Week 1 Top Performers – Defense
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Here are some of the best defensive performances from Week 1 of the regular season. Brogan Ling Brogan Ling 6'3" | 200 lbs | LB Lincoln Southwest | 2023 State NE (2023 – EDGE) | Lincoln Southwest | Northern Iowa…
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Continue ReadingHere are some of the best defensive performances from Week 1 of the regular season.
Brogan Ling Brogan Ling 6'3" | 200 lbs | LB Lincoln Southwest | 2023 State NE (2023 – EDGE) | Lincoln Southwest | Northern Iowa Commit
Stats: 13 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks.
Ethan Stuhr Ethan Stuhr 6'2" | 200 lbs | LB Gretna | 2023 State NE (2023 – LB) | Gretna | 6’2″ 200 lbs
Stats: 6 tackles, tackle for loss, and a sack.
Ashton Murphy Ashton Murphy 6'5" | 240 lbs | DL Elkhorn South | 2024 State NE (2024 – DL) | Elkhorn South | 6’5″ 230 lbs
Stats: 9 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a sack.
Cole Rickley Cole Rickley 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Omaha Bryan | 2023 State NE (2023 – LB) | Omaha Bryan | 6’2″ 210 lbs
Stats: 16 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and an interception.
Za’ Kye Parrott (2023 – DB) | Omaha Burke | 6’4″ 180 lbs
Stats: 10 tackles and a tackle for loss.
Korver Demma Korver Demma 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Gretna | 2023 State NE (2023 – DL) | Gretna | 6’3″ 230 lbs
Stats: 6 tackles, tackle for loss, and a sack.
Yan Brice Eloume Epansang Yan Brice Eloume Epansang 5'10" | 195 lbs | RB Lincoln Northeast | 2023 State NE (2023) | Lincoln Northeast | 5’10” 195 lbs
Stats: 7 tackles, a tackle for loss, a pick-six interception, a forced fumble, and fumble recovery.
Caleb Kinkaid Caleb Kinkaid 6'3" | 225 lbs | DL North Platte | 2023 State NE (2023 – DL) | North Platte | 6’3″ 225 lbs
Stats: 13 tackles and a sack.
Kaalo Evans Kaalo Evans 5'11" | 190 lbs | LB Lincoln Southwest | 2023 State NE (2023 – LB) | Lincoln Southwest | 6’0″ 200 lbs
Stats: 17 tackles.
Levi Widdowson (2023 – DL/OL) | Papillion – La Vista | 6’1″ 240
Stats: 7 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble.
Alex Tapia Alex Tapia 5'10" | 180 lbs | DB Omaha South | 2023 State NE (2023 – DB) | Omaha South | 5’10” 183 lbs
Stats: 12 tackles and 3 tackles for loss.
Donnovan Whitfield Donnovan Whitfield 6'3" | 185 lbs | DB Bellevue West | 2023 State NE (2023 – DB) | Bellevue West | 6’3″ 185 lbs
Stats: 9 tackles and an interception.
Pierce Mooberry Pierce Mooberry 6'4" | 200 lbs | ATH Millard North | 2025 State NE (2025 – ATH) | Millard North | 6’4″ 200 lbs
Stats: 4 tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack, a pass defense, and a fumble recovery. 82 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Adin Carrera Adin Carrera 5'9" | 170 lbs | DB Bellevue East | 2024 State NE (2024 – DB) | Bellevue East | 5’9″ 170 lbs
Stats: 4 tackles, 2 passes defended, and a pick-six interception.
Nick Kieny (2023 – LB) | Creighton Prep | 6’3″ 190 lbs
Stats: 10 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a pass defense.
Benny Alfaro Benny Alfaro 6'0" | 200 lbs | LB Fremont | 2023 State NE (2023 – LB) | Fremont | 5’11” 210 lbs
Stats: 10 tackles and a tackle for loss.
Dane Mentore Dane Mentore 5'8" | 170 lbs | ATH Lincoln | 2023 State NE (2023) | Lincoln | 5’8″ 170 lbs
Stats: 10 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a fumble recovery.
Kaiden Wood Kaiden Wood 5'10" | 210 lbs | RB Lincoln Northwest | 2026 NE (2026) | Lincoln Northwest | 5’10” 203 lbs
Stats: 6 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a sack.
Levi Kopf Levi Kopf 5'10" | 160 lbs | LB Lexington | 2023 NE (2023 – LB) | Lexington | 5’10” 160 lbs
Stats: 14 tackles and a tackle for loss
Sam Boettcher (2023) | Ord | 6’1″ 220 lbs
Stats: 14 tackles and two tackles for loss.
Kyler Lauridsen Kyler Lauridsen 5'11" | 170 lbs | LB Bennington | 2025 State NE (2025) | Bennington | 5’9″ 145 lbs
Stats: 8 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a sack.
Ethan Nguyen Ethan Nguyen 6'4" | 230 lbs | DL Bennington | 2023 State NE (2023 – DL) | Bennington | 6’2″ 230 lbs
Stats: 5 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and a sack.
