Nebraska’s Top 10 Pass Catching Duos in 2022
Having a great receiver in your offense can do wonders for your ability to move the ball downfield. What about the teams that feature a pair of playmaking, pass-catchers? Let’s take a look at the top 10 receiving duos heading…
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Continue ReadingHaving a great receiver in your offense can do wonders for your ability to move the ball downfield. What about the teams that feature a pair of playmaking, pass-catchers? Let’s take a look at the top 10 receiving duos heading into the 2022 season.
1. Dae’Vonn Hall Dae’Vonn Hall 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR Bellevue West | 2024 State NE (2024) & Kyrell Jordan Kyrell Jordan 5'8" | 160 lbs | WR Bellevue West | 2023 State NE (2023) – Bellevue West
Receiving Stats: Dae’Vonn: 43 receptions, 592 receiving yards, 9 touchdowns, 13.8 yards per reception
Kyrell: 27 receptions, 476 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns, 17.6 yards per reception
The Thunderbirds have a quartet of talented receivers that could’ve landed them on this list. For this feature, we will roll with 4-star WR Dae’Vonn Hall Dae’Vonn Hall 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR Bellevue West | 2024 State NE who has been making waves on the recruiting circuit since the end of his freshman year. Dae’Vonn is a do-it-all receiver that can line up anywhere and make catches anywhere on the field. For only going into his junior season, Hall is already incredibly polished as a route runner and gaining separation. Lining up alongside him will be senior speedster Kyrell Jordan Kyrell Jordan 5'8" | 160 lbs | WR Bellevue West | 2023 State NE . Kyrell has been on a rampage this summer, taking ankles at every camp he attends. He is an elite deep-threat target with tons of explosiveness off the line and very twitchy with the ball in his hands. I see lots of lost sleep for opposing defensive coordinators when playing this duo.
Luke Johannsen '22 @JohannsenLukas drops a dime to 4⭐ Sophomore Dae'Vonn Hall '24 🤯 @DaevonnHall
Might be the catch of the year 👀
🎬 Cred: KETV pic.twitter.com/yb13jUnXyo
— Nebraska Elite 7v7 (@NELITE7v7_) October 22, 2021
highlights from Battle 7on7 Tournament… @BattleCEO @PrepRedzoneNE @BellevueWestFB pic.twitter.com/EdVLvT6IxA
— kyrell jordan (@kyrellj1) June 26, 2022
2. Beni Ngoyi Beni Ngoyi 6'4" | 195 lbs | ATH Lincoln High | 2023 State NE (2023) & Adonis Hutchinson Adonis Hutchinson 6'1" | 170 lbs | ATH Lincoln | 2023 State NE (2023) – Lincoln
Receiving Stats: Beni: 25 receptions, 467 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns, 18.7 yards per reception.
Adonis: 20 receptions, 322 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 16.1 yards per reception.
Beni and Adonis could arguably be called the most athletic duo on this list and probably ithe entire state, with their ability to play both offense and defense. Beni is a Power 5 prospect with offers coming in from the west coast (Washington) to the east (Pitt) and everywhere in between. Ngoyi is a freak athlete with top-tier speed, jumping ability, and mitts for hands. Adonis is a prospect that I think is still being under-recruited, yet he has been making a splash this summer. Hutchinson is a very smart, smooth receiver that seems to glide through his routes. Both of these receivers do an excellent job stretching the field and can create separation like nobody’s business. I don’t know many things, but I do know that this tandem is going to be absolutely electric on the field in 2022.
BENI PUTS ON THE JETS: @beni_ngoyi goes the distance helping @LinksAthletics beat North Star. @1011_News pic.twitter.com/VQC5srCoiq
— Dan Corey (@DanCorey_) August 28, 2021
🙆🏾♂️ pic.twitter.com/gmlLlsNQTs
— Adonis Hutchinson (@adonisjh2) June 29, 2022
3. Xander Provance Xander Provance 6'4" | 200 lbs | ATH Chadron | 2023 State NE (2023) & Seth Gaswick Seth Gaswick 6'1" | 170 lbs | ATH Chadron | 2023 State NE (2023) – Chadron
Receiving Stats: Xander: 20 receptions, 391 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns, 19.6 yards per reception.
Seth: 14 receptions, 380 receiving yards, 7 touchdowns, 27.1 yards per reception.
Chadron’s Xander Provance Xander Provance 6'4" | 200 lbs | ATH Chadron | 2023 State NE and Seth Gaswick Seth Gaswick 6'1" | 170 lbs | ATH Chadron | 2023 State NE are another pair of versatile, two-way players. These are two of the best deep threat receivers in the 2023 class. Xander is a big-bodied receiver at 6’4″ and 200 lbs that can break tackles and turn on the jets after making a catch. He is very lengthy with a long wingspan and strong hands that catch anything coming his way. Seth is an all-around playmaker on the field. He has great burst coming off the snap and has an extra gear to get him past defenders. When downfield, he does a great job tracking and getting under the football. Some of his underrated attributes are his vision and balance when making trying to add extra yards. These prospects from the panhandle are serious ballers that deserve more looks.
