NE Playoff Round 1 Top Performers – Defense

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are the top defensive beasts from the first round of the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class D1 and D2 just wrapped up Round 2 of the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(Stats via MaxPreps.com)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='226974' first='Brock' last='Murtaugh'] | 2023 | Millard South | 6'2' 200 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 5 tackles, an interception returned for a touchdown, 101 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns, and 2 two-point conversions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_63647efaccd67","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13075152/635d94837bd48c0a381314e3' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='227083' first='Korver' last='Demma'] | 2023 | Gretna | Nebraska Commit</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 10 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, and a fumble recovery.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_63647f0cccd68","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13271477/635cbbb057980d0410c36ef2' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Justin Myers | 2023 | Gretna </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 13 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='239988' first='Jackson' last='Masek'] | 2023 | Lincoln Lutheran | 6'2" 250 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 11 tackes, 2 tackles for loss, a sack, and a fumble recovery.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_63647f5cccd69","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/9810846/635fe6dc0427f90c1c7cc5b2' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Logan Holtemeyer | 2026 | Papillion-La Vista | 6'0" 215 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 5 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and a sack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='319569' first='Jeremiah' last='Druckenmiller'] | 2025 | Oakland-Craig | 5'7" 130 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 4 tackles and 2 interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Dane Omel | 2025 | Lincoln Christian | 5'10" 165 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 6 tackles and 2 interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_63647fcfccd6a","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16138560/635d24ee34485608f0f4df6b' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='227031' first='John' last='Pargo Jr']. | 2023 | Creighton Prep | 5'10" 180 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 4 tackles, an interception, and a fumble recovery.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='227074' first='Caleb' last='Kinkaid'] | 2023 | North Platte | 6'3" 225 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 10 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Ben Gilliand | 2024 | Bennington | 5'11" 175 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 10 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and a sack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_63648050ccd6b","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14899599/635e648a3deaa50aecfafb4a' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='400099' first='Ryan' last='Gabriel'] | 2023 | Ord | 6'2" 230 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 11 tackles and 2 interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_63648072ccd6c","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12820881/63616d78a018e306b089bbd7' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='239789' first='Jack' last='Roberts'] | 2023 | Boone Central | 6'2" 190 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 7 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack, 79 receiving yards, and 2 receiving touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='302769' first='Jaxson' last='Hamm'] | 2023 | Ashland-Greenwood | 5'11" 210 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 17 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_636480aeccd6d","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13141055/635ea47e3deaa50aecfb9d85' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Korvin Fitz | 2024 | Pierce | 5'10" 160 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 14 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and a sack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_636480d1ccd6e","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14953132/63572bcd578d400234f3cc4b' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Luke Endorf | 2023 | Pierce | 6'0" 190 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 7 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_636480edccd6f","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13260278/6361059ca018e306b0893882' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='406626' first='Jackson' last='Kerchal'] | 2024 | Dundy County Stratton | 6'4" 210 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 13 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='487755' first='Ethan' last='Latta'] | 2026 | Dundy County Stratton </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 5 tackles and 3 interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Make sure to follow @PrepRedzoneNE on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date with all your Nebraska prep recruiting news.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->