024 State NE (Scottsbluff) RB/LB. 6’, 210 lbs. @SebastienBoyle6
A three-sport athlete and one-time state medalist on the wrestling mat at 195 lbs., Boyle has a ton of game on the gridiron and posted 210 carries for 1,774 rushing yards and 25 TDs as a sophomore in 2021. Strong, solid build with an impressively balanced skill set of speed, quickness, and power. His straight-line speed at 210 can turn the game on its head, and his powerful lower body helps him to easily shed and bounce through tackle attempts at his lower and upper body. He’s an obviously strong kid on tape, and also displays some solid vision and patience as a ball carrier. He reads and follows his blocks well and absolutely explodes out of his cuts when he sticks his cleat in the ground. When you combine the size, tape, production, and three-sport pedigree, I think he’s a good bet for a future FBS and potentially P5 running back. Boyle will be a fun one to keep an eye on going forward.
2021 Season Highlights + Playoffs
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Isaiah McMorris Isaiah McMorris 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Bellevue West | 2024 State NE (Bellevue West) WR/CB. 6’, 175 lbs. @IsaiahMcMorris8
Also a standout basketball player, McMorris is a smooth, fluid athlete with body control and some very shifty and well-timed cuts that helped him as a WR, kick returner, and CB after an interception. He’s a dynamic, explosive, and natural football player who can do anything asked of him on the football field and look good doing it. I’m a big fan of his tape, and I think he shines brightest as a WR, where he totaled 1,000 receiving yards and 14 TDs in 2021. He can beat DBs at any point of the route, with his sudden feet in his releases and some rare speed that helps him glide by and stack CBs in only a few short steps. He’s also absolutely electric after the catch and looks like an FBS player on film if I’ve ever seen one. You’ve got a fan in me, Isaiah!
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Trent Uhlir Trent Uhlir 6'1" | 230 lbs | ATH Battle Creek | 2024 State NE (Battle Creek) LB. 6’1, 230 lbs. @TrentUhlir
Named All-State as a linebacker in 2021 and is also a standout baseball player. When you look at his size, you can see why, and the rising junior has earned camp invites to Nebraska and NDSU this spring. The Beast of Battle Creek shows off some good eye discipline when reading his keys and diagnosing the run, and he also looks slippery at avoiding blocks and has solid pursuit speed at nearly 230 pounds that can stretch the sideline and get in the backfield in a hurry. If he gets his hands on you, you’re going down, and overall he moves pretty well for an XL prep linebacker. Definite name to keep an eye on if you’re a fan of prep football and/or baseball recruiting.
Sophomore Defense Sophomore Offense
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Payton Prestito Payton Prestito 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB Papillion-La Vista | 2024 State NE (Papillion-La Vista) RB/OLB. 5’10, 180 lbs. @paytony15
Totaled 758 all-purpose yards, 10 TDs, 21 tackles, and 2 interceptions as a sophomore in 2021. Also recorded a 425-pound squat in March, as well as a 265-pound bench and 275-pound power clean. In Prestito’s sophomore tape, he absolutely bulldozes and runs over a tackler in the first play of his film, and I also love his burst, balance, and top-end speed once he gets some steam churning. He’s a twitchy RB with big-play ability and a good, balanced skillset for a 5’10, 180 rising junior prospect. He’s got some great football in front of him and I’m surprised he hasn’t reported any college interest or camp invites at this time. That will change soon!
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Jackson Williams Jackson Williams 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR Millard West | 2024 State NE (Millard West) WR. 5’11, 160 lbs. @JWilliams2828
In his sophomore campaign, the Millard product posted 24 catches for 393 yards and 4 TDs, 10 returns for 317 yards and a TD, and 8 rushes for 85 yards and a TD. Also a quality baseball prospect, Williams is a dynamic offensive weapon on film and has solid speed to go along with loose enough hips to consistently create separation on one-cut routes, as well as good contact balance for a 160-pounder. Not every offensive player can hit the triple-crown of TDs rushing, receiving and returning, so it’ll be interesting to see how he steps his game up as an upperclassman.
