PRZNE Top QB-RB Duos in Class A for 2024
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Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: OscarGalindo30 in the coupon code area. Looking forward to the 2024 season, I wanted to highlight some of the best 1-2 punches around the state with my new “Duos” series. To kick it…
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Looking forward to the 2024 season, I wanted to highlight some of the best 1-2 punches around the state with my new “Duos” series. To kick it off, I want to start in the backfield to find the best QB-RB duos in the state’s biggest classification.
Check out my top 5 QB-RB duos in Class A.
Elkhorn South: Madden Riggs Madden Riggs 6'2" | 200 lbs | QB Elkhorn South | 2025 State NE & Gavin Shanahan Gavin Shanahan 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Elkhorn South | 2025 State NE / Jaydon Sutko Jaydon Sutko 6'1" | 200 lbs | RB Elkhorn South | 2026 State NE
It was tough narrowing this one down to just one back since the Storm will return one of the best 1-2 punches at RB. Gavin Shanahan Gavin Shanahan 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Elkhorn South | 2025 State NE will likely be the starter as the senior-to-be, but I very much expect Jaydon to be a factor as well. Gavin ended second on the team in rushing yards with 437 yards and five touchdowns. Jaydon trailed right behind him with 425 yards and five scores of his own. Both backs are elusive and speedy, with the ability to make defenders miss. Madden Riggs Madden Riggs 6'2" | 200 lbs | QB Elkhorn South | 2025 State NE returns as the Storm’s QB1 after being thrust into that role due to injury in 2023. Madden stepped up nicely, throwing for 1,003 yards and 13 passing touchdowns.
Madden Riggs Madden Riggs 6'2" | 200 lbs | QB Elkhorn South | 2025 State NE | 2025 | QB | Elkhorn South | 6’3″ 200 lbs
Gavin Shanahan Gavin Shanahan 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Elkhorn South | 2025 State NE | 2025 | RB | Elkhorn South | 5’9″ 190 lbs
Jaydon Sutko Jaydon Sutko 6'1" | 200 lbs | RB Elkhorn South | 2026 State NE | 2026 | RB | Elkhorn South | 6’1″ 195 lbs
Millard South: Jett Thomalla Jett Thomalla 6'4" | 185 lbs | QB Millard South | 2026 State NE & Gabe Prucha Gabe Prucha 5'10" | 210 lbs | RB Millard South | 2026 State NE
Junior QB Jett Thomalla Jett Thomalla 6'4" | 185 lbs | QB Millard South | 2026 State NE and his shiny weapons at receiver will receive most of the attention on the Patriot’s offense, but you can’t overlook some of the studs joining him in the backfield. Sophomore Gabe Prucha Gabe Prucha 5'10" | 210 lbs | RB Millard South | 2026 State NE was set to start for the Patriots while they waited for senior RB Feller to return to the lineup. Unfortunately, Gabe suffered an injury of his own that cut his season short. Nonetheless, he still flashed a ton of upside as both a tough, physical runner, but also a player who can make catches out of the backfield. Prucha still finished his sophomore campaign with 541 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns, 181 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown. Jett set the Nebraska HS football scene on fire last year with 2,800 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns, 122 rushing yards, and two touchdowns on the ground. He’s an efficient passer with a live arm and a great football IQ. Thomalla is a player who could start seeing some offers roll in soon.
Jett Thomalla Jett Thomalla 6'4" | 185 lbs | QB Millard South | 2026 State NE | 2026 | QB | Millard South | 6’4″ 185 lbs
Gabe Prucha Gabe Prucha 5'10" | 210 lbs | RB Millard South | 2026 State NE | 2026 | RB | Millard South | 5’10” 210 lbs
Omaha Central: BJ Newsome BJ Newsome 5'11" | 185 lbs | QB Omaha Central | 2026 State NE & Kylonn Haynie Kylonn Haynie 5'10" | 200 lbs | ATH Omaha Central | 2027 NE
The youngest duo on this list, BJ and Kylonn are spearheading a fierce squad looking to return the Eagles to dominance. BJ will enter his junior year with two full seasons of varsity starting experience and a growing confidence in Central’s offensive scheme. As a sophomore, BJ threw for 1,426 yards and 13 touchdowns while completing 63% of his passes. He will have several weapons returning and a battering ram in Kylonn to hand it off to. Kylonn did not disappoint in his debut season as he consistently put together powerful, bone-jarring runs. Kylonn rushed for a team-leading 472 yards and eight rushing touchdowns.
BJ Newsome BJ Newsome 5'11" | 185 lbs | QB Omaha Central | 2026 State NE | 2026 | QB | Omaha Central | 5’11” 185 lbs
Kylonn Haynie Kylonn Haynie 5'10" | 200 lbs | ATH Omaha Central | 2027 NE | 2027 | RB/LB | Omaha Central | 5’10” 200 lbs
Omaha North: Mikey Gow & Jaron Cannon Jr Jaron Cannon Jr 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Omaha North | 2026 State NE
Returning to the Cornhusker state is former Bellevue East QB Mikey Gow, who finds himself looking to start for the Vikings this fall. Mikey played his junior season in the Sooner State and will return to show off his dual-arm passing. To help his transition into the new squad will be one of the top RBs in the state, Jaron Cannon Jr Jaron Cannon Jr 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Omaha North | 2026 State NE Jaron lit defenses up on the ground with his angry, physical running style and will be looking to build on his break out sophomore campaign. Cannon smashed the 1,000-yard plateau as a sophomore after rushing for 1,261 yards and scoring a whopping 16 rushing touchdowns.
Mikey Gow | 2025 | QB | Omaha North | 6’2″ 210 lbs
Jaron Cannon Jr Jaron Cannon Jr 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Omaha North | 2026 State NE | 2026 | RB | Omaha North | 5’10” 170 lbs
South Sioux City: DJ Helms DJ Helms 6'1" | 210 lbs | QB South Sioux City | 2025 State NE & Tony Palmer Tony Palmer 5'11" | 195 lbs | RB South Sioux City | 2025 State NE
The Cardinal’s backfield of DJ Helms DJ Helms 6'1" | 210 lbs | QB South Sioux City | 2025 State NE and Tony Palmer Tony Palmer 5'11" | 195 lbs | RB South Sioux City | 2025 State NE is easily the most physically imposing duo on this list. QB DJ Helms DJ Helms 6'1" | 210 lbs | QB South Sioux City | 2025 State NE stands at 6’3″ 235-pounds, while RB Tony Palmer Tony Palmer 5'11" | 195 lbs | RB South Sioux City | 2025 State NE recently won the Class B 215-pound state championship. This combination of size, strength, and athleticism transfers well to the gridiron, where both players excel on both sides of the ball. DJ is a dual-threat QB who threw for 801 yards and nine touchdowns while adding 309 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. Tony was among the most productive RBs in Class A last year with 1,488 yards and 19 touchdowns.
DJ Helms DJ Helms 6'1" | 210 lbs | QB South Sioux City | 2025 State NE | 2025 | QB/DL | South Sioux City | 6’3″ 235 lbs
Tony Palmer Tony Palmer 5'11" | 195 lbs | RB South Sioux City | 2025 State NE | 2025 | RB/LB | South Sioux City | 5’11” 205 lbs
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