Overview  Waverly High, state football champions. Sure sounds sweet, doesn’t it? (If you’re from Waverly, got it.) The Vikings are defending their

Waverly High's got a state football title to defend, and these guys are planning to see that plan to completion. (Front row, left to right) Carson Malcolm (2), Felxi Masur (22), Payton Cleveland (20), Beau Wilken (9); (back, l-r) Gavin McMillan (0), Codey Nienhueser (1), Brockston Teply (11), and Sam Daake (55).

ON3 - Waverly 8

Huskerland Preps

Class B No. 1: Waverly

Class A  12. Gavin Siemek, RB-CB, Elkhorn South, Jr. Bench - 260, Squat - 38, 40 - 4.5. Will play the H-back position for Elkhorn South, the one

ON3 - Brennan Burhoop, Seward

2026 Huskerland Top 225 Underclassmen: The 12s

Class A  7. Bryce Vigness, T, Papillion-LaVista. 6-4, 290. Bench - 335, Squat - 495, 40 - NA. Big and athletic, he can drop-step dunk a basketball,

After averaging over 165 yards per game rushing last season, BDS senior is No. 7 in our Class D-2 player ratings.

ON3 - Wyatt Kempf, BDS 1

2026 Huskerland Top 225 Seniors: The 7s

Class A  8. Bryce Johnson Jr., WR-DB, Omaha Westside. 6-1, 175. Other stats NA. Transfers in from Bellevue West, where last season he put up

Smart and physical, a relentless competitor, Skutt Catholic senior Beckham Werner (8) is Huskerland's No. 8-ranked senior in Class B for 2026.

ON3 - Beckham Werner, Skutt Catholic

2026 Huskerland Top 225 Seniors: The 8s

Overview  You remember these guys, right? Two-time defending state champs, winners of 26 in a row. 38 of their last 39? Yeah, them. Or at least some

It will be a bit of a new look for C-1's two-time defending state champions, but Wahoo will be able to count on contributions by many new faces, including (left to right) Hugo Portugal (66), Trevor Galle (3) and Eli Lanik (6).

ON3 - Wahoo 3

Class C-1 No. 1: Wahoo

Class A  13. (tie) Najee Brown, WR-CB, Millard South, Jr. 6-5, 185. Other stats NA. (tie) Isaac Tomhave, WR-S, Millard South, Jr. 6-3, 175. Other

ON3 - Kamden Boyles, Superior MUG

2026 Huskerland Top 225 Underclassmen: The 13s

Overview  Following one of the greatest seasons is program history - the Crusaders finishing 11-2 and playing in their first state final since 1983

There's really no denying GICC's spot at the top this C-2 preseason, especially with these guys coming back. (Front row, left to right) Braylon Wolfe (21), Jackson Gangwish (6); (back row, l-r) Thomas Schneider (9), Owen Price (55), and Will Maser (65).

ON3 - Grand Island Central Catholic 5

Class C-2 No. 1: Grand Island Central Catholic

Class A  9. Kylonn Haynie, RB, Millard North. 5-9, 190. Bench - 315, Squat - 415, 40 - 4.5. Transferred in from Omaha Central, and he’s been on the

A talented Ravenna football team will be out to take things a little further this season, with QB1 Trenton Wedermeyer a key figure in making it happen. He's our No. 9 senior in Class D-1.

ON3 - Trent Wedemeyer, Ravenna MUG

2026 Huskerland Top 225 Seniors: The 9s

Class A  14. Bryson Thorpe, Athlete, Millard South, Fr. 6-0, 185. Bench - 210, Squat - 320, 40 - 4.73. We drop Bryson in here just so you know we

Talented and diligent, Cedar Catholic QB1 Grady Harberer (10) is poised for a big season, starting it rated No. 14 in Class C-2.

ON3 - Grady Haberer, Cedar Catholic 10

2026 Huskerland Top 225 Underclassmen: The 14s

Overview  Let me start by saying, I believe Sandy Creek will break .500 this season. (ahem) All teasing aside, this is probably the best bet in any

Sandy Creek's got a few guys who can play, including (front row, left to right) Wes Biltoft (12), Logan Tomky (8); (back, l-r) Jackson Gerdes (58), Christian Shaw (55), and Josh Spray (72). And there's more where that came from...

ON3 - Sandy Creek 5

Class D-1 No. 1: Sandy Creek

Overview  Our most decorated eight-man football program, taken as a whole, they just keep winning. Big. Last season the Jaguars finished 11-1, again

Senior all-state Hunter Luther (22) will once again be a mighty contributor for an outstanding Howells-Dodge team. Nothing new to see here.

ON3 - Hunter Luther, H-D Rush 1

Class D-2 No. 1: Howells-Dodge

This Week in 1996On the Cover: Hastings running back Bo Bienkowski tries to escape the grasp of Millard West’s Mark Walton. West downed the Tigers

Rivals

Throwback Thursday: Football Stat Leaders 1996, 2006, 2011

Class A  10. Urban Kennedy, LB, Millard South. 6-1, 210. Other stats NA. Fast and athletic, always around the ball, and a key part of last year’s

All I know is, if you're tellin' me St. Mary's all-stater Dalton Herley (34) is No. 10, then Class D-3 must be stacked. Which it sorta is...