Seth: Hudl | Twitter
Scramble ball from Alcorn to Provance! #GoCardsNation pic.twitter.com/JLcLhEvdqo
— Chadron High School (@ChadronHS) October 23, 2021
Bubble route to TD Click Here to see more highlights and statistics: https://t.co/pKwKqdxUVQ @CoachPerrone pic.twitter.com/mAgR2tM1zS
— Seth Gaswick (@SGaswick) April 19, 2022
4. Joe Roll Joe Roll 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Gretna | 2023 State NE (2023) & Caleb Schnell Caleb Schnell 6'3" | 200 lbs | TE Gretna | 2023 State NE (2023) – Gretna
Receiving Stats: Joe: 53 receptions, 877 receiving yards, 8 touchdowns, 16.5 yards per reception.
Caleb: 33 receptions, 529 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns, 16 yards per reception.
The two leading receivers from last year’s championship team will be back for the Dragons. WR1 Joe Roll Joe Roll 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Gretna | 2023 State NE looks like he has only continued to further his chemistry with QB Zane Flores Zane Flores 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB Gretna | 2023 State NE from what I saw during 7v7 play, and could be on the brink of a 1,000-yard season. Personally, I consider Roll one of the top deep-ball receivers in the state and has the speed to outrace a majority of DBs. He is a strong receiver that can make tough catches through contact and can break tackles to gain extra yards. Caleb is a player that deserves A LOT more attention. Schnell is a very athletic player with the size and toughness of a tight end with the moves of a receiver. Caleb has the ability to cut upfield after a catch and tack on extra yardage. On top of being a very reliable target, Caleb is also a tough, willing blocker when the ball isn’t coming his way. There are several hungry receivers ready to step up in the Gretna offense, but I think these two will continue to move the chains for the Dragons.
TOUCHDOWN GRETNA!!
Zane Flores with his third touchdown of the night. This one for 28 yards to Joe Roll. Extra Point is MISSED. 20-14 Dragons w/ 10:34 left in this game.#nebpreps pic.twitter.com/f6q7PLPw9I— Omaha High School Football (@OmahaHSFootball) October 8, 2021
5. Ashton Gragg Ashton Gragg 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR Central City | 2023 State NE (2023) & Ayden Zikmund Ayden Zikmund 6'3" | 175 lbs | WR Central City | 2024 State NE (2024) – Central City
Receiving Stats: Ashton: 55 receptions, 720 receiving yards, 8 touchdowns, 13.3 yards per reception.
Ayden: 46 receptions, 520 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns, 11.3 yards per reception.
Central City has been one of the more prolific passing teams in recent years and it’s easy to do so when you have stud receivers like Ashton and Ayden on your side. Both receivers are big, tall, physical players that stand over 6’2″ with a solid build. Ashton is a returning Top 10 receiver in terms of production and should continue to put up big numbers in year 4. Gragg is a reliable receiver that does a great job timing the ball and adjusting his body to make the catch. I watched Ayden firsthand at the NEBPreps X Battle Sports tournament where he was making big-time grab after big-time grab. With 500+ yards as a sophomore, I’m excited to see what he’s able to do in 2022. These are two players that can go out and make a catch during key downs.
6. Tre’Vionne Brown Tre’Vionne Brown 5'10" | 160 lbs | ATH Omaha North | 2023 State NE (2023) & KeVaughn Shannon KeVaughn Shannon 5'8" | 140 lbs | WR Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE (2024) – Omaha North
Receiving Stats: Tre’Vionne: 17 receptions, 399 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns, 23.5 yards per reception.
KeVaughn: 5 receptions, 105 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 21 yards per reception.
This duo may not have the production of some others on the list, but that’s not from a lack of talent. The Vikings have a fresh young group of receivers that are waiting to break out. Tre’Vionne was a standout two-way player for North last year and looks to step into the WR1 role for the offense. I really like Brown’s explosiveness off the line and his ability to get behind the defense even when given a cushion by the defender. KeVaughn is a straight-up speed demon on the field. I got the chance to watch him at the NEBPreps X Battle Sports 7v7 tournament and he looked very twitchy. He can take a short pass and use his speed and cutback ability to redirect the play and beat everyone to the endzone. With bigger roles in the offense, expect these two to blow up in 2022.
7. DJ Sterling DJ Sterling 6'0" | 160 lbs | ATH Omaha Central | 2024 State NE (2024) & DaShawn Prince DaShawn Prince 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR Omaha Central | 2026 State NE (2026) – Omaha Benson
Receiving Stats: DJ: 30 receptions, 596 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns, 19.8 yards per reception.
