Class A  16.  Colin Raybourne, QB, Papillion-LaVista South. 6-3, 195. Other stats NA. Split time at quarterback for the defending Class A state

A versatile football, and athlete who is coming into his own, Scottsbluff's Daniel Young - check out those state track results! - is our No. 16 senior in Class B.

ON3 - Daniel Young, Scottsbluff MUG

Huskerland Preps

2026 Huskerland Top 225 Seniors: The 16s

Overview  It’s got a real chance to be something special at Sutton this season, as the Mustangs return seven starters on both offense and defense

Spin it, DJ! DJ Hajny (3) that is, one of the large crop of talented seniors who will boost Sutton into a long postseason run, or so it says here.

ON3 - DJ Hajny, Sutton 3 - BETTER

Class D-1 No. 3: Sutton

1. Archangels Catholic DEFENDERS    The top floor is mighty crowded in D-3, but leave room for the Defenders, who return three starters on both

Senior leader Luke Guenther (1) will be a key figure in the GACC attack, as the Bluejays battle their way through the D3-3 district.

ON3 - Luke Guenther, GACC

Full Team-by-Team District Previews: D3-3

With a Division I scholarship in his longer range plans, currently Elkhorn North's Zach Wolfe (80) is Huskerland's No. 17-rated senior in Class A,

With a Division I scholarship in his longer range plans, currently Elkhorn North's Zach Wolfe (80) is Huskerland's No. 17-rated senior in Class A, entering the 2026 season.

ON3 - Zach Wolfe, Elkhorn North

2026 Huskerland Top 225 Seniors: The 17s

Overview  It was pretty huge news, not gonna lie, as over the off-season state champion head coach Kevin Dodson retired from his coaching duties.

ON3 - Xavier Pieper, North Platte St. Pat's

Tough and talented senior Xavier Pieper (21) is 100 percent healthy for the 2026 season, which is 100 percent bad news for the Irish opposition.

Class D-2 No. 3: North Platte St. Pat's

Cross County COUGARS   The Cougars are back down to eight-man and have a new head coach. They will also be a very veteran team, returning seven

full-team-by-team-district-previews-class-d1-3

ON3 - Eli Greenwall, Cross County 3

Full Team-by-Team District Previews: Class D1-3

Class A  18. Dakota Bunz, DL, Millard South. 6-2, 315. Bench - 335, Squat - 605, 40 - NA. Massive in size and strength, an outstanding run stuffer

One of our leading ballhawks, Fort Calhoun DB Logan Brewer (12) is Huskerland's No. 18 senior for 2026.

ON3 - Logan Brewer, Fort Calhoun 12

2026 Huskerland Top 225 Seniors: The 18s

Overview  There is, as they say, a ton of excitement surrounding the Twin Loup football program, as the Wolves return six starters on both sides of

Coming off a monster sophomore season, Oran Grint (17) is a returning all-stater and one of the headliners for a very talented Twin Loup football team.

ON3 - Oran Grint, Twin Loup

Class D-3: Twin Loup

Overview  Coming off a strong 7-3 season which included a playoff win, Wallace will return four starters on both sides of the ball. That makes five

Lots of playmakers in that Wallace lineup, none better than senior all-stater Ashtin Johns.

ON3 - Ashtin Johns, Wallace

Six-Man No. 3: Wallace

Auburn BULLDOGS   The Bulldogs took a few to the nose last season, but still managed to finish 4-5 with an almost all-underclassman starting

Senior all-stater Noah Hanley (78) will anchor the line for Auburn, our pick to win this year's C1-1 district title.

ON3 - Noah Hanley, Auburn 78

Full Team-By-Team District Previews: C1-1

Class A  19. Jake Brock, L-DL, Creighton Prep. 6-1, 255. Four-year starter, returning all-stater, strong and physical in the middle of the Prep

Gretna East's tower of power, senior Caden Boyer  (55) is Huskerland's No. 19 ranked senior in Class B.

ON3 - Caden Boyer, Gretna East

2026 Huskerland Top 225 Seniors: The 19s

Overview  Turns out the 2025 season was the time to wake up the echoes, as the Junior Jays posted a 10-2 record, reaching the Class A state

Creighton Prep's gonna be really good again, especially with team leaders like (front row, left to right) Roberto Macias-Sidzyik (66), Cooper Gintz (69), Henry Troshynski (25), Nico Kocmich (13); (back, l-r) Michael Novero (45), Ayron Shaw (51), Sam Dostal (87), and Jake Brock (55).

