PRZNE Players That Would Crush Fantasy Football
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Who doesn’t love some good ole fantasy football? While we wait for the NFL fantasy draft season to kick off, I thought, which Nebraska players would dominate if high school fantasy football were real. Well, no need to keep wondering;…
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Continue ReadingWho doesn’t love some good ole fantasy football? While we wait for the NFL fantasy draft season to kick off, I thought, which Nebraska players would dominate if high school fantasy football were real. Well, no need to keep wondering; the players listed below have proven to have a knack for big-time playmaking and finding the endzone. If you wanted to draft an elite high school football fantasy league, these guys should be your top picks.
Carter Janssen Carter Janssen 6'1" | 170 lbs | QB Norfolk Catholic | 2024 State NE (2024) – QB – Norfolk Catholic – 6’1″ 175 lbs
One player that I think defenses are not ready for in 2022 is Norfolk Catholic QB Carter Janssen Carter Janssen 6'1" | 170 lbs | QB Norfolk Catholic | 2024 State NE . Carter is a tremendous athlete that first caught my eye at the PRZ Stock Up showcase with his speedy 4.58 40-yard dash. The more I watched his tape, it became clear that the Knights have a stud at QB. Janssen is a dual-threat QB that burnt defenses for 1,235 yards on a 63% completion percentage and threw for 13 touchdowns. He is calm in the pocket and makes smart reads before throwing. He also has the speed and athleticism for QB-run designed plays or last-second tuck-and runs. Janssen added an extra 578 yards on the ground and 6 rushing touchdowns to his offensive production. Add in the fact that Carter will have a chip on his shoulder after leading his team to a state runner-up finish, and I think Janssen could be one of the more dangerous QBs in the state.
Dylan Hurlburt Dylan Hurlburt 5'8" | 165 lbs | QB Ord | 2024 State NE (2024) – QB/ATH – Ord – 5’7″ 165 lbs
Dylan was given the keys to the Chanticleers offense as a sophomore, and he hit the ground running… literally. The Ord QB had a monster season under center and is emerging as a dual-threat. While Hurlburt only attempted 94 passes, he did complete 55% of his attempts for 884 yards and 15 passing touchdowns. Dylan’s bread and butter was his running ability, where he piled up 1,244 rushing yards and an astounding 22 rushing touchdowns. Dylan’s vision and twitchiness made him very hard to contain and even harder to tackle. He is a tough runner that would give a second and even third effort to try and gain more yards. Now that Hurlburt has spent some time as QB1, let’s see what he can do for an encore in 2022.
Jared Kuhl Jared Kuhl 6'0" | 150 lbs | QB Platteview | 2023 State NE (2023) – QB – Platteview – 6’0″ 160 lbs
Dual-threat QBs getting lots of love here and with good reason. Kuhl is another QB that can pick apart defenses with his arms and with his legs. Kuhl passed for 1,376 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior. He completed nearly 60% of his passes and only threw 4 interceptions showing that he can be an efficient passer. Jared was also the leading rusher for the Trojans with 604 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. He is a very elusive and shifty runner with a top-tier burst once he rounds the corner. Class C1 is going to have a tough time trying to contain this electrifying dual-threat.
Cole Ballard Cole Ballard 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB Elkhorn South | 2023 State NE (2023) – RB – Elkhorn South – 6’0″ 190 lbs
Cole’s versatility is hard to pass up here. Elkhorn South RB Cole Ballard Cole Ballard 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB Elkhorn South | 2023 State NE emerged as one of the top backs last year with 1,344 all-purpose yards and 23 total touchdowns. Ballard is a very explosive back that can break down a defense with his speed, vision, and cutback ability. He is incredibly tough to tackle and always seems to fall forward for extra yards. One thing to really like about Ballard is his ability to catch out of the backfield. Once he makes the catch, he is amazing in the open field and can usually make a significant gain. If the Storm find themselves in Memorial Stadium this November, Ballard will likely be one of the main reasons for it.