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Adin Carrera Adin Carrera 5'9" | 170 lbs | DB Bellevue East | 2024 State NE (Bellevue East) CB/RB. 5’9, 170 lbs. @Adin_Carrera
Can bench 265 at 170 pounds of body weight. The Bellevue product can operate and cover in man or zone, out of the slot, or out on the edge comfortably and successfully. Possesses closing speed that can make up for lost ground or rundown loose ball carriers, has great ball skills, and does a good job of getting his head around when the ball is in the air, although sometimes I’d like to see him do it when he’s closer to the hip of the WR. Can accelerate well from a dead stop, which aids him well in zone coverage, and is a competitive, sticky CB who is up for the challenge of being left out on an island for four quarters.
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Omaha Westside
The Warriors are top to bottom stacked with talent in the 2024 class in a way I didn’t see from another Nebraska program while evaluating film for our PrepRedzone Prospect Index. The Omaha-based program, which won its first state championship since the early ’80s in 2020, and lost a heartbreaking 7-3 state final last fall to Gretna, is locked and loaded for another deep Class A playoff run and bring back a bevy of prospects from the ’23 to 2026 graduating classes that – in my opinion – make it a must-stop for FBS college coaches and recruiters who scout the Midwest for recruits. With five rising juniors who I believe rank among the top 2024s in Nebraska without an offer, I figured I’d give them their own designation down at the bottom of the feature. Get to know these ballers below!
Anthony Rezac Anthony Rezac 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE (Omaha Westside) QB. 6’3, 190 lbs. @rezac_anthony
A returning All-Metro Second Team pick, Anthony Rezac Anthony Rezac 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE is a dual-threat QB prospect with an intriguing frame and a lot of athleticism. He’s equally dangerous with both his arm and his legs, and when he takes off he easily glides by defenders without showing much exertion, and he’s also very slippery and efficient at avoiding pressure, improvising when things break down, and keeping his eyes downfield for a potentially big passing gain. He’s also got clean mechanics with a quick release and a smooth release that doesn’t show a hitch or any wasted movement, and showed in his sophomore tape that he can deliver accurate throws to all levels of the field. He’s going into his first full year as a starter and I’d be very surprised if he came out of 2022 without an offer. Sophomore Season
Teddy Rezac Teddy Rezac 6'3" | 195 lbs | ATH Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE (Omaha Westside) ATH. 6’2, 185 lbs. @teddyrezac
The twin of the aforementioned Anthony, fellow Rezac, Teddy, shares an intriguing frame like his brother and also put together some impressive sophomore film from the fall of 2021. Teddy is a long, athletic, ball-hawking CB who also got reps in the slot and as a safety. He’s strong in both run and pass defense, and although it’s hard to see how his hips transition, he’s got the speed to play CB and made some nice plays on the ball while it was in the air. I also like his footwork, and although he shines as a CB at the high school level I think he’d be a phenomenal safety at the collegiate level. Both he and his brother look like future P5 kids. Sophomore Year
Jahmez Ross Jahmez Ross 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE (Omaha Westside) ATH. 5’11, 200 lbs. @Jahmezross_
One of the more high-profile ’24s and overall prospects on the Warrior’s roster, Ross has a God-given ability to make people miss that you don’t see look so natural in a prospect that often. Explosive cutter, great burst, and contact balance in droves for the rising sophomore and 200-pound ball carrier. I know this evaluation is shorter, but he has tackle-breaking capability and naturalness that will put him on recruiting boards sooner rather than later. If he can just slightly improve his speed at the top-end and that pull-away gear, he’ll be hearing from P5 squads before he knows it. Sophomore Season
Jonquel Osler Jonquel Osler 6'0" | 225 lbs | DL Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE (Omaha Westside) DE. 6’, 225 lbs. @Jonquelosler17
Sturdy 6’, 225 pounder who is very twitchy from his DE spot and gives offensive lineman trouble with his lateral agility and his threat to beat tackles to either gap. Strong, solid base that helps him work off bigger OLs down blocks, and closes on the ball in the backfield in a hurry. Good tackler as well. Osler is poised for a productive and successful 2022 junior season. Soph. Season
Beau Ryan Beau Ryan 5'11" | 210 lbs | LB Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE (Omaha Westside) LB. 5’11, 195 lbs. @beauryan_
Earned a rare “hard hitter” nod and note from me when I was evaluating 2024 Nebraska recruits en mass. The linebacker laid some massive hits on interception returns, blitzes, punt returns, and in run and pass support. He’s also got the speed to carry RBs, TEs, and even SBs downfield, especially on wheel routes. Three-down, three-phase contributor who can play OLB or ILB and can really get a full head of steam when he sticks his foot in the ground. Excellent in the physicality department.