ON3 - Dalton Herley, St. Mary's

2026 Huskerland Top 225 Seniors: The 10s

Overview  All I know is, Wynot musta been awfully good to beat these guys. And the Blue Devils did, the D-2 semifinals, on their way to a state

On a team loaded with all-staters, senior Luke Shoemaker (5) leads the way for our pick to win out in a power packed Class D-3 state title race.

ON3 - Luke Shoemaker, Central Valley 5

Class D-3 No. 1: Central Valley

Overview  Following a most historic 2025 season in which the Roughriders finished 11-1 and Six-Man state runner-up, they will return four starters

ON3 - SOUTHWEST - Bo Truksa 8, Jacob Barber 20

Rising sophomore Bo Truksa (8) and senior all-stater Jacob Barber (20) are among the many outstanding players dotting the Southwest lineup. They're gonna be tough to beat...

Six-Man No. 1: Southwest

Class A  15. Thatcher Shelton, QB, Lincoln Southwest, Jr. 6-1, 175. Other stats NA. Started since he was a freshman, came up big last season,

A powerful 300-pound junior lineman, Blue Hill's Max Hull makes Huskerland's Top 225 in Class D-3.

ON3 - Max Hull, Blue Hill MUG

2026 Huskerland Top 225 Underclassmen: The 15s

Overview  It was another great season of Westside football in 2025, as the Warriors finished 10-2, reaching the Class A state semifinals for the

Every reason to believe Westside will be a major player when it comes to the 2026 Class A state title. Especially with guys like these: (front row, left to right) Michael Madsen (51), Tay  Tay Jenkins (6), Micah Benning (7), Luke Noonan (59); (back, l-r) Micah Santiago (74), Justin Parrish (72), Braylon Warren (2), and Graham Hoffart (56).

ON3 - Omaha Westside 8

Class A No. 2: Omaha Westside

Class A  11. Will Manning, LB, Lincoln East. 6-0, 210. Bench - 300, Squat - 450, 40- NA. Was named Super State by the Lincoln paper, and certainly

A defensive stalwart for the defending state champions, Bishop Neumann's Quin Schutt (11) is Huskerland's No. 11 rated senior in Class C-2.

ON3 - Quin Schutt, Bishop Neumann

2026 Huskerland Top 225 Seniors: The 11s

Class A  12. Mason Mehta, TE-DE, Lincoln Southeast. 6-3, 225. Bench - 300, Squat - 405, 40 - 4.75. In the early going, he holds four D-1 offers,

An anchor for last year's state runner-up team, Sidney's Anderson Smelley (64) is Huskerland's No. 12 Class C-1 senior for 2026.

ON3 - Anderson Smelley, Sidney

2026 Huskerland Top 225 Seniors: The 12s

Overview  They made history in 2025, and they made it look easy. In just the program’s third year of varsity football, Gretna East reached last

Gretna East will again be in the thick of the Class B state title chase, thanks to the return of guys like these: (front row, left to right) Caden Boyer (55), Quentin Malone (23), Quinn Bera (4); (back, l-r) Carver Fritchen (0), Kamden Korth (9), Logan Wilson (76), and Chase Grow (15).

ON3 - Gretna East 7

Class B No. 2: Gretna East

Bellevue East CHIEFTAINS  Returning five starters on both sides of scrimmage, the Chieftains will be in pursuit of their first playoff berth since

Like every year, there are several teams which could make ol' Huskerland Bob look a bit foolish with his preseason rankings. Zack Wolfe (80) and his Elkhorn North team, there's one...

ON3 - Zach Wolfe, Elkhorn North

Complete Class A Team Previews: Part 3

Overview  Things haven’t quite yet quieted down in the kitchen, not after Sidney went and baked up a 12-1 season which, like yeast might, raised

Sidney's been awful good lately. Guys like senior all-stater Rhys Dorcey (22) plan to keep it that way.

ON3 - Rhys Dorcey, Sidney 221

Class C-1 No. 2: Sidney

Overview  Back in Class D-1, the Elmwood-Murdock Knights return six starters on offense and five on defense from last year’s 8-2 Class D-2 state

Once again, Elmwood-Murdock Football will feature some top shelf players, the leader of the pack being senior all-state candidate Brody Marsh (22).

ON3 - Brody Marsh, Elmwood-Murdock 2025

Elmwood-Murdock Back in D-1, Will Be Good

Overview  You could make a case, a strong one, at the end of the season Yutan was playing the best ball of about any team in Class C-2, reaching the

At the wheel of what will once again by a very dynamic Yutan offense will senior all-district QB Nathan Daniell (4). And he's got plenty of help...

ON3 - Nathan Daniell, Yutan 2025

Class C-2 No. 2: Yutan

Overview  A stirring, and overpowering, stretch drive boosted Crofton into last year’s state final before the Warriors lost to undefeated Sandy

Lots of great players on the Crofton football roster again in 2026, with senior all-stater Grant Jordan (9) one of its key leaders.

Huskerland Preps News