5 Teams Stacked With 2023 Talent
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The Class of 2023 rankings is officially out! There is a ton of talented players from across the state. In this article, I focused on the schools with the most talent in their 2023 class. Several schools have 6+ ranked…
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Continue ReadingThe Class of 2023 rankings is officially out! There is a ton of talented players from across the state. In this article, I focused on the schools with the most talent in their 2023 class. Several schools have 6+ ranked players, but these five schools are pushing close to double digits in players ready to shine in their senior years.
Gretna Dragons: Last year’s Class A champs return one of the state’s most talented and deepest 2023 groups. The group is headlined by star QB and Oklahoma State-commit Zane Flores Zane Flores 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB Gretna | 2023 State NE , who continues to improve every season and will likely put on a show in his final prep season. He won’t be at a loss for weapons with the athletic pass-catching group of Joe Roll Joe Roll 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Gretna | 2023 State NE , Tyson Boganowski Tyson Boganowski 5'10" | 170 lbs | WR Gretna | 2023 State NE , Colin Sims Colin Sims 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Gretna | 2023 State NE , and Caleb Schnell Caleb Schnell 6'3" | 200 lbs | TE Gretna | 2023 State NE . Joe Roll Joe Roll 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Gretna | 2023 State NE is the returning receiving yards leader in Class A and was one of the most dangerous deep threats in the state. Tyson is a player I recently watched at the Prospect Tour, and I left excited to see what 2021 has in store for the talented pass-catcher. He is a twitchy player that could also see time at DB. Sims is a great athlete with nice hands that had a limited role on varsity but should take on a more prominent role in the Dragon offense. Caleb is one of the top TEs in this year’s group of seniors. At 6’3″ and 200 lbs, he has the length, size, and athleticism to create mismatches no matter where you put him. Mason Goldman Mason Goldman 6'6" | 255 lbs | OL Gretna | 2023 State NE is player that is on the rise quickly and has been receiving FBS attention. Goldman is a tall, physical OT that will be crucial in keeping Zane upright in 2022. Korver Demma Korver Demma 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Gretna | 2023 State NE is emerging as one of the top pass-rushers in the state after an 8.5-sack season as a junior. One thing to like about the Gretna players is their size across the board. Look at S/LB Blayke Moore Blayke Moore 6'2" | 200 lbs | DB Gretna | 2023 State NE and LB Ethan Stuhr Ethan Stuhr 6'2" | 200 lbs | LB Gretna | 2023 State NE who are both over 6’2″ and 200 pounds and can cover several spots on the defense. Blayke can be a coverage safety, box safety, nickel corner, and outside LB with the football IQ to succeed at all these spots. Ethan can line up as a standing edge rusher or put his hand in the dirt as a 7-tech. These Dragons are smart, versatile, and will be playing in 2022 with a massive chip on their shoulder.
Zane Flores Zane Flores 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB Gretna | 2023 State NE | QB | 6’3″ 190 lbs (Committed: Oklahoma State)
Mason Goldman Mason Goldman 6'6" | 255 lbs | OL Gretna | 2023 State NE | OT/DE | 6’6″ 240 lbs
Korver Demma Korver Demma 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Gretna | 2023 State NE | DE | 6’3″ 225 lbs
Blayke Moore Blayke Moore 6'2" | 200 lbs | DB Gretna | 2023 State NE | DB/LB | 6’2″ 200 lbs
Ethan Stuhr Ethan Stuhr 6'2" | 200 lbs | LB Gretna | 2023 State NE | LB | 6’2″ 200 lbs
Joe Roll Joe Roll 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Gretna | 2023 State NE | WR | 5’10″ 175 lbs
Caleb Schnell Caleb Schnell 6'3" | 200 lbs | TE Gretna | 2023 State NE | TE | 6’3″ 200 lbs
Tyson Boganowski Tyson Boganowski 5'10" | 170 lbs | WR Gretna | 2023 State NE | WR | 5’10″ 170 lbs
Colin Sims Colin Sims 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Gretna | 2023 State NE | WR | 6’1″ 180 lbs
Creighton Prep Bluejays: If there is a team primed to improve on an already successful 2021 season, it’s the Bluejays. Creighton was a team that looked unstoppable once they found their groove. Prep is a team projected to be one of the most physical in Class A. They will have a host of big men lined up in their trenches. The most notable is Nebraska-commit Sam Sledge Sam Sledge 6'4" | 270 lbs | OL Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE who will protect the blindside of whoever takes over under center. Sledge is a physical, technically sound OT that can also put his hand in the dirt on the opposite side of the line. Rocco Marcelino Rocco Marcelino 6'5" | 250 lbs | DL Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE is another talented two-way big man that is rising quickly up recruiting boards. Marcelino doesn’t just dominate the trenches with his strength but can also slip out to TE on occasion and show off his all-around athleticism. Cole Jarrett Cole Jarrett 6'2" | 270 lbs | OL Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE and Christian Lewis Christian Lewis 6'0" | 280 lbs | OL Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE are two more 6 foot+, 270 pound + trench warriors that will solidify the