Below is a list of the Nebraska high school athletes who signed with colleges since December. Did we miss anyone? Let us know by emailing sports@journalstar.com
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How each member of the 2022 Super-State first-team offense earned their spot
𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩-𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧-𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚
Offense football Super-State. Front row from left, Isaiah McMorris (Bellevue West), Te’Shaun Porter (Omaha North), Jaylen Lloyd (Omaha Westside), Marty Brown (Creighton Prep), Cole Ballard (Elkhorn South). Back row from left, Zane Flores (Gretna), Tristan Alvano (Omaha Westside), Mason Goldman (Gretna), Sam Sledge (Creighton Prep), Gunnar Gottula (Lincoln Southeast) and Anthony Rezac Omaha Westside). Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, in Omaha.
𝙌𝘽 𝙕𝙖𝙣𝙚 𝙁𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨
Gretna | 6-3 | 195 | Sr. | College: Oklahoma State
A four-year starter, Flores was thrown into the fire as a freshman before developing into one of the top quarterback prospects the state has ever seen. He threw for a state-record 9,163 career yards, and wowed nearly everyone who watched him with his arm strength and accuracy. And despite a loss in his final game, Flores went out with a flourish — he threw for 414 yards, a state championship game record, in Gretna's 43-41 loss to Omaha Westside.
𝙍𝘽 𝙏𝙚’𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙪𝙣 𝙋𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙧
Omaha North | 5-11 | 200 | Sr. | College: Northwest Missouri State
Porter's 1,532 yards and 22 touchdowns were second in Class A, while his 153.2-yards per game average led Nebraska's largest class. He also threw a 45-yard touchdown pass against Millard West for good measure. The latest in a long line of great Omaha North running backs.
𝙍𝘽 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝘽𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙙
Elkhorn South | 6-0 | 190 | Sr. | College: Nebraska
The touchdown machine scored 38 times in 2022, with his 32 rushing scores far and away the most in Class A. Ballard averaged nearly 10 yards per carry while leading the Storm to the state quarterfinals, and he showed his versatility by catching 14 passes for 275 yards and four more scores. Tied with teammate Maverick Noonan for the most all-state nominations from Class A coaches in the Journal Star's balloting.
𝙍𝘽 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙮 𝘽𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙣
Creighton Prep | 6-1 | 210 | Sr. | College: North Dakota State
If Creighton Prep's offensive line was the best in the state, then Brown was perhaps the most punishing back. Despite missing a game due to injury, Brown ran for 1,408 yards and 15 touchdowns while powering the Junior Jays to the state semifinals against the toughest schedule in the state. Brown will play at the top FCS program in the nation at North Dakota State alongside his brother Ahmar, who will be a linebacker for the Bison.
𝙒𝙍 𝙄𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙖𝙝 𝙈𝙘𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙨
Bellevue West | 6-0 | 170 | Jr. | College: Undecided
McMorris' 90 catches shattered the Class A record by 11, while his 1,297 yards were 67 shy of the Class A mark. In a program rich with talented pass catchers in its history, McMorris stands out. The junior holds offers from six Power 5 programs, including Nebraska.
𝙒𝙍 𝙅𝙖𝙮𝙡𝙚𝙣 𝙇𝙡𝙤𝙮𝙙
Omaha Westside | 5-11 | 160 | Sr. | College: Nebraska
Unmatched speed made Lloyd one of the top deep threats in the state, with 44 catches for 784 yards and five touchdowns, and turned him into a top-end football recruit in addition to one of the top high school sprinters in the country.
𝙊𝙇 𝙎𝙖𝙢 𝙎𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚
Creighton Prep | 6-4 | 280 | Sr. | College: Nebraska
A two-time Super-State pick, Sledge was the anchor on a road-grading Creighton Prep line considered among the best in the state. He'll follow his father, Bob, a Nebraska Football Hall of Fame inductee, and play at Nebraska.
