Record number of 1000 Yard Rushers returning for 2012.

The 2012 Nebraska high school football season will feature a record 31 one thousand yard rushers return to bolster their teams' gridiron fortunes. 25 seniors are coming back plus 6 others who cracked the 1000 yard mark as sophomores. The Class A ranks will see four of the best running backs to come along in a while return to make life interesting for opposing defenses.

Here is the list: (** denotes two year 1000 yard rusher)

1. Tanner Fate-High Plains..........................2,014

2. Devin Washington-Lincoln Southeast......1,907

3. Tyler Kavan-Wahoo................................1,895

4. Isaac Aakre-Millard North.......................1,893**

5. Jake Fowler- Hastings Adams Central......1,764

6. Josh Coyle-Atkinson West Holt................1,729 Jr.

7. Austin Blume-Hitchcock County...............1,508

8. James Kruger-Norris................................1,501**

9. Jackie Davis-Omaha Central.....................1,481

10. James Rathjen-Ft. Calhoun.......................1,431

11. Jake Paulsen-Cozad.................................1,368 Jr.

12. Luke Glenn-Shelton.................................1,362**

13. Devin Marteney-Pawnee City..................1,355

14. Jac Bailey-McCool Junction......................1,352**

15. Jacob Morrill-Creighton...........................1,347** Jr.

16. DeQuan Bell-Omaha Roncalli...................1,336

17. Tyler Schnitzler-Kenesaw.........................1,326

18. Tanner Rupprecht-Red Cloud...................1,314

19. Austin Havlena-David City........................1,311

20. Alex Brehmer-Lyons-Decatur NE..............1,303 Jr.

21. Austin Ruskamp-Freeman........................1,246

22. Anthony Graesser-Sandy Creek................1,246

23. Michael Minter-Lincoln North Star............1,176

24. Matt Klein-Scottsbluff...............................1,159

25. Alec Galvin-Burwell...................................1,134**

26. Chet Beckman-Bloomfield.........................1,077

27. Ben Burmeister-Pender.............................1,036

28. Riley Shoemaker-Grand Island C.C.............1,028

29. Alec Wilson-Bloomfield..............................1,012

30. Ryan Tegtmeier-BDS..................................1,011

31. Brady Rasmussen-Loup City.......................1,005 Jr.

In the days to follow we will preview each of these fine football players and how we think their teams will fare in the upcoming season. There are only FORTY TWO days left until the first high school football contest of the 2012 campaign. Can you feel it?