NENextt 2020 Class B Preseason All-State

NENextt 2020 Preseason Class B All State

Offense

QB-Jarret Synek, Hastings Sr

RB-Aiden Young, Elkhorn Sr

RB-Dex Larsen, Blair Sr

RB-Evan Canoyer, Waverly Sr

OL-Trevor Brown, Waverly Jr

OL-Tony Mokeac, Scottsbluff Sr

OL-Lukas Koletic, Hastings Jr

OL-Aidan Betz, Elkhorn Soph

OL-Nolan Gorczyza, Omaha Roncalli Sr

WR-Carson Shoemaker, Hastings Sr

WR-James Carney, Norris Sr

WR-Ashten Schmaderer, Bennington Sr

ATH-Drew Christo, Elkhorn Sr

K-Parker Janky, Grand Island NW Sr

Defense

DL-Torrington Ford, McCook Sr

DL-Nick Maag, Scottsbluff Sr

DL-Nolan Bahnsen, Beatrice Sr

DL-Jake Stier, Bennington Jr

LB-Dylan Meyer, Norris Sr

LB-Alec Langan, McCook Sr

LB-Aidan Davies, Grand Island NW Jr

LB-Barrett Liebentritt, Omaha Skutt Sr

DB-Brody Nelson, Beatrice Sr

DB-Isaac Robinson, Elkhorn Sr

DB-Tyler LeClair, Bennington Sr

DB-Sam Hartman, Grand Island NW Jr

DB-Ty Bartholemew, York Sr

P-Gannon Gragert, Elkhorn Sr

What a group of QBs that have departed in the graduating class of 2020 but record-setting Synek of Hastings is clearly far and away the best returning Class B signal caller in the state. With the cast of weapons around him like Shoemaker, Zaide Weidner and a big experienced OL, Hastings should be right in the mix when November rolls around.

It's a huge year for linebackers-I wanted to name Will Harr of Skutt (who you'll know soon enough) but there are simply too many great players at that position. Harr has waited his turn patiently and he and Liebentritt will form a potent duo, perhaps the best in the state on a single team.

RB is also incredibly deep and you'll want to watch for emerging juniors Dylan Mostek of Norris, Darick Rodgers of Roncalli and Rashad Madden of Ralston. Mostek was a 2018 Super State freshman RB for the Titans.

Aurora, moving back to Class B has a number of all-state caliber players but the strength of their team is in their junior and sophomore classes, led by Mack Owens, Gage Griffith, Aaron Jividen, Brekyn Papineau and 2019 super state freshmen Carlos Collazzo and Jack Allen.

I expect a huge breakout season for Bennington's 6'2 215 lb junior linebacker Luke MacDonald, who was a state wrestling runner-up last winter. The new Bennington staff needs to settle on a QB but they have some great options and that offense is going to be more run oriented compared to last year when they threw the ball around 60 times a game. But they still have elite WRs Austen Schmaderer and 2018 Super State freshman Mitchell Andersen to throw to if needed.

I almost put two Beatrice all-staters in the secondary but the odds of that happening are probably pretty slim-both Brody Nelson and 2018 Super State freshman Elliott Jurgens will be a no fly-zone in the secondary for the Orangemen.