𝙊𝙇 𝙂𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙖𝙧 𝙂𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙪𝙡𝙖
Lincoln Southeast | 6-6 | 290 | Sr. | College: Nebraska
A recent photo on social media tells the story: In it, Gottula is standing between new Nebraska football coach Matt Rhule and assistant Ed Foley. Behind Gottula you can see, just barely, a full-sized Christmas tree. Gottula's frame makes him a tantalizing college prospect, and he put it to good use during Southeast's playoff season.
𝙊𝙇 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙂𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙢𝙖𝙣
Gretna | 6-6 | 255 | Sr. | College: Undecided
Another repeat selection to the Super-State team, Goldman holds offers from six Power 5 programs and a host of others. He added an offer from Nebraska in October.
𝙊𝙇 𝘽𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙠 𝙆𝙣𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙤𝙣
Scottsbluff | 6-7 | 295 | Sr. | College: Nebraska
The massive (6-foot-7, 295-pound) Knutson paved the way for a Scottsbluff offense that rushed for 314 yards per game on the way to a Class B state semifinal appearance. Nebraska's new coaching staff considered him an important enough addition that Matt Rhule recently flew to Scottsbluff to meet Knutson in his home.
𝙊𝙇 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙗 𝙋𝙮𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢
Omaha Central | 6-6 | 290 | Jr. | College: Undecided
Yet another in-state lineman with a host of Power 5 offers, Pyfrom saw his recruitment explode in 2022. The junior also plays basketball for the Eagles.
𝘼𝙏𝙃 𝘼𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙮 𝙍𝙚𝙯𝙖𝙘
Omaha Westside | 6-3 | 190 | Jr. | College: Undecided
While Zane Flores and Bellevue West's Daniel Kaelin got most of the headlines when it came to high school quarterbacks in Nebraska, it was Rezac who went a combined 3-0 against those two while leading Westside to the Class A title. He threw for 2,239 yards and 19 touchdowns, ran for 1,118 yards and 19 more scores, and led the game-winning drive in the final seconds of the state championship game.
𝙆 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙡𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙤
Omaha Westside | 6-2 | 185 | Sr. | College: Nebraska
Alvano's performance in the state championship game will live forever — five field goals, one from 50 yards, and the game-winning 45-yarder at the final gun. His 16 field goals in 2022 are a state record. And his ability to put nearly every kickoff into the end zone meant Westside's defense almost always started with a field position advantage.
Alvano's performance in the state championship game will live forever — five field goals, one from 50 yards, and the game-winning 45-yarder at the final gun. His 16 field goals in 2022 are a state record. And his ability to put nearly every kickoff into the end zone meant Westside's defense almost always started with a field position advantage.
How each member of the 2022 Super-State first-team defense earned their spot
𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩-𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧-𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨
Defense football Super-State. Front row from left, Colton Marsh (Grand Island), Jace Chrisman (Grand Island), Curt Cubrich (Omaha Westside), Caleb Benning (Omaha Westside), Brock Murtaugh (Millard South), Kolten Tilford (North Platte). Back row from left, Ben Brahmer (Pierce), Korver Demma (Gretna), Maverick Noonan (Elkhorn South), Lance Rucker (Millard South), Tyson Terry, (Omaha North). Photographed Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, in Omaha.
𝘿𝙇 𝙈𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙉𝙤𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙣
Elkhorn South | 6-4 | 240 | Sr. | College: Nebraska
A Super-State honorary captain along with Zane Flores, Noonan is in the squad for the second straight year. One of the most unblockable defensive linemen in the state, Noonan had nine sacks and tied for the Elkhorn South lead in tackles.
𝘿𝙇 𝙆𝙤𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝘿𝙚𝙢𝙢𝙖
Gretna | 6-2 | 225 | Sr. | College: Nebraska
Demma did a little bit of everything for Gretna's defense, piling up 14.5 sacks to go with 78 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, two blocked punts, two interceptions and two touchdowns. He'll join Nebraska in January as a preferred walk-on.
𝘿𝙇 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙍𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙧
Millard South | 6-3 | 210 | Sr. | College: North Dakota
A force on both sides of the ball, Rucker wreaked havoc on the edge of Millard South's defensive line with 93 tackles, seven sacks and a whopping 20.5 tackles for loss. He made 49 catches for 624 yards and seven touchdowns on offense.
