2014's Nebraska Prep Football "Backs to Watch" 40th Version.

Seems like yesterday when I began charting high school running backs in this great state of ours. 39 years, lots of film and a ton of sidelines walked, and 40 years is here already. A ton is not nearly enough to roam those sidelines. No better feeling and it's less than a week away. Heaven is right around the corner.

We have already spoltlighted many of the returning 1000 yard runners but we'll give those young men one more mention then go on to those backs who should be in the sports headlines this fall.

Returning 1000 Yard Rushers:

* Class A:

Calvin Strong-Omaha North - 3,008 (Career rushing yards-)

Tre Sanders-Omaha Central - 1,125

Other backs to watch in Class A:

Micah Rensch-Creighton Prep - 844 (6 Tds)

Kaleb Comstock-South Sioux City - 704 ( in Class B last season)

Noah Lazaro-Lincoln SW - 673 (6-2, 225 bruiser)

Shane Mauch-North Platte - QB - 618 (6 Tds)

Jacob White-Kearney - QB - 556

........and we better keep an eye on these guys:

Logan Duryee-Omaha Westside - Warriors featured back in 2104?

Pierce Almond-Grand Island - Will the multi-talented QB run more this fall?

Adrell Taylor-Millard North - Just makes sense he might be the #1 back

Kevin Gallardo-Franklin-Lincoln High - 6-2, 200 pound man child. Watch this guy.

*Class B:

Jessup Workman-Beatrice - 1,693 (783-Soph) (2,476)

Chance Anglin-Sidney - 1,276 (424-Soph) (274-Fr) (1,994 career)

Trevor Matson-McCook - 1,230

Ty Benson-Scottsbluff - 1,152

Other backs to watch in Class B:

Cody Robinson-Alliance - 933

Colton Sis-McCook - 751 (QB)

Noah Schlange-Platteview - 710

Jon Murray-Waverly - 623 (5 Tds) Faaaaasssst

Ian Mertlik-Blair (QB) - 613 (7 Tds)

Triston Nicks-Bennington - 479 (3tds)

........and we better keep an eye on these guys:

Connor Ballard-Elkhorn South-(JR.) 6-2, 180 - tough customer

Mikel'l Bennett-Omaha Benson - (JR.) FB 6-0, 180 - can he get the blocking?

Kendall Oberheide-Adams Central-(JR.) 6-2, 220 - Patriots have to have a "go to" back.

Roman Andrews-Omaha Gross - FB (6-1, 195) (36" Vertical) - they make 'em tough at Gross.

*Class C-1:

Wyatt Mazour-Boone Central/NG - 1,239 (527-Soph)

Jonathan Smailys-Arlington - 1,058

Carter Zlab-Wilber-Clatonia - 1,026

Jordy Stoller-Falls City - 1,012

Other backs to watch in Class C-1:

Jackson Dickerson-Chadron - 947 (14Tds) (24 receptions-478 yds/5 Tds!)

Zach Wolf-Gothenburg - 927 (9 Tds) (6-2, 190)

Colin Freeman-Pierce - 927 (20 Tds)

Colin Wetovick-Cozad - 832

Jake Palensky-Raymond Central-Raymond Central-JR - 799 (21 rec & 88 tackles)

Trey Mueller-Syracuse - 772 (4 Tds)

Dan Strohlman-Louisville-JR. QB - 772 (13tds) (1,064 pass & 12 Tds)

Joseph Brugger-Boone Central/NG - 739 (12 Tds) (5-10, 180)

David Fox-O'Neill - 729 (10 Tds) (100 Tackles)

Ethan Stratman-Wahoo - 691 (SOPH.) (11 Tds)

Ty Snyder-Syracuse - 679 (4 Tds)

Joseph Brugger-Boone Central/NG - 653

Telvin Davis-Boys Town - JR. - 630

Paris Hodges-Boys Town - JR. - 607

Trevor Nichelson-Ashland-Greenwood - 668 SOPH (1000 yards total offense as Freshman, 12Tds, Great DB!)

Jake Bos-Columbus Scotus-JR. FB - 521 (5-11, 180 Nice LB) (74 tackles)

Quinton Boden-Auburn - 514 (7 Tds) (6-0, 200)

........and we better keep an eye on these guys:

Andrew Hauder-Milford/Dorchester - Jr. (Hurt last Yr.) - itching to play again.

Mason Buckendahl-Pierce-JR - 436 (71 Tackles) - They're tough at Pierce

Cooper Rogers-Holdrege - 376 Faaaaast. JR. - can't let him get behind you at :10.5

Ben Simons-Wahoo Neumann-Jr. (44 tackles) - they come tough at Neumann too.

Conor Young-Cozad - (moves to QB) JR. - Super star before he's finished. Count on it.

Noah Vedral-Wahoo Neumann - QB SOPH. - Great on the hardwood and gridiron.

