MHN End-of-Season Top 25 Nebraska HS Football Prospects: Class of 2012

Compared to the Early-Season Top 25, there is very little change reflected within the top 10 portion of MHN’s End-of-Season Top 25 Nebraska High School Football Prospects: Class of 2012 rankings. However, based on their physical attributes, skill level and senior year performances several new players made it into the Top 25.

Three New Prospects Earn Way into Top 25

Darian Barrientos-Jackson, ATH, Omaha Central:  He jumps into the Top 25 listing, climbing all the way to the No.12 spot.  The Eagle standout put together a great season doing a little bit of everything, on both sides of the ball.  Barrientos Jackson ranks high on my list of most underrated prospects I’ve covered during the past four years.

Garrett Borcher, QB/LB, Pawnee City:  This newbie cracks into the 25 at No. 21. The Class D2 prospect had and extraordinary senior season as a QB on offense and as a LB on defense. Someone needs to give this kid a shot.

Zach Oliver, WR, Omaha Burke:  Landing at the No. 25 spot, this big talented Bulldog completes the list of newcomers to the ranking. Listed at 6-4, 205 ,Oliver is a big target with a nice set of hands.  Along with his desirable size, the class of 2012 prospect had the type of senior season that is certain to grab the attention of colleges.

myHitNews.com	Nebraska High School Football End-of-Season Top 25 Football Prospects Class of 2012
1. Jake Schany, LB (6-2, 210) Blair Rivals 3 Star – 5.5; ESPN Grade 77 Goodies: High football IQ & solid measures. Offer: Ohio (Committed),Tulane, Colorado, North Dakota, Columbia, South Dakota State.	A very heady LB who possesses fluid instincts for the ball and knows how to use his hands and position his body to quickly shed and/or avoid blockers. Does not waste steps; takes good angles to the ball and is aggressive at the point of attack — solid tackler. He’s the kind of prospect who could make an impact right away at the college level.
2. Tavarius Bender, QB (6-3, 208) Lincoln Southwest Rivals 3 Star – 5.6 & 20th ranked dual-threat QB in the nation; ESPN Grade 77 Goodies: 4.47 40 yd & 38″ vertical. Committed to Kansas State	He possesses good base passing mechanics, evidenced by a nice high release point and coachable throwing motion — though he still has much room for improvement. His biggest weapon looks to be his elusiveness in the pocket and the ability to make the big play when things break down. Yet even with all his athleticism, Bender will still be a bit of a project to develop into a top flight college QB. However, he brings sought after goodies to the table: so this young man is worth the risk! Besides, K-State’s Bill Snyder could be just the right man he needs to help mold him into one of the nation’s best dual-threat QBs.
3. Mike Shoff, OL (6-6, 280) Cambridge Rivals 3 Star – 5.5; ESPN Grade 76 Goodies: 4.8 40yd & 420 bench. Offer: Iowa University, Florida International, Kansas.	He has tremendous athleticism for his size. Only an ACL injury as a sophomore has kept this kid from being a bona fide four star lineman. That all could change with a healthy and productive senior season — he could end up at the top of this class.
4. Sam Cotton, TE (6-4, 225) Lincoln Southeast Rivals 3 Star – 5.5; ESPN Grade 76 Goodies: Strong bloodline & toughness. Offer: Committed to Nebraska.	He is a tough, strong athlete with quality blocking skills, soft hands and a nice D-1 frame for a TE. He will become the third son of Husker O-line coach Barney Cotton to be on the NU roster — at the same time. Yet he could end up being the best one of them all.
5. Drew Ott, LB (6-3, 217) Giltner Rivals 3 Star – 5.5; ESPN Grade 75 Goodies: Athleticism w/34″ vertical. Offer: Iowa (committed), Kansas State, North Dakota State, South Dakota State.	A very gifted all-around athlete — a diamond in the rough (being from a small Class D school) who shows the kind of talent to be further up on this list if he played in a higher school division classification. he demonstrates good fluid athleticism and good lateral range. This kid is a playa’, baby!
6. Brian Bayer, DE (6-5, 230) Howells Rivals NA; ESPN NA Goodies: Size, speed and aggressiveness. Offer: South Dakota, South Dakota State.	He is quick and explosive DE who possesses a huge frame, 4.7 speed, and outstanding athleticism. Bayer is a violent player who brings along bad intentions when he gets to the ball carrier – a very good football player with tremendous upside.
7. Derek McGinnis (6-3, 200) Crete Rivals 2 Star – 5.2; ESPN NA Goodies: Poise, size and accuracy. Offer: North Dakota State	A big, strong, athletic, pro-style QB who shows outstanding poise –without happy feet – when he is under pressure. McGinnis is very effective at throwing the deep ball on the money whether pulling out from beneath center or launching it from the shotgun. He also has agility to avoid the rush and enough speed to turn a busted play into positive yards.
8. Terry Grigsby, WR, (6-2, 190) Omaha North Rivals 2 Star – 5.4; ESPN NA Goodies: 4.5 speed, size and sure hands. Offer: None reported	A long-bodied physical specimen with 4.5 speed and 38” vertical. Grigsby runs smooth crisp routes, creates good separation coming out of his cuts and soft sure hands when making the catch. He is an effective receiver when crossing the middle or while in the flats, but his deceptive speed makes him especially dangerous on a post or a fly. In traffic he will run tough to pick up extra yards. State’s regular season reception yards leader with 907.