𝘿𝙇 𝙏𝙮𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮
Omaha North | 6-3 | 280 | So. | College: Undecided
The only sophomore on the Super-State team, Terry is a future Power 5 prospect in both football and wrestling. Already with seven Power 5 scholarship offers in football, Terry was an undefeated state champion at heavyweight during his freshman wrestling season in 2021.
𝙇𝘽 𝘾𝙪𝙧𝙩 𝘾𝙪𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙝
Omaha Westside | 5-11 | 190 | Sr. | College: Undecided
The quarterback of Westside's defense, Cubrich led the Warriors with 93 tackles and was one of his team's best leaders. Also rushed for 540 yards and nine touchdowns on 7.9 yards per carry on offense.
𝙇𝘽 𝙅𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙣
Grand Island | 6-1 | 195 | Sr. | College: Undecided
Chrisman was a two-way standout for the Islanders, making 74 tackles as a middle linebacker and rush end, and running for a team-best 989 yards and 14 touchdowns on offense to go with 220 receiving yards.
𝙇𝘽 𝘽𝙚𝙣 𝘽𝙧𝙖𝙝𝙢𝙚𝙧
Pierce | 6-6 | 215 | Sr. | College: Iowa State
His star was made and his future lies on offense, where he became Class C-1's career leader in receiving yards and ended his high school career with 11 catches for 249 yards and three touchdowns in the C-1 championship game. He finished the year with 81 catches for 1,525 yards and 21 touchdowns, and made 42 tackles on defense.
𝘿𝘽 𝙆𝙤𝙡𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙏𝙞𝙡𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙙
North Platte | 5-9 | 170 | Sr. | College: South Dakota State
The best player on the only team to beat eventual state champion Omaha Westside, Tilford made 116 tackles on defense while intercepting one pass and defending eight others as teams rarely threw his way. He also rushed for 1,026 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 9.1 yards per carry.
𝘿𝘽 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙗 𝘽𝙚𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜
Omaha Westside | 6-1 | 185 | Jr. | College: Undecided
Despite a broken collarbone keeping him out much of the season, Benning was still the leading vote-getter among Class A's defensive backs. He returned to the field in the state championship game and picked off two passes while making 14 catches for 103 yards on offense.
𝘿𝘽 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙩𝙤𝙣 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙨𝙝
Grand Island | 6-0 | 155 | Sr. | College: Undecided
Like his teammate Chrisman, Marsh was a star on both sides of the ball for Grand Island. He led the Islanders with 93 tackles, including 39 solo stops, and added eight interceptions, three forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. He also returned a kick for a touchdown, and scored rushing and receiving touchdowns.
𝘿𝘽 𝘽𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙠 𝙈𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝
Millard South | 6-2 | 200 | Sr. | College: Colgate
Another do-it-all player. Murtaugh made 60 tackles to go with two interceptions and two forced fumbles on defense, had 27 catches for 453 yards and four touchdowns on offense, and even filled in at quarterback for a couple of games, throwing for 414 yards and three more scores.
𝘼𝙏𝙃 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙉𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙤𝙣
Ainsworth | 6-5 | 215 | Jr. | College: Undecided
The rare eight-man first-team Super-Stater, all Nelson did was lead the remarkable turnaround of a program that went 9-1 after not having a winning season in more than 20 seasons. Simultaneously, Nelson became one of the most sought-after tight end recruits in the country, with offers from no less than 15 Power 5 programs and a stock that will only continue to rise.
𝙋 𝙎𝙞𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙈𝙘𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙖𝙣
Millard South | 6-1 | 165 | Sr. | College: Kansas State
Class A's top kicker not named Tristan Alvano averaged 37.1 yards per punt, went 8-for-9 on field goals and 32-for-35 on extra points on his way to a second straight Super-State first-team selection. McClannan ranks as one of the top kicking and punting prospects nationally in the 2023 recruiting class.