Brody Cleveland-Ogallala - (6-2, 215) - 215 pound kid that runs 4.6. Ouch.

Tanner Schwaninger-Lincoln Christian - (6-0, 190). In the backfield with Husker recruit Jared Bubak

*Class C-2

Jonathan Withrow-Kimball - 1,412

Gage Marshall-Hershey - 1,333 (695-Soph)

Nate Arlt-Oakland-Craig - 1,302 (1,750-Soph) (426-Fr) (3,428 career)

Keithan Drury-Blue Hill - 1,262

Ryan Becker-Hartington Cedar Catholic - 1,202 (1,030-Soph)

Wyatt Pankowski-Bridgeport - 1,164 JR. (623-Fr)

Other backs to watch in Class C-2:

Michael Walsh-Ponca - 969 (13 Tds)

Noah Johnson-Sutton - 950 (600-soph) (Benches 330 and runs 4.6 forty....Okay)

Nick Stolze-Lutheran High NE - 819 (6 games) - 1000 yarder written all over this kid.

Levi Rosenquist-Centura - Hurt last season, rushed for 800 as a SOPH.

Jon Denhe-Weeping Water (Jr) - 799 (8 tds) (missed 2 games)

Joey Hagerbaumer-Twin River - 774 FB (6-1, 200)

Jordan Redler-Malcolm - 726 (4 Tds) (5-8, 160)

Daniel Stohlmann-Louisville - 722 JR. (QB) (13 Tds)

Dillan Wolfgram-Laurel/Concord/Coleridge - 586 JR. (QB) (6 Tds)

Jonny Vrana-Omaha Brownell-Talbot - 551 (9 Tds)

Blake Charmosta-Ravenna - 538 (QB) (11 Tds) (1,025-5Tds-passing)

Kyle Gierhan-Centennial - 538 (QB) (9 Tds)

Derek Renner-Battle Creek - 519 JR. (8 Tds)

Colby Ensz-Tri-County - 518 SOPH. (6 Tds) (5-6, 145)

Christian Lewis-Southern Valley - 510 (3 Tds)

Jeremiah Perkins-Southern Valley - 485 (5 Tds) (1,091-13Tds-passing) (95 tackles)

Parker Micek-Shelby - JR - 467 (9 Tds) (6-1, 195)

Zach Moore-Cambridge - 461 (2 tds) (Great track athlete/300H, TJ, 1600 Relay leg)

Cole Mitchell-Oakland-Craig-JR. QB - 444 (9Tds) (876-15Tds-pass)

Jeff Hall-Gibbon - 442

Wyatt Tremayne-Homer - JR - 421 (8tds), 1,389 passing/10TDs (113 tackles)

Nathan Howe-Kearney Catholic - 6-1, 190 - Stars featured RB?

*Class D-1 (8-Man):

Ethan Skinner - Hemingford - 2,094 (1,143-Soph) (3,237 career)

Dylan Loberg-Randolph - 1,607

Tyler Brown-Henderson Heartland - 1,319

Tanner Hass - West Point Guardian Angels CC - 1,316 JR. (21Tds)

Brenden Pelster-Chambers/Wheeler Central - JR. - 1,285

Bruce Schuenburg - Scribner-Snyder - 1,073

Jacob Buhr-Freeman - 1,072

Zemua Baptista-Freind - JR - 1,031

Cody Beckman-Bloomfield - 1,027

Chance Chrisman-McCool Junction - 1,012

Other backs to watch in Class D-1:

Brady McMurray-Diller-Odell - 878 (5-10, 215) (may switch to Tight End)

Eli Hroch-Diller-Odell (Missed 2013, but rushed for 1000+ Soph)

Jordan Heinrichs-Henderson Heartland - 869 (QB) (15 Tds) (612 passing on 32-58 for 12 Tds)

Carson Huenefeld-Nebraska Christian - 862 (6 Tds)

Christian Best-Elm Creek - 859 (16 Tds)

Grant Freese-Nebraska Lutheran - 835 (12 Tds) (6-1, 200)

Cody Blackwell-Paxton - 817 (6 Tds)

Devin Dibbern-Amherst - 785 (17) (5-8, 160)

Jesse Faltys-Howells-Dodge - 784 (11 Tds) (6-3, 200)

Trey Taubenheim-Amherst-JR. QB - 738 (10 Tds) (1,193 passing 23 Tds, 3 INT)

Steven LaPointe-Niobrara/Verdigre - 728 (12 Tds)

Evan Brockmeier-Ansley/Litchfield JR - 661 (7 Tds) (5-10, 160)

Reid Liska-Creighton - 652 (11 Tds)

Kyle Rotherham-Dundy County/Stratton - QB - 648

Keshawn Camacho-Henderson Heartland - 634 (FB) (11 Tds) (6-1, 205)