DaShawn: N/A
You may be wondering how an incoming freshman with no varsity experience has made it onto this list, well you should’ve seen the summer this guy has had. Prince has been dominant in 7v7 competition, whether competing for Benson or Coach Muhammad’s Battle Warriors. DaShawn enters his freshman year already holding an FBS Power 5 offer from Nebraska. He received the offer after an impressive performance at the Husker’s 7v7 camp. DaShawn is a tall, lengthy receiver that is already running routes like a seasoned vet. DJ is a very underrated wide receiver not just in the 2024 class, but in the state. He racked up nearly 600 yards as a sophomore and has continued to develop throughout the spring and summer. I’ve watched them play together during 7v7 matchups and they have been torching defenses with QB Jaylen Davis Jaylen Davis 5'9" | 200 lbs | QB Omaha Benson | 2023 State NE under center. The Bunnies have something cooking over at Benson with their young squad.
Skkkkkrrrt!!!!!@dj_sterling8 @_jaylendavis_ @CoachO_PSC @LMasters8 pic.twitter.com/HAYk6v825M
— CoachBeGreatDailey (@great_dailey) June 6, 2022
https://twitter.com/DaShawn1213/status/1447375282382454786?s=20
8. Joe Connolly Joe Connolly WR Skutt Catholic | 2023 State NE (2023) & Wyatt Archer Wyatt Archer 5'9" | 170 lbs | ATH Skutt Catholic | 2023 State NE (2023) – Skutt Catholic
Receiving Stats: Joe: 17 receptions, 441 receiving yards, 5 touchdowns, 25.9 yards per reception.
Wyatt: 9 receptions, 220 receiving yards, 24.4 yards per reception.
This is a duo that could’ve ranked higher if it weren’t for injuries last year. The Skyhawks actually have a very talented group of pass-catchers that includes TE Brandt Pickrell Brandt Pickrell 6'3" | 225 lbs | TE Skutt Catholic | 2023 State NE and James Sengstock, but I think Joe and Wyatt will be the focal points in the passing game. Joe led the team in receiving yards last year and should repeat as WR1. If you watch Joe’s tape below you only have to wait until the first play to see how explosive he is coming off the line. He can hit his top gear in a flash and then does a great job locating the ball and high-pointing it. Wyatt missed some time last year due to injury, but that hasn’t stopped him from showing out at summer camps. He’s even started to garner attention from FBS Power 5 schools (PWO from Iowa State). Archer is a versatile player that is used in various ways by the Skutt offense. He can line up at receiver, in the slot, and even at running back as a receiving back. The Skyhawks should be one of the more well-rounded in class B with their tough running backs and these two speedsters at receiver.
Joe: Hudl
9. Aric Thomas Aric Thomas 6'3" | 195 lbs | WR Omaha South | 2023 State NE (2023) & Dylan Sheard Dylan Sheard 6'2" | 240 lbs | LB Bellevue West | 2024 State NE (2024) – Omaha South
Receiving Stats: Aric: 51 receptions, 825 receiving yards, 7 touchdowns, 16.2 yards per reception.
Dylan: 3 receptions, 40 receiving yards, 13.3 yards per reception.
This is a sleeper pick, but I think a lot of people are going to know the names of these two before the season’s over. Aric had a huge junior season that seemed to go under the radar. He is among the top returning receivers in regards to yardage and could improve on those totals. I’ve been able to catch Thomas at a couple 7v7 games and he looked very smooth with his routes and releases. He can go up and pluck the ball out of the sky with his length. He is a player that I think should be getting more attention. Dylan is a player that could play anywhere from QB to WR and defense too. Sheard spent time under center last season, but I have seen him playing receiver at the same 7v7 games mentioned before and he has been dominant. Dylan is an all-around athlete with a big body at 6’2″ 200 lbs and tons of hops to go up and snag the ball. He’s a very tough player too that can hold on through contact and dish some out as well. This could be one of the most underrated 1-2 punches in the state.
Another big haul from @DylanSheard4 pic.twitter.com/YRpPDILIVG
— Oscar Galindo (@PRZ_OscarG) June 30, 2022
10. Cooper Butler Cooper Butler 5'10" | WR St. Cecilia | 2023 State NE (2023) & Hayden Demuth (2023) – Hastings St. Cecilia
Receiving Stats: Cooper: 42 receptions, 653 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns, 15.5 yards per reception.
Hayden: 27 receptions, 595 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns, 22 yards per reception.
One of the lesser-known duos on this list, but nonetheless a very talented group. Cooper and Hayden are two high-production receivers that can work a defense inside and out with their routes and twitchiness. Cooper is a tough receiver that plays with a physical edge to his game. Butler spent a lot of this past season delivering highlight-reel catches like the ones below. I couldn’t find tape on Hayden, but looking at his numbers, it’s hard to not be impressed. Especially his 22-yard per reception average, showcasing his big-play ability. This pair is going to be hard to slow down in Class C2, especially with QB Carson Kudlacek having more experience under center.
STC’s Carson Kudlacek connects with Cooper Butler, who carries both teams with him into the end zone for a touchdown, giving STC a 26-22 lead over North Platte St. Patrick’s. 😯 💪🏻#nebpreps pic.twitter.com/LQOubARdUK
— TriblandSports (@TriblandSports) September 4, 2021
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