MHN Preseason Top 25 Nebraska HS Football Prospects: Class of 2012
Lincoln Southwest dual-threat querterback Tavarius Bender tops the charts in the 4th installment of MHN’s Preseason Top 25 Nebraska High School Football Prospects ranking.
 myHitNews.com | Preseason Top 25 Football Prospects Class of 2012 |
| 1. 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 | 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. |
| 2. Jake Schany, LB (6-2, 210) Blair Rivals 3 Star – 5.5; ESPN Grade 77 Goodies: High football IQ & solid measures. Offers Tulane, Colorado, Ohio, 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. |
| 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, Kansas State, Florida International. | 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. 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! |
| 5. Sam Cotton, TE (6-4, 225) Lincoln Southeast Rivals 3 Star – 5.5; ESPN Grade 76 Goodies: Strong bloodline & toughness. Committed to Nebraska. | 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. |
| 6. Dylan Utter (6-3, 300) Papillion-LaVista Rivals NA; ESPN NA Goodies: Quickness. Offer: Army, North Dakota. | 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. |
| 7. Matt Miller, TE (6-4, 227) Omaha Skutt Catholic Rivals 2 Star-5.3; ESPN 68 Goodies: 4.7 40yd & hands. Offer: South Dakota. | a physical and rangy TE with good speed and soft hands who, will fight for the ball and is an effective blocker along the line and into the second level. |
| 8. Sam Foltz, DB (6-3, 185) Grand Island Rivals NA; ESPN NA Goodies: 4.48 40yd 38″ vertical. Offer: None reported. | a First Team Nebraska Super-State selection in 2010 who 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 best 48.55. |
| 8. 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. |
| 10. Garret Johns, OL (6-2, 280) Aurora Rivals NA; ESPN NA Goodies: Balance and good feet. Offer: None reported. | a First Team Super-State and All-Nebraska selection in 2010, the soon-to-be four year starter at Aurora can play effectively on the line of scrimmage on either side of the ball. But it’s at the center postion where he shines the most. demonstrate very good footwork, balance and pad level. |
| 11. Brian Bayer, DE (6-5, 220) Howells | possesses a huge frame, 4.7 speed, strong athleticism and bad intentions when he gets to the ball carrier — a very good football player. |
| 12. Joe Jansnowski, TE/DE (6-4, 220) Creighton Prep | a very good blocking TE who seems to take pride in his work, He also is a very good DE — can play on both sides of the ball at the next level. |
| 13. James Anderson, OL/DL (6-4-300) Omaha Burke | a good, well-balanced and leveraged run blocker who demonstrates solid technique—a good football player. |
| 14. Ross Dzuris, DE/TE (6-3, 230) Plattsmouth | an explosive DE with 4.6 speed that can make plays all over the field. |
| 15. Brandon Stuart, QB (6-1, 180) Bayard | impressive pro style QB with very good mobility and nice arm— broke 5 state passing records last season. |
| 16. Shane Lentz, FB (6-1, 215) Millard North | a big tough cookie with 4.5 speed — another college-level football player from one of the state’s perennial powerhouse programs. |
| 17. Ryan Flynn, LB (6-3, 215) Creighton Prep | a good, rangy, free-wheeling LB that is adept at moving through traffic and quickly closing the gap. |
| 18. Landon Arnold, OL/DL (5-11, 250) Millard North | a First Team All- Nebraska lineman who is undersized but gets the job done —can be effective at the next level with added bulk. |
| 19. Hunter Greer, OL (6-7, 300) Omaha Burke | has great size — among the best measures in the class of 2012 for his position. |
| 20. Joe Dugan, LB (6-4. 210) Millard North | nice frame, plays hard and has a good nose for the ball. |
| 21. Chris Bailey, RB/LB (6-0, 215) Millard North | a good, solid, tough-nosed football player with enough speed and athleticism to be productive at the college level. |
| 22. Dennis Barfield, ATH (6-0, 180) Omaha Central | an explosive athletic player with very good speed that can play multiple skill positions on either side of the ball — won the Class A 400 meter at 2011 state meet. |
| 23. Terry Grigsby, WR (6-2, 190) Omaha North | a physical specimen with 4.5 speed, 38” vertical. Best measures in class of 2012 for his position. |
| 24. Michael Wickham, ATH (6-3, 180) Bennington | a big frame and 4.5 speed — 2011 Class B 200 meter champion. Averaged 26.5 yds per catch w/10 TDs in 2010 and set single-game record for receiving yds (216). |
| 25. DaVonta’ Culliver, LB (6-2, 210) Westside | his listed 4.5 speed and 33″ vertical, gives him the most athletic measures for a LB in the class of 2012. |
Other Prospects Likely to Find Their Way into the Top 25 by Signing Day
Roger Brohimer, RB/DB, 6-2, 185, Fremont; Levi Gipson, WR, 6-2, 180; Lincoln Christian; Ryker Fyfe QB, 6-4, 195, Grand Island; Drew Farlee, K , 6-0, 175, Norfolk; Spencer Lindsay, K, 5-10, 185 Kearney; Jordan Nelson, RB, 5-9, 170, Omaha Burke; Chase Sherman, 6-0, 270, OL, Crete; Graham Nabity, DB, 6-0, 190, Elkhorn; Cole Chvatal, DB, 6-0, 170, Bishop Neuman; Malcolm Willett TE, 6-4, 225, Omaha Westside; Thomas Boles-Armstrong, OL/DL, 6-2, 255, Omaha Benson; Damone Avant, LB, 5-11, 190, Omaha North and T.J. Schindler, DL, 6-2, 280, Blair.
July 24, 2011 @ 4:41 pm
Will, this is a really nice picture layout with T. Bender exploding out of a “purple” Nebraska map. It’s funny, but I get it. The irony of it all. I always said you got skills, my man!
The whole thing is very well done.
I really enjoy how you promote these young Nebraska athletes and give them something to shoot for. I get that, too.
Keep up the good work!
July 24, 2011 @ 5:26 pm
Thanks Old Buckeye, I’ll get with you later.
July 24, 2011 @ 8:43 pm
First, I agree with Old Buckeye. Nice job on your site Mr. Cummings. Now I want to know WHAT’s UP WITH THAT:
HOW DID BENDER GET OUT OF LINCOLN?
HE GOES TO SCHOOL RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM MEMORIAL STADIUM.
Did our NU coaching staff miss him because they were just too busy trying to wrap up another Cotton?
Any Answers?
July 24, 2011 @ 8:55 pm
WUWT, I hear you, but Bo and the boys do have a hell of a defense (not talking Blackshirts) for what you’re asking: They already got some serious studs in the corral at QB.
There is only room for so many.
It’s just one of those things. Timing is everything in recruiting, ya know.
July 25, 2011 @ 12:23 pm
Dennis Barfield should’nt be up there because he is not a very good. There are a couple of other Central players that should be on it.