Who Are The NE 2026 Passing Yards Leaders Returning Next Year?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;OscarGalindo30&nbsp;in the coupon code area.</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we turn the page and head into 2025, it's time to start looking at some returning talent in the current junior, sophomore, and freshman classes and their production this past season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now lets, examine the junior signal-callers who paced the passing yards leaderboards to end the season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Millard South's <em>[player_tooltip player_id='476963' first='Jett' last='Thomalla']</em> returns as the passing yards leader for his class and the state's overall leader in passing yards from last season. <em>Jett</em> tore the record book apart with a state record of 3,664 passing yards and 47 passing touchdowns. Not only did the yardage and touchdowns come in abundance, but he delivered them extremely efficiently and calculated, with a 70% completion rate, only three interceptions, and a QBR of 139. <em>Thomalla's</em> elite season helped the Patriots capture the Class A state championship and has earned him his first two FBS offers from Iowa State and San Diego State. <em>Jett</em> will enter his senior campaign with the opportunity to win back-to-back state championships and make a play at some of the state's career passing records.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22540424/67981644030815ef75ce5b90' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-679b119796816"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gretna's <em>[player_tooltip player_id='402158' first='Michael' last='Knudsen']</em> shined bright in his first full season as the Dragons' starting quarterback. <em>Michael </em>met a major milestone after throwing for 3,074 yards, 29 passing touchdowns, and a QBR of 112. On multiple occasions, <em>Michael </em>showed that he has the arm talent to make any throw and the mental toughness to power through any situation. Also worth noting that <em>Knudsen</em> added five touchdowns on the ground.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18129793/6701d52ab9797308a54fdf92' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-679b119796851"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seward's <em>[player_tooltip player_id='1113956' first='Tresten' last='Hass']</em> played brilliantly during his junior campaign, leading the Bluejays to an 11-1 record. <em>Hass </em>was a threat with his arm and legs, contributing 2,736 passing yards, 530 rushing yards, 27 passing touchdowns, four rushing touchdowns, and a QBR of 109.4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16804622/673a398f4f713eb40815296c' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-679b119796874"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Central City's <em>[player_tooltip player_id='1429581' first='Parker' last='Zikmund']</em> had an all-time season for the Bison, taking them to the state championship for the first time in school history. During this historic run, <em>Parker</em> threw for 2,718 yards and 37 touchdowns while completing 60% of his passes and recording a QBR of 104.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18092664/6775f5c42a743e01717a3d27' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-679b119796891"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southwest's <em>[player_tooltip player_id='1614176' first='Houston' last='Billeter']</em> joins us from the six-man ranks as the only non-11-man player in the top 10. <em>Houston </em>completed 61% of his passes for 2,224 yards and 32 touchdowns with a QBR of 117. <em>Billeter</em> also added 154 yards and two scores on the ground.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19905966/672bd13feb1e8565d4c35aa0' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-679b1197968ac"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Rounding out the Top 10:</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. <em>[player_tooltip player_id='1395928' first='Derek' last='Tonjes'] </em>- Ashland-Greenwood: 168/259 (65%), 2,125 passing yards, 216 rushing yards, 27 passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns, and a 104.2 QBR.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. <em>[player_tooltip player_id='795746' first='Ethan' last='Beachy']</em> - Elkhorn North: 114/225 (50%), 2,069 passing yards, 330 rushing yards, 25 passing touchdowns, four rushing touchdowns, and a 108.5 QBR.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. <em>[player_tooltip player_id='1614178' first='Alek' last='Doty']</em> - Sidney: 131/211 (62%), 2,049 passing yards, 1,061 rushing yards, 26 passing touchdowns, 14 rushing touchdowns, and 116.1 QBR.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. <em>[player_tooltip player_id='1115010' first='Grayson' last='Sack']</em> - Grand Island Central Catholic: 136/224 (60%), 2,046 passing yards, 623 rushing yards, 24 passing touchdowns, 9 rushing touchdowns, and 122.7 QBR.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. <em>[player_tooltip player_id='1113958' first='Braxton' last='Glines']</em> - Lincoln Lutheran: 184/321 (57%), 2,037 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns, 3 rushing touchdowns, and an 85.4 QBR.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Make sure to follow&nbsp;<em>@PRZ_OscarG</em>&nbsp;for more news on Nebraska and Iowa HS recruiting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->