Blog: Nebraska High School 11-Man Running Backs to Watch in 2022 (7/8/22)

Here’s a look at the 11-man returning running backs who are expected to be high-profile figures in this upcoming 2022 Nebraska high school football season.

Although we strive to be accurate with this information, there are sometimes instances where players have transferred and we have missed them. To the best of my knowledge, the following information is accurate.

So, salute to our top returning racers in the A, B, C-1 and C-2 classes begin.

CLASS A (Senior unless otherwise specified)

JE’Shaun Porter – North Omaha – 1,610 (18 DT).(Tall, strong, fast, who likes to go outside. Seven plays of 100+ with a quick burst from 1st step.)

Cole Ballard-Elkhorn South – 1,208, Sr (23 TDs)..(Best RB in this class? Ballard has extraordinary vision after his blockers. 39 touchdowns over the past two seasons make Cole Ballard a truly special player)

Brock Roblee-North Platte – 1,186, (11 touchdowns) – The Bulldogs fullback is a load to handle

Damerico Young-Ssouth Sioux City (Jr)– 1,174 (12 TD) (Class B in 2021. Is it still at SSC?)

Chamar (Marty) Brown-Creighton Preparation – 1,067 (15 TND)

Max Buettenback-Lincoln SE – 913 yards (8 touchdowns)

Brian Petry-Millard North-884 (5 DT)

Devyn Jones-Papillion LaVista South – 874 (11 TND)

Liam Blaser-Columbus – 727 (10 TND)

Payton Prestito-Papillion LV (Jr) – 678 (8 TND) – (This guy is faster than his 4.9/40 indicates. Hits the holeshot fast and punches those YACs. I like the way Prestito plays the game.)

Cal Newell-Lincoln SW – 658 (6 DT)

Jadyn Bullion – Omaha Central – 657 (10 TDs) (Now Bellevue West)

Charlie Quaintance-Millard North – 638 (10 TND)

Kolten Tilford-North Platte – 545 (5 DT)

Payson Owen-Norfolk – 507 (7 TND)

Dylan Sheard – Omaha South (Jr) – 497 (6 DT)

Jahmez Ross-Omaha Westside (Jr)– 472 (4 TND) – (The dude missed FIVE games with a hand injury in 2021 and still rushed for almost 500 yards backing up Dom Rezac. Electrifying runner who can cut and change direction on a dime. The top Ross should have big numbers this fall.)

*Additional dos to watch for in 2022*

Zane Flores-Gretna (QB) – 216 (10 TND) – Hey, don’t laugh at 216 yards. Flores scored 10 touchdowns, one of which was the lone touchdown in Gretna’s Class A Finals win over Omaha Westside.)

Gio Conteras-Bellevue West – 184 (6 TND) – REMEMBER this. Contraras shared races with the great LJ Richardson as a sophomore before a season-ending injury put an end to this splendid story. Incredible vision and good hands.

CLASS B (Senior unless otherwise specified)

Sebastien Boyle-Scottsbluff (Jr) – 1,808 (25 TND) – Pretty remarkable athlete here. Sophomore Boyle had 1,044 yards on 110 carries and 13 touchdowns in 4 games before the Bearcats were eliminated by Aurora in the playoffs. Only Aurora held Sebastien under 100 yards (twice) last season. Boyle also runs a:11.3 cents and placed 5th in the 195 weight class at this year’s state wrestling championships. One of TWO Scottsbluff 1000 yards)

Braeden Stull-Scottsbluff (QB) – 1,215, (20 TND)

Jake Garcia – Omaha Gross – 1,185 (12 TND)

Deegan Nelson-Beatrice – 1,097, (14 touchdowns)

Matt Bohy-Lincoln Pie X – 900 (11 TD) (Class A in 2021)

Tanner Gartner-Gering (Jr) – 675 (2 DT)

*Additional backs to watch for in 2022

Ethan Walker – Plattsmouth – 477 (5 DT)

Danish Larsen-Blair – 431 (1 TD)

Colin Pike-Omaha Skutt (Jr) – 404 (4 DT)

Nick Mallard Bennington – 404 (6 TND)

Tyler Douglass-Grand Island Northwest – 389 4TD)

Wyatt Archer-Omaha Skutt (Soph) – 380 (2 TDs) (Missed 6 games)

Preston Harms Waverly – 370 (4 DT)

Evan Kastens-Waverly (Jr) – 364 (2 DT)

Maccoy Holtam-Omaha Skutt – 276 (6 TDs) (TD every 5 Carry)

CLASS C-1 (Senior unless otherwise specified)

Carlos Collazo-Aurora, 2022, Sr. (20 TND) (Class B in 2021) – Collazo has it all, speed, power and amazing yards after contact. Would now have a gazillion yards if he hadn’t missed most of his sophomore season with an injury. If Collazo had 2,022 yards against Class B competition, what will he do in the C-1 ranks this fall? Scary thought.

Bayler Poston-Nebraska City, 1248 Sr (17 TND)

Hiatt Collins-Adams Central, 1,121, Sr (13 TDs) – If Collins, a two-time 1,000-yard rusher, can stay healthy for a full season in 2022, the sky’s the limit for this kid. A special talent in football and an even better human being.