rest of the offensive line. With an offensive line like this, it’s hard to fathom how many rushing yards we can expect from all-star RB CharMar Brown CharMar Brown 6'0" | 200 lbs | RB Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE who blew up onto the scene in 2021 with over 1,200 rushing yards. QB Sam Stessman Sam Stessman 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE is who I’m projecting will be taking over the offense full-time and will have a great core of receivers to throw to. Pierce Johnson Pierce Johnson 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE is an interesting prospect that could see a jump in production after racking up 171 yards on 13 receptions as a junior. Ahmar Brown Ahmar Brown 6'1" | 185 lbs | LB Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE is another player that could contribute as a receiver but will more than likely see the majority of his time out at OLB where he is a heat-seeking missile for the Jay’s defense. Joining him in the LB unit are George Egan George Egan 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE and Asher Anderson Asher Anderson 6'1" | 195 lbs | LB Creighton Prep | 2023 NE , two physical, strong LBs that know how to lay the wood. Eating up space on the interior DL is Mick Tabor Mick Tabor 5'9" | 200 lbs | DL Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE , who may be undersized compared to other DTs, but can really bring a fight in the trenches. Finally, John Pargo Jr John Pargo Jr 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE . is a player I am really high on because of his big-play ability. Pargo forced eight total turnovers in the form of interceptions and blocked punts, often giving the ball back to his offense with great field position. Don’t be surprised if Creighton Prep is one of the Class A teams battling in Lincoln.
Sam Sledge Sam Sledge 6'4" | 270 lbs | OL Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE | OL | 6’4″ 270 lbs (Committed: Nebraska)
CharMar Brown CharMar Brown 6'0" | 200 lbs | RB Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE | RB | 6’0″ 200 lbs
Rocco Marcelino Rocco Marcelino 6'5" | 250 lbs | DL Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE | DE/OG | 6’5″ 250 lbs
John Pargo Jr John Pargo Jr 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE . | DB | 5’10″ 175 lbs
Cole Jarrett Cole Jarrett 6'2" | 270 lbs | OL Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE | OL | 6’2″ 270 lbs
George Egan George Egan 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE | LB | 6’1″ 200 lbs
Ahmar Brown Ahmar Brown 6'1" | 185 lbs | LB Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE | LB/WR | 6’1″ 185 lbs
Mick Tabor Mick Tabor 5'9" | 200 lbs | DL Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE | DL | 5’8″ 200 lbs
Asher Anderson Asher Anderson 6'1" | 195 lbs | LB Creighton Prep | 2023 NE | LB | 6’1″ 195 lbs
Pierce Johnson Pierce Johnson 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE | WR | 5’11″ 170 lbs
Sam Stessman Sam Stessman 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE | QB | 6’3″ 185 lbs
Christian Lewis Christian Lewis 6'0" | 280 lbs | OL Creighton Prep | 2023 State NE | OL | 6’0″ 280 lbs
Lincoln Southwest Silverhawks: Don’t sleep on the Silverhawks in 2022. This is a team returning a lot of experience including QB Collin Fritton Collin Fritton 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR Lincoln Southwest | 2023 State NE who will be starting year 3 under center. Collin is a budding dual-threat QB that I believe will take the next step in his development and elevate the Southwest offense. He will have explosive wideout and last year’s leading receiver Jack Baptista Jack Baptista 5'9" | 175 lbs | WR Lincoln Southwest | 2023 State NE who has developed into his favorite target. Baptista also adds extra value with his kick return ability and 20 yards per return. RB Cal Newell Cal Newell 6'1" | 195 lbs | RB Lincoln Southwest | 2023 State NE will join Fritton in the backfield and should take the lion’s share of the RB1 snaps. Connor Munn Connor Munn 6'0" | 210 lbs | OL Lincoln Southwest | 2023 NE is an OL prospect to watch for the Silverhawks. He’s a versatile big man that can play on the offensive and defensive line. On defense, the Silverhawks will return key starters at each level of the defense. On the defensive line, Grant Berry Grant Berry 6'4" | 220 lbs | DL Lincoln Southwest | 2023 State NE is a player with tons of edge-rushing potential after finishing off last season with 9 TFLs and 3 sacks. Brogan Ling Brogan Ling 6'3" | 200 lbs | LB Lincoln Southwest | 2023 State NE , Cooper Jackson Cooper Jackson 5'11" | 190 lbs | LB Lincoln Southwest | 2023 State NE , Kaalo Evans Kaalo Evans 5'11" | 190 lbs | LB Lincoln Southwest | 2023 State NE , and Trenton Sander are all solid ’backers that each bring their own style to the table. Ling is a player to start buying stock in now! He notched 4 sacks as an edge rusher and will be a terror opposite Berry. Cooper is a tackling machine that can fly from sideline to sideline and has a non-stop motor. Kaalo and Trenton will be stepping into bigger roles and could be fast risers in the 2023 class. Tairen Rahe Tairen Rahe 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Lincoln Southwest | 2023 State NE is one of the top corners in the state and will be pivotal in locking down opposing WR1s. I will keep pushing the Lincoln Southwest 2022 playoff narrative until proven otherwise.