Brant Gulizia Brant Gulizia 6'0" | 175 lbs | ATH Auburn | 2025 State NE (2025) | Auburn | 6’0″ 175 lbs
Stats: 11 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, an interception, and two fumble recoveries.
Luke Lambert Luke Lambert 6'3" | 235 lbs | DL Ashland-Greenwood | 2023 State NE (2023 – DL) | Ashland-Greenwood | Wayne State Commit
Stats: 7 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and a blocked field goal.
Hayden Umble Hayden Umble 5'11" | 200 lbs | ATH Mitchell | 2023 State NE (2023 – DB) | Mitchell | 5’11” 200 lbs
Stats: 10 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a blocked XP.
Izaac Dickey Izaac Dickey 5'10" | 215 lbs | ATH Cross County | 2024 State NE (2024 – LB) | Cross County | 5’10” 205 lbs
Stats: 15 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a fumble recovery.
Avery Overfelt (2023) | Homer |
Stats: 13 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and an interception.
Aandy Dominguez Aandy Dominguez 5'10" | 190 lbs | DL Howells-Dodge | 2023 State NE (2023) | Howells-Dodge | 6’0″ 200 lbs
Stats: 7 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and a sack.
Alijah Wayne Alijah Wayne 6'4" | 225 lbs | ATH Omaha Central | 2025 State NE (2025) | Omaha Central | 6’3″ 205 lbs
Stats: 5 tackles, a tackle for loss, and an interception.
Ethan Atkins (2023) | S-E-M
Stats: 6 tackles and 3 tackles for loss.
Jaden Wells | Anselmo-Merna
Stats: 11 tackles and 2 tackles for loss.
Justyce Hostetler Justyce Hostetler 5'11" | 210 lbs | LB Grand Island | 2024 State NE (2024 – LB) | Grand Island | 5’11” 190 lbs
Stats: 16 tackles
Marquise Keeten (2023) | Omaha South | 5’8″ 260 lbs
Stats: 10 tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack, and an interception.
Orrin Kuehn Orrin Kuehn 5'8" | 160 lbs | RB Minden | 2025 State NE (2025) | Minden
Stats: 16 tackles
Slate Micheel (2023) | Twin Loup | 6’0″ 180 lbs
Stats: 15 tackles, tackle for loss, and a sack. 16 carries, 80 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, 2 receptions, and 49 receiving yards.
Maverick Noonan Maverick Noonan 6'4" | 230 lbs | DL Elkhorn South | 2023 State NE (2023 – DL) | Elkhorn South | Nebraska Commit
Stats: 9 tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack, and a fumble recovery.
Lleyton Behrends (2024) | Johnson-Brock
Stats: 9 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks.
Zachary Hawley | Johnson-Brock
Stats: 5 tackles and 3 sacks
Andrew Kotik (2023 – DL) | Logan View
Stats: 17 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and two sacks.
Auggie Judd (2023 – LB) | Fairbury | 5’10” 175 lbs
Stats: 11 tackles and an interception.
Bryce Wolfe (2023) | Maywood/Hayes Center
Stats: 12 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Carter Erickson Carter Erickson 6'2" | 190 lbs | RB Elm Creek | 2023 NE (2023) | Elm Creek | 6’2″ 190 lbs
Stats: 14 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. 62 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown, 54 receiving yards, and receiving touchdown.
Yannick Ivan Eloume Akwa Yannick Ivan Eloume Akwa 5'10" | 200 lbs | RB Lincoln Northeast | 2023 State NE (2023) | Lincoln Northeast | 5’10” 198 lbs
Stats: 17 tackles and 2 tackles for loss.
Keegan Kimble (2024 – DL) | Omaha South | 5’10” 180 lbs
Stats: 5 tackles and 3 sacks.
Will Jesske Will Jesske 6'0" | 200 lbs | LB Lincoln Southeast | 2023 State NE (2023 – LB) | Lincoln Southeast
Stats: 11 tackles and a sack.
Kaden Sears (2023) | Blair
Stats: 10 tackles and 3 tackles for loss.
Levi Converse Levi Converse 5'11" | 175 lbs | LB Lexington | 2023 State NE (2023 – LB) | Lexington
Stats: 12 tackles and an interception.
Burke Moody (2025) | Auburn | 6’1″ 170 lbs
Stats: 8 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and a sack.
Talan Bruha Talan Bruha 6'2" | 195 lbs | ATH Ord | 2024 State NE (2024) | Ord | 6’1″ 180 lbs
Stats: 8 tackles, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble/fumble recovery, 57 receiving yards, and a touchdown.
Jack Roberts Jack Roberts 6'3" | 180 lbs | LB Boone Central | 2023 State NE (2023) | Boone Central | 6’2″ 190 lbs
Stats: 8 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and a sack.
Clay Hedges Clay Hedges 6'3" | 215 lbs | DL Archbishop Bergan | 2024 State NE (2024 – DL) | Archbishop Bergan | 6’4″ 240 lbs
Stats: 14 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery.
LJ Quinnie (2023) | Lincoln
Stats: 6 tackles and a pick-six interception.
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