Nebraska's Top Prep Football players for 2016 - Part 1

Nebraska's Top Prep Football players for 2016 - Part 1

By Bobby Mills (1000 Yard Guy)

The 2016 high school football season is only 59 days away and what better time to begin previews of this year's top players than right now.

There are 34 thousand yard rushers returning to strut their stuff under the Friday Night Lights this fall and we'll spotlight each one, plus at least 50 other running backs that should crack the headlines in 2016.

You certainly cannot omit the 27 quarterbacks who threw for over a 1000 yards last season so there will be capsules on those gunslingers plus some rising prospects from each class that will be under center for their respective teams.

Throw in the top receivers in the state plus the big boys up front that make them all look good, and you have a wealth of information to prepare all prep football fans for the upcoming 2016 season.

No better time than the present to kick start this enjoyable journey. How about saluting a returning 1000 yard rusher, a 1000 yard passing quarterback, a 1000 yard receiver, and a highly touted lineman to get this baby underway?

*Trevor Nichelson-Ashland-Greenwood - 5-10, 190, Senior - RB/MLB (#34)

Where on earth do you start with this young man? Last season the amazing Bluejay RB ran for 2,142 yards in 11 games, averaging 9 yards a carry and 195 yards/game. Nichelson hit paydirt 28 times for Ashland-Greenwood, who was eliminated by eventual state State Champion Columbus Scotus in the Class C-1 quarterfinals. On defense, the head hunting linebacker was in on 97 tackles, 11 going for losses.

Trevor Nichelson's 3 year career statistics are mind-boggling. In 39 games, the two-time All-Stater has run for 4,562 yards (7/4/carry), snared 39 passes for 481 yards and scored 68 total touchdowns. His total offense for the past 3 seasons stands at 5,075 yards.

On defense, the muscle bound Bluejay has made 80 crunching solo tackles, been in on 120 assists (206 total tackles), and spilled opposing ball carriers for 30 times behind the scrimmage line. Toss in 7 pass interceptions, 4 recovered fumbles and 4 caused fumbles and you have a complete football player that could have been an all-state player on either side of the ball.

You've heard only part of the story. On the wrestling mat, Mr. Nicheslon is a two-time state champion, winning the 182 pound class with a 43-0 record this past winter and the 170 pound division as a sophomore with a 46-1 mark. Trevor Nichelson's career mark on the wrestling mat is 120-13 and his style on the football field reflects that wrestling toughness.

On the gridiron, Nichelson is widely known for his hurdling over players, including his own on occasion. Never, ever a joy to tackle, #34 can run over you, through you, around you, or simply outrun a defender to the end zone. Trevor's 40 time will not blow you away at 4.70, but his football speed will. A 33.5" vertical, bench press of 300 and squat of 405 certainly doesn't hurt either.

Colorado State, Iowa State, Wyoming, and South Dakota State have expressed interest and quite frankly, somebody would have to be nuts not to offer this kid a Division 1 full ride.

*Noah Vedral-Wahoo Neumann - 6-2, 184, Senior - Quarterback/Free Safety (#11)

Freakish athlete. If you just sit down and watch the things this dude can do on the football field, basketball court and on the track, it will simply blow your mind. And the frightening thing is that this type of athlete is not the first of his kind at Wahoo Neumann. Think about that.

Last season Noah Vedral led his Cavalier football team all the way to the quarterfinals before losing to powerful Norfolk Catholic (21-42). During Neumann's 8-3 campaign, the sparkling junior completed 61% of his 176 passes for 1,527 yards and 16 touchdowns with only 6 picks. The dual threat QB also rushed for 823 yards and added 11 TDs on the ground for his team.

On defense, Vedral made 29 tackles and pirated 2 passes, one an 80 yard pick six vs. North Bend Central. To show how versatile this lad can be, Vedral started 11 games on defense for Bishop Neumann as a freshman and made 50 tackles.

Noah also helped his Neumann Cavalier basketball team to 2 Class C-1 State Championships (one this winter) and a 4th place finish the past 3 seasons. This past May, Vedral led Wahoo Neumann to a Class C title in Track. The oustanding junior won the 300 Intermediate Hurdles and grabbed a couple of 2nd place finishes in the 110 High Hurdles and 400 Meter Dash, and just for good measure anchored Neumann's winning 1600 Meter Relay team to a 1st place finish to cap off the championship day festivities at Omaha Burke.

As far as mechanics are concerned, Vedral's throwing arm is as strong as it gets. His 3 step drop and quick, bullet release is deadly. The guy can nail a receiver on a roll out with precision and scramble out of trouble in a hurry, finding an open receiver in an instant. And for god sakes, you certainly do not want this physical specimen to run the football with his 50 flat 400 speed and long strides. Vedral will pull away from defenses every time in an open field.

Central Florida head coach Scott Frost must have liked Noah Vedral's 4.59 forty and 4.12 shuttle speed along with the 32 inch vertical and a whole slew of other things, because not only did he offer the Neumann standout a full ride, but Noah committed.

Along with Central Florida, Vedral also has D1 offers from Air Force, Colgate, Illinois State, Navy, Ohio, South Dakota and South Dakota State.

What an athlete.

*Trevor Havlovic-East Butler - 6-2, 195, Junior - Tight End/Middle LB (#80)

Saw this huge sophomore play against undefeated Lourdes Central in East Butler's regular season finale and was immediately impressed. A standout on either side of the ball, Havlovic is a pure football player that get even better this season.