Brogan Ling Brogan Ling 6'3" | 200 lbs | LB Lincoln Southwest | 2023 State NE | LB | 6’3″ 200 lbs
Grant Berry Grant Berry 6'4" | 220 lbs | DL Lincoln Southwest | 2023 State NE | DL | 6’4″ 220 lbs
Collin Fritton Collin Fritton 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR Lincoln Southwest | 2023 State NE | QB | 5’11″ 170 lbs
Cooper Jackson Cooper Jackson 5'11" | 190 lbs | LB Lincoln Southwest | 2023 State NE | LB | 5’11″ 190 lbs
Jack Baptista Jack Baptista 5'9" | 175 lbs | WR Lincoln Southwest | 2023 State NE | WR | 5’9″ 175 lbs
Tairen Rahe Tairen Rahe 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Lincoln Southwest | 2023 State NE | DB | 6’0″ 170 lbs
Cal Newell Cal Newell 6'1" | 195 lbs | RB Lincoln Southwest | 2023 State NE | RB | 6’1″ 195 lbs
Kaalo Evans Kaalo Evans 5'11" | 190 lbs | LB Lincoln Southwest | 2023 State NE | LB | 5’11″ 190 lbs
Connor Munn Connor Munn 6'0" | 210 lbs | OL Lincoln Southwest | 2023 NE | OL/DL | 6’0″ 210 lbs
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Trenton Sander | LB/WR | 6’2″ 200 lbs
Bellevue West Thunderbirds: There’s good and bad news for the Thunderbirds. The bad news is that they said farewell to several star players on both their offense and defense. The good news is that their 2023 class looks like another stacked group for Bellevue West. One of their biggest strengths is the loaded group of two-way athletic players. Kyrell Jordan Kyrell Jordan 5'8" | 160 lbs | WR Bellevue West | 2023 State NE , TK Barnett TK Barnett 5'9" | 165 lbs | ATH Bellevue West | 2023 AL , Donnovan Whitfield Donnovan Whitfield 6'3" | 185 lbs | DB Bellevue West | 2023 State NE , and Gio Contreras Gio Contreras 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH Bellevue West | 2023 State NE are all players versatile players that can make plays catching the ball on offense or batting them away on defense. Kyrell is the speedster of the group and will be one of the top deep threats in 2022. TK is lightning in a bottle that can give you a big play no matter how you get the ball in his hands. Donnovan is a major breakout candidate with great hands and gives the T-Birds a tall, lengthy receiver. Gio Contreras Gio Contreras 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH Bellevue West | 2023 State NE could see himself playing on either side of the ball; regardless, expect to see him on the stat sheet in every game. Along the OL, Kellen Steuben-Allen Kellen Steuben-Allen 6'2" | 270 lbs | OL Bellevue West | 2023 State NE and Jackson Remmert will be key in establishing a push in the trenches for Bell West. Caleb Jacobmeier Caleb Jacobmeier 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Bellevue West | 2023 State NE and Nate Hudec Nate Hudec 5'11" | 195 lbs | LB Bellevue West | 2023 State NE are two versatile defenders that can fill in at either safety or linebacker roles. Carson Ames Carson Ames 6'4" | 190 lbs | TE Bellevue West | 2023 NE is a player that I’m looking forward to see how he is used this fall. He has nice length and a big frame that would fit well at LB or TE. One of the biggest transfers of the offseason was the addition of talented TE Cayden Echternach Cayden Echternach 6'4" | 235 lbs | TE Bellevue West | 2023 State NE . Cayden is a big-bodied, lengthy target that will help ease the loss of both Riley-Ducker and Helms at the position. He will be a nice safety blanket target for presumed starter Daniel Kaelin Daniel Kaelin 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB Bellevue West | 2024 State NE . Another year, another reload of talent for the Thunderbirds.