Nic Crowley-Elm Creek - 623 (QB) (8 Tds) (330 passing - 9 Tds)

Garett Schledewitz-Maxwell - 607 Freshman (FB) (15 Tds!!!) (5-8, 205)

Brenton Ellis-Southwest - 588 (9 Tds)

Zach Novak-O'Neill St. Marys - 572 (7 Tds)

Brian Boese-Allen - 568 (5 Tds)

Nathan Hogen-Emerson-Hubbard - 564 (8 Tds)

Isaac Frerichs-Freeman - 564 (QB) (8 Tds) (1,386 pass & 21 Tds)

Will Meyer-Fullerton-(Jr) 5-11, 180 (LB last year, will play QB this year)

Jason Poe-Blue Hill - 556 (QB) (1,060 passing - 16 Tds)

Derek Sis-Perkins County-Soph. - 542 (5-9, 145) (Faaaaast. 5th in 100 as Freshman)

Spencer Volden-Clearwater/Orchard - 542 (5 Tds)

Dakota Klingsporn-Axtell - 518 (7 Tds)

Grant Norder-BDS - QB - 510 (8 Tds) (1,219 passing 27 Tds) (6-0, 200)

Hunter Reimers-Palmer-Soph. - 479 (150lbs) (Has twin brother/Kaden 203yds/Fr)

Parker Micek-Shelby - 467 JR. (9 Tds)

Brennan Koller-Arapahoe - 440

Brayden Frauendorfer-Humphrey/LHF (rushed for 1,300 yds last year in JV schedule)

*Class D-2 (8-Man):

Alex Kunz-Stuart - 1,746 (958-Soph) (383-Fr) (3,087 career)

J J Oltmer-Humphrey St. Francis - 1,717 (1,588-Soph) (3,305 career)

Garrett Sonderup-Fullerton - 1,559 (1,125-Soph)

Sawyer Keen-Falls City Sacred Heart - 1,534

Troy Gilligan-Anselmo-Merna - 1,329 Jr.

Chase Barthel-Medicine Valley - 1,232

Chevy Henneman-Lyons-Decatur NE - 1,228

Tyrell Younger-Bertrand - JR - 1,090 (16 Tds)

Ben Hinrichs-Giltner - 1,066

Dillon Menke-Lawrence-Nelson - 1,030

Other backs to watch in Class D-2:

Kyle Jensen-Exeter-Milligan - 975 (23Tds) (5-9, 205)

Trent Geiser - Anselmo-Merna - Injured last year....1,656 22tds-Soph! (756 Frosh)

Preston Schnitzler-Kenesaw - JR. Injured all last year...965/Freshman!

Luke Ericson-Osceola(QB) JR. - 931 (18Tds) (878/15Tds passing)

Carson Tietz-Bancroft-Rosalie - 925 (QB) (16 Tds) (393 pass - 5 Tds)

Gideon Monette-Mullen - JR. - 924 (14 Tds)

Zach Hackbart-Elwood (QB) - 875 (12 Tds) (488 passing/12Tds)

Cody Blackwell-Paxton - 817 (7 Tds) moves to QB this fall

Trevor Polivka-Lincoln Parkview Christian - (QB) - 805 (19tds) (675 passing/7 TDS

Zach Clark-Loomis - 741 (QB) (15 Tds) (697 passing/6 Tds)

Jack Otting-Crandell-Loomis - 726 (12 Tds)

Zebediah Greve-Bancroft-Rosalie - 739 (11 Tds)

Isaiah McChesney-Kenesaw - 676 (4 Tds)

Evan Brockmeier-Ansley-Litchfield - 661 (7 tds) JR. 5-10, 160

Brendan Axmann-Pleasanton (QB) - 616 (11 Tds)

Garett Schledewitz-Maxwell (SOPH) - 607 (16 Tds) (5-8, 215) - Impressive freshman year.

Noah Rutjens-Elkhorn Valley - 604 (6-Man last season)

Brenton Ellis-Southwest - 588 (9 Tds)

Zach Novak-O'Neill St. Marys - 569 (7 Tds)

Nathan Hogan-Emerson-Hubbard - 564

Layne McCarthy-Garden County - 556 (12 Tds)

Cody Aspenleiter-Medicine Valley - 554 (10 Tds)

Collin Thompson-Eustis-Farnum - 554 (4 Tds)

Devin Dibbern-Amherst - 536

Mason Dexter-Stuart - 535 (8 Tds)

Dakota Klingsporn-Axtell - 518 (7 Tds)

Trey Taubenheim-Amherst (JR) (QB) - 495

Christian Leichty-Giltner - 487 (6 tds) (6-0, 173)

Jared Westman-Leyton - 413

Trevor Carlson-Osceola - 393 faaaaaast - Watch this kid in 2014.