Nick Colvert Nick Colvert 5'8" | 150 lbs | RB Bennington | 2023 State NE (2023) – RB – Bennington – 5’8″ 165 lbs
If you watched Bennington’s insane offensive production in 2021, you can’t deny that RB/ATH Nick Colvert Nick Colvert 5'8" | 150 lbs | RB Bennington | 2023 State NE was a pivotal player in that offense. Lost behind the big numbers put up by RB Mostek and WR Bluhm, is Colvert, who was the second on the team in both rushing and receiving yards. He is one of the speediest, most elusive all-purpose backs in the state. Nick hauled rushed for 404 yards at a 7.1 ypc average and scored 6 rushing touchdowns. He would also slip out to slot receiver, where he gashed defenses for 364 yards on 20 catches and at an 18-yard per catch average. I got to watch Nick at the NEBPreps X Battle tournament, and he looked like he hadn’t missed a beat. Get ready for a big year from Nick as he steps into a bigger role for the Badgers.
Malachi Coleman Malachi Coleman 6'5" | 195 lbs | WR Lincoln East | 2023 State NE (2023) – WR – Lincoln East – 6’5″ 185 lbs
This one is a no-brainer! No matter what strategy you try to implement in fantasy football, you just shouldn’t pass up the best player on the board. Malachi had a massive breakout junior season that propelled him into Power 5 prospect territory and has gotten him offers from Southern California, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Georgia, etc. Coleman was a walking touchdown nearly every time he touched the ball, scoring 10 receiving touchdowns on 17 receptions. On those 17 receptions, he racked up 561 receiving yards with an average of 33 yards per reception. Now that he will be the featured receiver in the offense, it’s not crazy to say that he will make huge leaps in production.
Joe Roll Joe Roll 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Gretna | 2023 State NE (2023) – WR – Gretna – 5’10″ 185 lbs
For the people that play in “Points Per Reception” (PPR) leagues, Gretna WR Joe Roll Joe Roll 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Gretna | 2023 State NE would be your best friend. Joe is a high-production receiver that you can rely on to be open at all times. He is a very smart receiver that knows how to exploit the soft spots in the defense and can create separation. On top of him being a very reliable target in short and intermediate distances, he also has the speed to get behind defenses to haul in the deep ball. You need to have eyes and bodies on him at all times; otherwise, he’s going to torch you for at least a first down. He’s also a tough guy to bring down, and he can wiggle out of tackles for an extra few yards. PPR machine and YAC monster… come on now!!
Isaiah McMorris Isaiah McMorris 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Bellevue West | 2024 State NE (2024) – ATH/WR – Bellevue West – 6’1″ 170 lbs
Isaiah McMorris Isaiah McMorris 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Bellevue West | 2024 State NE is one of the most electric players in the state, and he’s only going into his junior season. As a sophomore, he accumulated over 1,000 yards of offense and scored 14 touchdowns. He can put up yards and touchdowns no matter where you put him or how you use him. As a receiver, he was a dangerous receiver with blazing speed and slick route-running. He was also used as a runner on sweeps and did his fair share of damage on the ground. You also can’t forget to mention he is a dangerous return man. McMorris is a stud player that will gain yards in any scenario you put him in. Scary to think what he could do in the T-Bird offense.
Carter Nelson Carter Nelson 6'5" | 215 lbs | TE Ainsworth | 2024 State NE (2024) – TE/ATH – Ainsworth – 6’5″ 205 lbs
Carter was a monster on the field for Ainsworth in 2021. Nelson is getting looks at tight end, but he really did everything for the Bulldogs. Carter posted his second 500+ receiving yards and 8 touchdown season as a sophomore. He hauled in 28 catches for 511 yards and 8 touchdowns. Nelson is a very lengthy, tough player with a huge catch radius. He has been utilized as a runner in certain situations and has the size to plow through the heart of a defense for a nice chunk gain. To top it off, he also threw for 3 touchdowns. This level of versatility and production has gained him attention from Power 5 schools like Virginia Tech, Iowa, Nebraska, and others. Just get the ball in this guy’s hands and he’ll ball!
