Thirteen Underrated Nebraska 2023s

As the PrepRedzone brand has grown and expanded since our humble NorthstarFootballNews days only a couple of short years ago, we’ve been fortunate enough to be able to add features and extensions to our services to best bring exposure to underrated athletes across the nation. One of these add-ons is our Prospect Index, which allows recruits to take control of their ranking profile to update the school they attend, their height, weight, and college interest, as well as provide contact information for the college coaches who are always screening and reading our site. It’s all completely free to prospects as well, which makes it a useful and easy tool to get more college looks without putting in a lot of effort. I was excited to spend some time evaluating 2023 and 2024 talent from the Cornhusker State for the aforementioned Prospect Index the past two weeks, and from my time watching tape on the rising seniors I was delighted to discover thirteen athletes who I think are underrated and overlooked in the recruiting scene going into the summer. From the big lights of Omaha out to small towns of Springfield, Lyons-Decatur, and Auburn, these 13 2023s can ball. Check them out below! -- [player_tooltip player_id="330234" first="AJ" last="Jones"] (Creighton Prep) WR/CB. 5’8, 155 lbs. @a_jones2023 Possibly the best-kept secret in the state of Nebraska, I’m pretty surprised things haven’t blown up for Jones since he clocked a 10.56 100M dash time earlier this month for a new Creighton Preparatory school record that followed a 10.66 in April. That’s near-elite track times for a junior, and with his All-Metro Honorable Mention nod on the gridiron last fall I think he’s got the chance to be a game-changing weapon out of the slot at the next level. There’s been some big-time talent at Creighton Prep in the 2023 class, but coaches need to make sure to talk to the speedster while they’re in house, he may be a dark horse in the 2023 class. [player_tooltip player_id="302781" first="Landon" last="Ternus"] (Columbus Lakeview) FB/LB. 6’, 210 lbs. A two-way contributor who gets off blocks and defends the edge in space well, Ternus seeks and dishes out contact physically and also has some juice asana RB/FB hybrid who provides some aggression to the backfield. He’s a heckuva lead blocker and laid some big hits in 2021 in a wide variety of fashions. He’s dynamic, athletic, and violent. His junior tape is a good watch and Ternus is also an accomplished wrestler who I’ll be keeping a close eye on this upcoming fall. Also recorded a 55’3" toss in the shot put for a new school record this spring. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12821430/620a7ca3d21b6408bcf3fdbb">2021 Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="330236" first="Carson" last="Brachtel"] (Papillion La Vista South) FB/MLB. 5’10, 205 lbs. @CarsonBrachtel Has received prospect camp invites from DII, DIII, and NAIA institutions but is still waiting on that coveted first offer! There isn’t a position group on the gridiron I like more than the fullback, and Brachtel is a good one with some natural pop and the toughness to square defenders up in the hole and put his facemask right in their chest plate. He plays low whether he’s at FB or LB, and I like how he sees and wades through traffic to find the ball at LB or the most dangerous man when lead blocking. He was limited in his snaps in 2021 due to an injury I believe, so look for the 5’10, 205 lber. to have a big senior year in 2022. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GMbsm">Junior Year</a> [player_tooltip player_id="305155" first="Za’Kye" last="Parrott"] (Omaha Burke) Safety. 6’4, 185 lbs. @ZakyeParrott_ Parrott only played two games in 2021 but put a lot of good things on tape in those two games of highlights and if it wasn’t for the injury I think the Omaha product would have found himself with an offer at this point in time. He possesses that God-given, eye-popping size for a safety at 6’4, 185 pounds with a lot more room to grow. Parrott’s also a thunderous hitter that comes downhill and can run a j-path with great angles and velocity. He’s got range in run support and can also tackle through contact and block attempts. The way he explodes through ball carriers is something you don’t see every day, and I’m very intrigued to see how he performs this camp season and during his senior year. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GZhjB">2 game junior highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="239147" first="Lucas" last="Gomez-Wilson"] (McCook) SB/PR. 5’8, 175 lbs. @LucasGWilson An electric blend of speed, balance, and shiftiness, Gomez-Wilson is a total playmaker out of the slot and as a punt returner who can take the top off the defense and get under the football easily and naturally and is especially dangerous for DBs at the top of his route, where he can easily shift his hips and get DBs out of position. I also love his body control when tracking and reeling in the football, and his vision as a punt returner is also impressive. He makes things look very easy on film and is still scoring TDs well into two minutes of his junior highlights. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13086220/621d4aab96760a06d88d150c">Junior Year</a> Evan Nottlemann (BRLD) WR. 6’2, 160 lbs. @ENottlemann Also a standout basketball player, Nottlemann is a classic small-town prospect with versatility and athleticism that shows up as a WR on the gridiron. I love his frame and length, which has the potential to explode in a college weight program, and his body control shows up in a variety of fashions. He can high-point the football, bring the ball in through contact, and maintain his balance to gain YAC during situations where most wideouts would either not catch the ball at all or not be able to land on their feet after the reception. Don’t sleep on his speed either, he’ll burn and stack you if you don’t keep strong eye discipline, and he also showed some instincts as a safety on defense. The way he can win 50/50 balls and contested catches is something that should especially excite college recruiting coordinators and position coaches alike. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13973274/62057d8c3449170bb401b891">Junior Season</a> [player_tooltip player_id="245905" first="Tate" last="Hug"] (Auburn) RB/OLB. 6’1, 195 lbs. @t_hug12 A PRzNE Showcase alum, Hug’s contact balance from the RB position is a sight for sore eyes, and the 6’1, 195 lber. bounced off and slipped through dozens of tackle attempts last fall en route to some strong junior tape both offensively and defensively. His strong lower body and solid vision helps him burst through the hole with force, and he also has quick enough feet and the balance to cut past opponents when they’re expecting contact. He also displayed some closing speed in both coverage and run support as a DB/LB mix. He hasn’t reported any interest or offers. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GJGpR">JR Tape</a> [player_tooltip player_id="239029" first="Jared" last="Kuhl"] (Platteview) QB. 6’, 160 lbs. @jared_kuhl Boy oh boy am I a fan of Platteview’s QB1 Kuhl, especially as a runner. He posted 1,376 passing yards and 11 TDs plus 604 rushing yards and 11 more tuddies in his 2021 campaign and looked good doing it. A slippery, speedy, highlight reel waiting to happen, Kuhl is an electric dual-threat QB whose mobility and toughness serve him well as both a runner and passer. He can cut on a dime, drop his hips, and stay on his feet through contact very impressively, as well as pull away from defenders once he sees daylight. He does show some arm talent, but I think his skill set would work best as a WR at the next level. You don’t see someone make people miss that easily all that often. Coaches need to head to Springfield soon! <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/12927113/61780f79f5614f03a0f0032c">Junior SZN</a> [player_tooltip player_id="233708" first="Bayler" last="Poston"] (Nebraska City) RB. 5’8, 180 lbs. @bayler333 Still without an offer at the time of this article’s publishing, Poston has the build that I am naturally biased towards as he’s naturally got a low center of gravity, a strong lower body that helps him break tackles and great speed that makes him a handful for opposing defenses to corral. He’s also got some thump as a DB and laid some big hits last fall but does his best work as a RB, where he can easily take the corner on outside runs and make DBs and LBs look silly in the open field. I love watching him run the rock and his speed is game-changing no matter what position he’s at. He’s going to make whoever recruited him look very smart. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GjWhy">Bayler’s Junior Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="330921" first="Preston" last="Harms"] (Waverly) ATH. 5’11, 165 lbs. @prestonharms5 Also a standout basketball player, Harms hasn’t reported any recruiting interest or offers, but that will surely change by the time his prep career concludes as the WR is a fast one and reports a 4.57 electronic 40 as well as a 4.11 short-shuttle. That time may match up with what I’m seeing on film, as the 5’11 athlete burns by opponents out of the backfield, out of the slot, and on special teams as a returner who can even outrun noticeably fast defenders even if they took a good angle. It’s hard to tackle what you can’t touch, and Harms makes it hard for opponents to get a hand on him when he totes the rock. I’m hoping to see more big plays out of the Waverly native this upcoming season. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12841857/6235408cd45e0c058cc23d76">Junior SZN</a> [player_tooltip player_id="234298" first="Wyatt" last="Archer"] (Skutt Catholic) Safety. 5’10, 175 lbs. @WyattArcher03 Took visits to South Dakota State, Minnesota State-Moorhead, and the University of St. Thomas this spring but is still without an offer. Skutt is looking pretty stacked going into the 2022 season, and I like their safety [player_tooltip player_id="234298" first="Wyatt" last="Archer"], who unfortunately missed part of last season with a broken ankle. However, in the tape he did record, Archer looked good, covers a ton of ground in run support from his safety position, and also added some offensive production out of the backfield and on special teams. Despite his offensive potency, watching him run the alley and tackle does not get old, and I love his footwork and lower body strength at 175 pounds. He’s going to put up some impressive reps this fall with a full season. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GTDdh">Junior year</a> [player_tooltip player_id="245850" first="Barrett" last="Luce"] (Millard South) DL/OL. 6’4, 280 lbs. @barrett_luce1 Also an accomplished thrower on the track and field team, Luce brings good size to the table and could play either OL or DL at the next level. However, Millard South does run the triple-option offense, so with that very specific OL background, I think he’d project to the defensive line best at the next level. I do like how he flies out of his stance and keeps a low pad level from his OG spot though, but defensively he plays standup DE outside of the tackle and can beat blockers with speed, strength, and/or great hand usage. He moves well at his size and plays aggressively and with a high motor. At a strong 280 pounds he also still looks lean and able to turn some of that high school weight into college-ready muscle. He visited Minnesota State-Moorhead this spring but has been kept busy with track, so we’ll see what happens this summer on the camp circuit. [player_tooltip player_id="227018" first="George" last="Egan"] (Creighton Prep) FB/MLB. 6’1, 215 lbs. @george_egan25 I had to finish things with a fullback. There’s going to be a lot of angry mass coming at LBs this fall out of the Creighton Prep offensive backfield, as 6’1, 215 pound Egan is a runaway train of a lead blocker who bursts out of the backfield and straight over would-be tacklers like he was shot out of a cannon. He’s got some juice with the ball in his hand, but I like watching him fly downhill as an LB and lead block out on the edge as a fullback. Egan possesses some good speed for his size and flies around the field like his hair is on fire. There’s also nothing better than watching someone successfully execute a truck stick and the Creighton Prep senior hit more than his fair share last season. Going to be a big year for Mr. Egan! <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2G0kN1">Junior Tape</a>