9. Ryker Fyfe, QB (6-4, 195) Grand Island Rivals 2 Stars – 5.3; ESPN NA Goodies: Size, arm strength, accuracy and mobility. Offer: None reported.	This pro-style QB is a tall and very gifted all-around-athlete (baseball and basketball) with a canon for an arm – he won the longest throw comp at the Nebraska camp this past summer. More importantly, Fyfe is a Field General who displays good accuracy and touch, a nice release point and good foot work in the pocket. He also possesses the shiftiness, toughness and speed to make defenses pay when he is flushed.
10. Sam Foltz, DB/K (6-2, 185) Grand Island Rivals NA; ESPN 74  Goodies: 4.48 40yd, 38″ vertical and versatility. Offer: None reported.	The First Team Nebraska Super-State selection in 2010 possesses an impressive football frame and good athleticism and 4.48 speed. Foltz is capable of playing a multitude of skill positions on both sides of the ball but is more often than not being recruited to play in the defensive backfield. Also, among the fastest 400 meter sprinters in the state – PR best 48.55.
11. Matt Miller, TE (6-4, 227) Omaha Skutt Catholic Rivals 2 Star – 5.3; ESPN 68 Goodies: 4.7 40yd & hands. Offer: South Dakota, North Dakota	A physical and rangy TE with good speed and sure hands who will attack and fight for the ball while in tight coverage. Miller is also a very effective blocker along the line of scrimmage and into the second level.
12. Darian Barrientos-Jackson, ATH  (6-1, 180) Omaha Central	This talented multi-sport athlete can become a force at the next level in basketball or football. Plain and simple “Barrientos-Jackson is a playa’!”
13. Dylan Utter (6-3, 300) Papillion-La Vista Rivals NA; ESPN NA Goodies: Quickness. Offer: Army, North Dakota.	He is an explosive DT (quick first and second steps off the ball) who also demonstrates decent shoulder-pad-level, good leverage and good range down the line. Nice hands and foot speed allow him to quickly shed defenders and get to the ball up the field, along the edges or into the second level. Utter can wreck havoc along the front and shows the ability to dominate opponents at the high school level — among the better defensive tackle prospects to come out of the state.
14. Jordan Brichacek, OL (6-5, 240) Howells Rivals NA; ESPN NA Goodies: 4.7 40yd & hands. Offer: North Dakota State	Listed as an O-lineman, this very athletic, long-framed, wide-body prospect can also post up on the other side of the ball as a DE or DT – averaging nearly 9 tackles per game plus 8 total sacks in 2010.
15. Ross Dzuris, DE/TE (6-3, 230) Plattsmouth	He is a very explosive DE with 4.6 speed. Dzuris has the kind of athleticism and football savvy to make plays all over the field.
16. Kai Wolfe, OG (6-4, 295) Alma	This quick and physical lineman simply overwhelms opponents at the Class D level. However, while attending college camps his past summer, Wolfe proved that he could hold his own against all comers.
17. Garret Johns, OL (6-2, 280) Aurora	He was a First Team Super-State and All-Nebraska selection in 2010 and a four year starter at Aurora. Along the line of scrimmage, Johns plays effectively on either side of the ball. But it’s at the center position where he shines the most, demonstrating very good quickness, footwork, balance and pad level.
18. James Andersen, OL/DL (6-4-300) Omaha Burke	He is a strong well-balanced O-lineman with good feet and hands. Anderson shows good leverage and solid technique – he excels as a run blocker.
19. Hunter Greer, OL (6-6, 280) Omaha Burke	He has great size — among the best measures in the class of 2012 for his position. Greer’s size and solid fundamentals allow him to dominate most D-linemen at the high school level.
20. Jordan Nelson, RB (5-9, 165) Omaha Burke	A great senior season saw this talent carry the ball for a little over 145 yards per game average and become a very dangerous weapon out of the backfield receiving the ball.
21. Garrett Borcher, QB/LB (5-11, 205) Pawnee City	He is a tremendous Class D2 athlete who seems to posses the combination of skills and fortitude that would allow him to rise to whatever level of football into which he finds himself. He can play on either side of the ball at the next level.
22. Shane Lentz, FB (6-1, 215) Millard North	This is a big tough cookie with 4.5 speed — another college-level football player from one of the state’s perennial powerhouse programs.
23. Carson Collins, RB (5-11, 225) Omaha Burke	He is a, powerful, physical hard-running back who can take it inside or out. A solid senior year saw him gain nearly 1,000 yards during the regular season in a backfield where he split carries.
24. Landon Arnold, OL/DL (5-11, 250) Millard North	He is a First Team All- Nebraska lineman that is undersized but gets the job done —can be effective at the next level with added bulk.
25. Zach Oliver, WR (6-4, 205) Omaha Burke	A big-frame  WR with good hands, Oliver had a stellar senior year, finishing third in Class A in reception yards (794) during the regular season.