Omaha Westside Defense: One of the things that can separate your fantasy team from the rest is having a reliable defense that allows very few points and makes splash plays. In comes the Warrior’s defense and its ability to completely take over games. Across 12 games in 2021, the Warriors held their opponents to an average of 12.9 points per game while forcing 19 turnovers and accumulating 26 sacks. Even after losing an incredible 2022 senior class, Westside reloaded with an influx of playmakers. They can make plays at all levels of the field and are quick to the QB, can shut down runs behind the line of scrimmage, and force turnovers. On the defensive line, I’m excited to see what junior Jonquel Osler Jonquel Osler 6'0" | 225 lbs | DL Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE will do along the trenches. He started to catch fire last year and ended up with 6 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. The linebacker group will be stacked with playmakers. Burke transfer LB, Christian Jones Christian Jones 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB Omaha Westside | 2025 State NE , brings with him 11 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, and an interception. Senior leader Curt Cubrich Curt Cubrich 5'11" | 185 lbs | LB Omaha Westside | 2023 State NE was a buzzsaw for the Warriors defense after accumulating 10 tackles for loss and got to the QB 4 times. Don’t forget up-and-coming LB Beau Ryan Beau Ryan 5'11" | 210 lbs | LB Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE , who did a great job in his role as a sophomore. He ended the season with 30 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and a sack. The secondary is where the Warriors stand out with one of the deepest secondaries in the state. The top returning tackler from last year, Caleb Benning Caleb Benning 5'11" | ATH Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE was huge for the Westside defense in 2021. Along with his 68 total tackles, he also made 4 stops behind the line, snagged 4 interceptions, defended 6 passes, and recovered a fumble. For added value, he also returned a punt and kickoff return for touchdowns. Teddy Rezac Teddy Rezac 6'3" | 195 lbs | ATH Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE will be back at cornerback for the Warriors after a monster year that was highlighted by his 4 interceptions. Isaac Richard Isaac Richard 5'10" | 160 lbs | DB Omaha Westside | 2023 State NE also started coming into his own at cornerback and even snagged a pick and made two tackles for loss. Cornerback Wesley Okafor Wesley Okafor 6'2" | 175 lbs | DB Omaha Westside | 2023 State NE has also been heating up this summer and will be looking to have a statement season. Joining them in the secondary are two elite additions in the form of Central transfer Jeremiah Truitt Jeremiah Truitt 5'10" | 165 lbs | DB Omaha Westside | 2023 State NE and Papio La Vista transfer Keynan Cotton Keynan Cotton 5'10" | 185 lbs | ATH Omaha Westside | 2025 State NE . Truitt was a lockdown corner for the Eagles during his junior year and often forced QBs to throw in the opposite direction. Keynan was a breakout player for the Monarchs and showed that he could be a great two-way player at receiver as well. Expect this defense to be one of the stingiest in the state while racking up lots of sacks, turnovers, and tackles for loss.
Christian Jones Christian Jones 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB Omaha Westside | 2025 State NE (2025) – LB – 6’3″ 200 lbs – Hudl – Twitter
Caleb Benning Caleb Benning 5'11" | ATH Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE (2024) – DB – Hudl – Twitter
Curt Cubrich Curt Cubrich 5'11" | 185 lbs | LB Omaha Westside | 2023 State NE (2023) – LB – 5’11″ 190 lbs – Hudl – Twitter
Jonquel Osler Jonquel Osler 6'0" | 225 lbs | DL Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE (2024) – DL 6’0″ 225 lbs – Hudl – Twitter
Teddy Rezac Teddy Rezac 6'3" | 195 lbs | ATH Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE (2024) – DB – 6’3″ 185 lbs – Hudl – Twitter
Jeremiah Truitt Jeremiah Truitt 5'10" | 165 lbs | DB Omaha Westside | 2023 State NE (2023) – DB – 5’10″ 165 lbs – Hudl – Twitter
Beau Ryan Beau Ryan 5'11" | 210 lbs | LB Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE (2024) – LB – 5’11″ 195 lbs – Hudl – Twitter
Isaac Richard Isaac Richard 5'10" | 160 lbs | DB Omaha Westside | 2023 State NE (2023) – DB – 5’10″ 160 lbs – Hudl – Twitter
Keynan Cotton Keynan Cotton 5'10" | 185 lbs | ATH Omaha Westside | 2025 State NE (2025) – DB – Hudl – Twitter – 5’11″ 175 lbs
Wesley Okafor Wesley Okafor 6'2" | 175 lbs | DB Omaha Westside | 2023 State NE (2023) – CB – 6’2″ 175 lbs – Hudl – Twitter
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