Kellen Steuben-Allen Kellen Steuben-Allen 6'2" | 270 lbs | OL Bellevue West | 2023 State NE | OL | 6’2″ 250 lbs
Cayden Echternach Cayden Echternach 6'4" | 235 lbs | TE Bellevue West | 2023 State NE | TE | 6’4″ 235 lbs
Kyrell Jordan Kyrell Jordan 5'8" | 160 lbs | WR Bellevue West | 2023 State NE | WR | 5’8″ 160 lbs
TK Barnett TK Barnett 5'9" | 165 lbs | ATH Bellevue West | 2023 AL | ATH | 5’9″ 165 lbs
Gio Contreras Gio Contreras 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH Bellevue West | 2023 State NE | ATH | 6’0″ 180 lbs
Caleb Jacobmeier Caleb Jacobmeier 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Bellevue West | 2023 State NE | LB | 6’1″ 205 lbs
Donnovan Whitfield Donnovan Whitfield 6'3" | 185 lbs | DB Bellevue West | 2023 State NE | ATH | 6’3″ 185 lbs
Nate Hudec Nate Hudec 5'11" | 195 lbs | LB Bellevue West | 2023 State NE | LB | 5’11″ 195 lbs
Jackson Remmert | OL | 6’4″ 275 lbs
Carson Ames Carson Ames 6'4" | 190 lbs | TE Bellevue West | 2023 NE | TE/LB | 6’4″ 190 lbs
Scottsbluff Bearcats: Scottsbluff will be a force to be reckoned with in 2022. The Bearcat’s reputation as one of the most physical Class B teams should follow them into 2022. They will return one of the top running games in Class B that will run behind elite OT prospect Brock Knutson Brock Knutson 6'7" | 270 lbs | OL Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE . Brock is a 6’7″ tank that can bulldoze the opposition and overpower with his strength. Trey May Trey May 6'1" | 210 lbs | OL Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE will be another OL to continue to watch after a solid year at RG for the Bearcats. These two will be key pieces in protecting dual-threat QB Braeden Stull Braeden Stull 6'2" | 170 lbs | QB Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE . Braeden is coming off of a season where he threw for nearly 1,000 yards and rushed for over 1,000 yards. Kyan Allen Kyan Allen 5'11" | 165 lbs | WR Scottsbluff | 2023 NE will be a wideout that could have a breakout year on offense and as a return man. The strength of the team will be the defense, namely the LB unit that brings back Josiah Mobley Josiah Mobley 6'0" | 175 lbs | LB Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE , Jayce Wilkinson Jayce Wilkinson 6'0" | 180 lbs | LB Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE , Michael Thrash Michael Thrash 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE , and Tyson Klein Tyson Klein 6'2" | 185 lbs | ATH Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE . This group is a hard-hitting, fast, and instinctive unit that make it hard for any offense to advance past the second level. They know how to make stops and how to force turnovers, and make plays behind the line of scrimmage. Will this group help the Bearcats make it back to the Class B championship game?
Brock Knutson Brock Knutson 6'7" | 270 lbs | OL Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE | OT | 6’7″ 270 lbs
Josiah Mobley Josiah Mobley 6'0" | 175 lbs | LB Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE | LB | 6’0″ 175 lbs
Braeden Stull Braeden Stull 6'2" | 170 lbs | QB Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE | QB/S | 6’2″ 170 lbs
Jayce Wilkinson Jayce Wilkinson 6'0" | 180 lbs | LB Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE | LB | 6’0″ 180 lbs
Michael Thrash Michael Thrash 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE | LB | 6’0″ 205 lbs
Tyson Klein Tyson Klein 6'2" | 185 lbs | ATH Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE | ATH | 6’2″ 185 lbs
Trey May Trey May 6'1" | 210 lbs | OL Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE | OL | 6’2″ 200 lbs
Kyan Allen Kyan Allen 5'11" | 165 lbs | WR Scottsbluff | 2023 NE | WR | 5’11″ 165 lbs
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