ON3 - Creighton Prep 8

Class A No. 4: Creighton Prep

Overview  It was crowded at the top, no other way to explain how Norris, the best 8-2 team around in 2025, didn’t advance any further in last year’s

Powerful senior lineman Carson Bell (56), a returning all-stater, is will once again be a key contributor to a very good Norris football team.

ON3 - Carson Bell, Norris 56

Class B No. 4: Norris

5. Gretna East at Waverly, Week 4. These teams met in last year’s Class B state final, a first for the fledgling program at Gretna East, with

Wynot's Lane Heimes (34) and his crew will battle St. Mary's in a rematch of last year's Class D-2 state final. Great game, checks in at No. 4.

ON3 - Lane Heimes, Wynot

Huskerland's Top 30 Games for 2026: The Top Five

Class A  20. Gage Burki, DL, Papillion-LaVista South. 6-2, 240. Other stats NA. Outstanding offensive lineman who makes plays against all sorts of

Soon to become a four-yeare starter - and that includes two state final teams - helps boost Stanton's Austin Claussen (22) to our No. 20 spot in the Class D-1 seniors ratings.

ON3 - Austin Claussen, Stanton 22

2026 Huskerland Top 225 Seniors: The 20s

Overview  Quite the shake up at Central City, where former head coach Troy Huebert, who two years ago took the Bison to their only state final,

A verbal commit to South Dakota State, senior Turner Hanke (26) will be the driving force behind what should be a very successful Central City team.

ON3 - Turner Hanke, Central City

Class C-1 No. 4: Central City

Overview  Bergan was one of C-2’s most fun teams in 2026, and one its best, too, finishing 9-2 and reaching the state playoff quarterfinals. They

ON3 - Trent Mlnarik, Archbishop Bergan 22

An enforcer - always great to have one of those handy - like senior Trent Mlnarik (22) is one of the big reasons we have Bergan fourth in C-2. Heavy on the big.

Class C-2 No. 4: Archbishop Bergan

Class A  21. Colton Tucker, LB, Millard South. 6-0, 225. Bench - 440, Squat - 645, 40 - NA. Transferred in from Lincoln East, where last year he

Not only a snappy dresser, but Elkhorn Valley's Logan Black is one of the best two-way players in eight-man football. We have him at No. 21 in Class D-1.

ON3 - Logan Black, Elkhorn Valley MUG

2026 Huskerland Top 225 Seniors: The 21s

Overview  Qualifying for the 11th straight time, and winning a playoff game for the third time since 2011, the Pender Pendragons finished a robust

It's one of Class D-1's better core groups, the one they have at dear old Pender High. (From left to right) Owen Larsen (4), Logan Timm (55), Zander Welsh (2), and Kaddo Schrunk (51).

ON3 - Pender 4

Class D-1 No. 4: Pender

Overview  Winning its way back into the playoffs after a year’s absence, Neligh-Oakdale returns five starters on both offense and defense from that

Class D-2 No. 4: Neligh-Oakdale

Class A  22. Grant Sutko, TE-LB, Elkhorn North. 6-3, 210. Bench - 250, Squat - 375, 40 - 4.8. The team’s most versatile and physical player - that’s

A veteran senior, twice named all-district, Boys Town's Michael Sanchez (52) is Huskerland's No. 22 senior in Class C-1.

ON3 - Michael Sanchez, Boys Town 2026

2026 Huskerland Top 225 Seniors: The 22s

Overview  It is crowded at the top, but make room for Lawrence-Nelson in that 2026 state title chase, as the Raiders return seven starters on both

ON3 - Jackson Williams, Lawrence-Nelson 2026

A four-year starter on both sides of the ball and a returning all-stater, senior Jackson Williams (22) will once again play a key role for Lawrence-Nelson Football this fall. And play it well..

Class D-3 No. 4: Lawrence-Nelson

Overview  It was another great season of Stuart Football in 2025, the Broncos defending their state title into the state semifinals before losing to

Stuart will be right back in the SIx-Man state title mix thanks to the return of stalwarts like Tommy Paxton (14) and Trey Wallinger (51).

ON3 - Stuart 4 - FRONT PAGE

Six-Man No. 4: Stuart

This Week in 1996  On the Cover: Hershey’s Kirk Nelson tries to shake the tackle try by Sutherland’s Dan Karstensen in a game won by Sutherland,

2026 - THROWBACK 1996, 2005, 2013

Throwback Thursday: Huskerland Stat Leaders (1996, 2005, 2013)

Class A  23. Aidan Marshall, DB, Millard South. 6-0, 190. Other stats NA. Great cover corner (37 tackles, 6 PBU), but among the many weapons Millard

Big and physical, a four-year starter who also played at state wrestling, Holdrege's Chance Bailey (79) is Huskerland's No. 23 senior in Class C-1.

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