Which Starting Jobs Have Big Shoes to Fill?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: OscarGalindo30 in the coupon code area.</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another season has come and gone and that means graduations and departures for every team. As a result, we can see positions that belonged to long-time starters, open up and leave holes that need to be figured out before the season kicks off. In some cases, some players have already started getting their feet wet, and others will enter into big roles fresh off of JV/Freshman teams. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Check out these three position openings that left behind big shoes to fill. </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><span style="text-decoration: underline">Gretna QB:</span></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Replacing the Class A career leader in passing yards is not going to be an easy task. That's the reality the Gretna Dragons face as they said goodbye to four-year starter and Oklahoma State QB [player_tooltip player_id='217055' first='Zane' last='Flores']. However, if there's a team that can manage that blow, it's the well-coached, well-developed Dragons. As of right now, junior DB/QB <strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='559364' first='Alex' last='Wilcoxson']</em></strong> looks like the heir apparent to take over the QB1 role after serving as the backup in 2022. We don't have a very big throwing sample for Alex, completing 6/6 passes for 44 yards and a touchdown, but he did rush for 138 yards and a rushing touchdown. Alex is a great overall athlete that posted 27 tackles and 5 interceptions as a DB and has been a playmaker on the basketball court. Whoever the QB is, they will have RB [player_tooltip player_id='340488' first='Isaiah' last='Weber'] joining them in the backfield, an OL returning with a lot of experience, and athletes on the perimeters to throw to. Some other Gretna QBs to watch are 2025 <strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='245839' first='Jake' last='Mowinkel']</em></strong> and 2026 <strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='533084' first='Logan' last='Kracht']</em></strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='559364' first='Alex' last='Wilcoxson'] | 2024 | 6'0" 175 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14502338/Alex-Wilcoxson" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hudl</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/WilcoxsonAlex" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='245839' first='Jake' last='Mowinkel'] | 2025 | 6'0" 160 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16716289/jacob-mowinkel" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hudl</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/JMowinkel" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='533084' first='Logan' last='Kracht'] | 2026 | 5'11" 150 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/18143315/Logan-Kracht" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hudl</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/LoganKracht01" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">Creighton Prep RB:</span></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Jr. Jays will lose a very talented 2023 class featuring several elite players at key positions. The one that might be most important is replacing top '23 RB [player_tooltip player_id='227009' first='CharMar' last='Brown']. Brown rushed for 2,600+ rushing yards and 31 touchdowns in the past two seasons. Prep rode their workhorse back behind a monster offensive line for a tough, ground-and-pound style of football. The returning leading rusher is QB Tony Coniglio with 78 yards, so it's safe to say next year's starter will be fresh to the varsity scene. Two names that stick out to me are 2024 RB/LB <strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1029484' first='Ryan' last='Uhl']</em></strong> and 2025 RB <strong><em>Jacob Ruby</em></strong> as candidates to emerge as RB1. [player_tooltip player_id='1029484' first='Ryan' last='Uhl'] saw more playing time on defense and racked up 24 tackles and a tackle for loss. Jacob is second in returning rushing yards with 77 yards and found the endzone for his lone touchdown. Interesting position to watch this spring/summer!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1029484' first='Ryan' last='Uhl'] | 2024 | RB/LB </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14916178/Ryan-Uhl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hudl</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanUhl8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Jacob Ruby | 2025 | RB/DB | 5'7" 155 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16435681/Jacob-Ruby" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hudl</a> </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">Elkhorn South RB:</span></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Storm is another team that will trot out week one without their long-time starting RB, Husker signee [player_tooltip player_id='227026' first='Cole' last='Ballard']. Ballard's 4,230 career all-purpose yards and 77 touchdowns are a lot of production to have to replace. Luckily, Elkhorn South has set themselves up nicely with a solid 1-2 punch at RB with junior [player_tooltip player_id='516328' first='Brady' last='Bousquet'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='245867' first='Gavin' last='Shanahan']. Both backs received backup carries last season and performed very well with the carries they had. Bousquet rushed for 364 yards on 44 carries and scored five touchdowns. Gavin carried the ball 43 times for 247 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Brady looks like the slight favorite, but if both backs come out hot, I wouldn't be surprised to see split carries to a certain extent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='516328' first='Brady' last='Bousquet'] | 2024 | 5'8" 180 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14865252/brady-bousquet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hudl</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Bradybousquet14" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='245867' first='Gavin' last='Shanahan'] | 2025 | 5'9" 180 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16359598/Gavin-Shanahan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hudl</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/GavinShanahan24" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a></em></strong></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 -->