Nathan Upton-Ashland-Greenwood – 898 (10 TND)

Parker Borer-Boone Central (Jr) – 898 (10 TND) – Shocked Pre-Season #5 Norfolk Catholic last year in the season opener with a 92 yard TD rush on the 1st rush of his sophomore season in the Cardinals 39-17 win. Just a junior, Borer can fly (:11.3), is a dangerous comeback and just a Swiss army knife for Coach Hud’s Boone Central forces. VERY fine footballing talent with superior intelligence on the pitch.

Jacob Gomez-Wilson-McCook – 797 (5 DT)

Nick Conant-Adams Central (Jr) – 676 ​​(10 TND) – Bloodlines here baby! Conant played in the shadow of the great Hyatt Collins for the past 2 seasons and showed his skills when Hyatt was on the IR for 3 games last season. Conant exploded for outings of 115, 203 and 202 yards on 63 carries and 9 touchdowns during that 3-week span. That’s 520 yards with 8 yards per pop. This kid is sneaky and can squeeze through tiny spaces like smoke through a keyhole. A good summer in the weight room will add muscle to make Conant more dangerous than ever.

Carter Reisig-Mitchell (Jr) – 633 (8 DT)

Jared Kuhl-Platteview (QB) – 604 (11 TND)

Drake Zimmerman-Ashland-Greenwood (Jr) – 603 (7 TND)

Jackson Hinrichs-Holdrege – 581 (6 DT)

Cael Wichman-Platteview – 564 (4 DT)

Cael Peters-Mitchell (Jr) – 546 (7 DT)

Hayden Frank-Malcolm (QB) – 535 (9 DT)

Tate Hug – Auburn – 526 (8 DT)

Hayden Umble-Mitchell – 520 (7 TND)

Harry Caskey-Ogallala (Jr) – 515 (6 DT)

Abram Scholting (QB)-Pierce – 500 (4 DT)

Carter Harsin-Minden (QB) – 461 (9 TND)

Quinn Bailey-Chadron (Soph) – 449 (4 DT)

Luke Holly-Sidney (Jr) – 427 (3 DT)

*Additional dos to watch for in 2022*

Landon Classen (QB)-O’Neill – 422 (9 DT)

Rylan HolstenMinden – 386 (4 DT)

Owen Hancock-Wahoo (QB) – 359 (11 TND)

Adam Dugger McCook -346 (9 TND)

Jadan Janssen-Holdrege – 324 (3 DT)

Central Alex Christo-Boone (QB) – 323 (4 DT)

Drew Knust-Aurora (QB) – 309 (4 DT)

CLASS C-2 (Senior unless otherwise specified)

Karter Kerkman-Norfolk Catholic, 1852 (25 TND) – Kerkman is undoubtedly one of the best running backs in the state, regardless of class. Hits the line in a hurry and is simply sensational when he reaches that second level. A powerful runner, Kerkman always slides outward or cuts against the grain en route to the EZ. The dude will likely play over 200 pounds in 2022, so his ability to get those yards after contact will increase. Also has good hands and has the luxury of playing for a Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame coach in Jeff Bellar, one of the best around.

Kason Loomis-Bridgeport, 1000, (13 TND)

Donovan Fillmore-Gordon-Rushville – 834 (12 TND)

Trent Uhlir-Battle Creek (Jr) – 813 (8 TND)

Quentin Morris Centura – 737 (10 TND)

Jesus Hernandez-Gibbon – 678 (5 DT)

Carson Kudlacek-Hastings St. Cecilia (QB) – 598 (13 TND) – A very dangerous dual-threat quarterback for the rising Bluehawks. The mobile Kudlacek can shred opposing defenses with his rifle arm, targeting players like classmate Cooper Butler (653 receiving yards/11 TDs) or junior Hayden DeMuth (595 yards/3 TDs). My God, head coach Clint Head has done a phenomenal job building this football program. The man knows his stuff and the kids at St. C have bought into his way of doing things.

Calvin Sassaman – Wahoo Neumann – 517 (6 TND)

Kyler Hellbusch – North Bend Central (Jr) – 504 (4 DT)

Naj Nisly (QB) – Centenary – 471 (8 TND)

Will Shaw-Hastings St. Cecilia (Soph) – 470 (6 TND)

Garret Hoefs-Lincoln Lutheran (QB) – 439 (5 ​​TD)

Wyatt Fedderson-Gordon-Rushville (Soph) – 435 (4 DT)

William Jurgens-Lincoln Lutheran – 432 (7 TND)

*Additional dos to watch for in 2022*

Jarrett Dodson-Centennial – 396 (4 DT)

Carter Anderson-Gordon-Rushville (QB)– 366 (6 DT)

Ashton Lurz – Valentine – 365 (5 DT)

Parker Farrenkopf Bridgeport – 339 (2 DT)

LJ McNeill-Oakland-Craig – 355 (3 DT)

Jaden Williams-Doniphan-Trumbull (QB) (Jr) – 312 (3 TND)

Conor Booth-Wahoo Neumann (QB) (Jr) – 275 (6 DT)

Trent McCain-Ord (Jr) – 206 (No TD)

Aidan Ryschon-Ord (Jr) – 200 (3 DT)