As a sophomore, Trevor Havlovic hauled in 49 of Skyler Ratkovec's aerials for 1,067 yards and 24 touchdowns. That's nearly 22 yards every reception friends.

On defense, this kid was simply a MAN. #80 used his terrific lateral pursuit and 4.66 forty speed to make 148 tackles.......148! Havlovic was All-District as a freshman, catching 22 passes for 296 yards a 3 TDs, plus making 53 stops from his MLB position.

Trevor will not have all-state QB Skyler Ratkovic to hurl those accurate throws his way, but you get the football anywhere near this kid and he'll not only catch it, but outrun most defenses.

Havlovic has All-State written all over him the next two seasons, especially on the defensive side of the football. As of right now, there had better be every state college in Nebraska looking at this young man.

Take from me, Trevor Havlovic is that good.

*Patrick Arnold-Gretna - 6-2, 290, Senior - Guard/Defensive Tackle

A real monster that could lead Gretna to a Class B title this Fall. Arnold dazzled Nebraska football coaches at the recent Friday Night Lights get together a few days ago. This kid has some tools, man. Runs the forty in 5.20, the shuttle in 4.5 (remember Vedral's time), benches a 375 and pulls off a squat of 545 pounds. How would you like big Patrick crunching you into a very flat pancake? He loves to do that, you know. If you're lucky, he will choose to stay on his feet and get another defender after you end up on the turf.

Arnold's defensive stats do not stand out, but if you were double teamed most of the time your stat sheet would also read "42 tackles, 8 solo." The offensive side of the ball is where Patrick Arnold knocked me out and well, about six Division 1 schools to be exact.

Wyoming, Air Force, Navy, Columbia, Colgate and South Dakota have already offered the Gretna lineman.

Arnold had to impress Husker coaches at the Big Man Camp, which was held a week prior to the Friday Night Lights shindig. Yeah, I know Nebraska has already offered 3 lineman recently, but are they going to let another one slip away in Patrick Arnold?

This young man is smarter than a whip and has a frame that can be constructed into a D1 starting lineman build. Patrick is a nice kid, but don't think for a moment he's not a beast when he hits the gridiron. I hope Nebraska coaches see that.

* * *

If you're wondering about the photo at the beginning of the article, that would be Ashland-Greenwood's Offensive/Defensive line coach, the great Reed Schwartz.

Coach Schwartz lost a battle with brain cancer on June 8th and was laid to rest just 13 days ago. Coach Schwartz was a teacher and coach at Ashland-Greenwood since 1998 and was a key member of the Bluejay varsity football staff until 2013 when he stepped down to handle the head coaching job at the Middle School.

This incredible man was first diagnosed with a brain tumor around the year 2000, but kept the faith and fought the battle without missing a beat. Coach Schwartz had a fist sized tumor removed his 2nd year of teaching at A-G, but it reappeared in 2004. That tumor was removed, meanwhile Reed never missed a game.

Four years later another tumor was discovered but this time it was inoperable. Coach Schwartz had to endure chemotherapy this time, yet he still performed his as offensive coordinator, while the chemo lasted a full year.

The coach just kept battling and winning those battles just as his "HOGS", as he called his lineman, would win theirs on the field. The final epic battle took his life, but this man had so much to offer his students and athletes, not only in football but in Track and Field, that he refused to give up until the odds were just stacked too high against him.

Why am I telling you this? A few years back, I stood on the Ashland-Greenwood sideline on a windy afternoon playoff game at GICC. I was so impressed by the coaching staff, the players, and especially the many fans that followed their team that day. They were so positive and classy. Most of them left immediately following that game to make a beeline to catch the volleyball team perform in the southeast corner of the state. Honest to god, I don't know how they made it that far in time to see any of that match.

I just fell in love with the demeanor of those fans, that coaching staff, the town and the way they responded every single time I would mention one their football players, especially Trevor Nichelson. The crowning touch was the way they reacted during the disappointing playoff loss to Columbus Scotus a year ago in Columbus. The Bluejays had been to the state finals each of the past Two seasons, and to lose with the graciousness I witnessed that evening was a thing you rarely see. There are many, many great teams with terrific fanbases, but Ashland-Greenwood takes the cake. Pure Class from the players, coaches, people covering their games, the fans and even the student managers.

This is why I felt is necessary to write a few words about the passing of Coach Schwartz. I have seen how close the high school football coaching fraternity is in general from one end of the state to another, and I know this loss has to be especially brutal to Ashland-Greenwood head football man Ryan Thompson and his staff. It digs so deep into the soul, yet they have to be strong in leading their outstanding group of young men through this and into the upcoming football season.

I never had the honor of knowing Coach Reed Schwartz personally, so I cannot imagine how that coaching staff and entire community is hurting right now. That's Ashland-Greenwood, it's just how they operate. So close knit. They are classy folks, among the best I've seen in 50 years of watching high school sports.

So, RIP Coach Schwartz and God Speed to the entire Bluejay community. I know you will handle this tragedy.

One word did catch my eye on Ashland-Greenwood's Facebook page when they talked about Coach Reed Schwartz. One word.

It stated "He loved the Friday Night Lights and everything that encompassed the Purity of High School Football." You got it Coach Schwartz.......that word Purity when describing high school sports in general. These Ashland-Greenwood people know what it's all about.

I'll see you on the sidelines this season, Bluejay entourage. Wouldn't miss it for the world.