MHN Final Class of 2012 Top 25 Football Prospects
Here are the MHN Final Top 25 Prospect rankings for the football class of 2012:
 myHitNews.com | Nebraska High School Football Final 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. He also had a great senior year at RB. |
| 2. 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! Yep, Like I said “…a playa’!” A 2011 Parade All-American Team selectee. |
| 3. 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. Offer: Kansas State (Committed), Ohio, Tulane. | 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. His senior year saw Bender still reaching for potential versus beginning to settle in on it. |
| 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. 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. (committed to South Dakota) | 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. He turned down several D-1A offers to attend D-1AA South Dakota. |
| 6. Derek McGinnis, 6-3, 200 Crete Rivals 2 Star – 5.2; ESPN NA Goodies: Poise, size and accuracy. Offer: North Dakota State ( Committed) South 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. |
| 7. Brian Bayer, DE, 6-5, 230 Howells Rivals NA; ESPN NA Goodies: Size, speed and aggressiveness. Offer: South Dakota, South Dakota State (Committed) | 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. |
| 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: Southeast Missouri State (Committed). | 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: Nebraska Walk-on. | 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. He has the right stuff in his tool box to make some hay at Nebraska.Watch out! |
| 10. Matt Miller, TE, 6-4, 227 Omaha Skutt Catholic Rivals 2 Star – 5.3; ESPN 68 Goodies: 4.7 40yd & hands. Offer: Army, Illinois State North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, South Dakota State South Dakota (Committed), 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. |
11. Sam Foltz, DB/K, 6-2, 185 Grand Island Rivals NA; ESPN 74 Goodies: 4.48 40yd, 38″ vertical and versatility. Offer: North Dakota, South Dakota, South Dakota State. Nebraska Walk-on. | 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. |
| 12. Dylan Utter, DT, 6-3, 300 Papillion-La Vista Rivals NA; ESPN NA Goodies: Quickness. Offer: Army, North Dakota. Nebraska Walk-on. | 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. |
| 13. Darian Barrientos-Jackson, ATH, 6-1, 180, Omaha Central Offer: Iowa Western Community College (Committed). | 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’!” |
| 14. Bo Liekhus, DB, 6-0, 195 Bellevue West Offer: North Dakota State (Committed). | His size, 4.4 speed and athleticism makes him one to watch out for. |
| 15. Jordan Brichacek, OL, 6-5, 240 Howells Rivals NA; ESPN NA Goodies: 4.7 40yd & hands. Offer: North Dakota State, South Dakota State (Committed). | 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. |
| 16. Zach Oliver, WR 6-4, 205 Omaha Burke Offer: North Dakota State (Committed). | A big-frame WR with good hands, Oliver had a stellar senior year, finished with over 1,000 reception yards to lead the state. |
| 17. Logan Roth, DT, 6-4-245 Giltner Offer: South Dakota State (Committed). | He will need to add weight to that large frame to compete at the D-1 level. |
| 18. Alec Carrothers, DE, 6-3, 240 Omaha Westside Offer: North Dakota (Committed). | A good-looking prospect with good feet, hands and get-off. |
| 19. Garret Johns, OL 6-2, 280 Aurora Offer: Nebraska Walk-on. | 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. 2012 Class B 285 lbs. state wrestling champ. |
| 20. Ross Dzuris, DE/TE, 6-3, 230 Plattsmouth Offer: North Dakota. Nebraska Walk-on. | 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. |
| 21. Graham Nabity, RB, 6-1, 200 Elkhorn Offer: South Dakota State. Nebraska Walk-on. | A gritty hard-nosed player who rushed for over 1,500 yards in his senior year. |
| 22. Andy Janovich, LB, 6-1, 200 Elkhorn Offer: Nebraska Walk-on. | This two-time state wrestling champ is as tough as they come. Look for him to find the game day field at Nebraska. |
| 23. Jordan Nelson, RB 5-9, 165 Omaha Burke Offer: Nebraska Walk-on. | 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. |
| 24. Sam Hahn, OL, 6-6, 260 Tri County Schools Offer: North Dakota State (Committed). | One of the surprise division 1 offers from this class; however, you can bet that if national champs North Dakota State grabbed him he must have legit potential. |
| 25. Trey Foster, DL, 6-3, 235 Lincoln Southwest Offer: Nebraska Walk-on. | A very athletic player with a long-armed frame and good motor. |
Top Mentioned
Carson Collins, RB, 5-10, 220, Omaha Burke; Mitch McCann, LB/FB, 6-2, 225, Omaha Burke; Jared Blum, TE, 6-5, 235, Gretna; Michael Wickham, WR, 6-3, 190, Bennington; D.J. Avant, LB, 5-11, 195; Omaha North; Spencer Lindsay, K, 5-10, 195, Kearney; Ethan Douglass-Wiley, 6-2, 210, Lincoln Southwest; Aaron Bohl, FB, 6-1, 215, Lincoln East; Michael Labadie, TE, 6-2, 190, Millard West; Joe Jasnowski, TE/DE, 6-5, 225, Creighton Prep.
February 26, 2012 @ 9:06 am
If this dude didn’t start last season who in the heck was in front of him?
Thanks, Will Cummings. I enjoyed this article and the video. A friend sent the link to me to check it out and I look forward to following Hilgers next season. He is a very impressive runner!
February 27, 2012 @ 12:07 pm
They actually had a 4 back rotation. The main senior back committed to New Mexico as a LB and the QB committed to Idaho.
March 19, 2012 @ 11:00 am
One name not on many of these list is Chris Luehring out of Bellevue West. 6’2″ 4.48 40. He held Zach Oliver and Terry Grigsby to combined one catch while racking up 11 touchdown on the year.
March 19, 2012 @ 11:05 am
One name i’ve noticed off a lot of these list is Chris Luehring out of Bellevue West. He’s 6’2″ 190 4.48 40YD kid. He he held Zachary Oliver and Terry Grisby to a combined one catch. He also racked up 11 receiving touchdowns on the year.