Nebraska's Top Prep Football players for 2017 - Part 3

The group of 11-Man football players we spotlight today are about as highly skilled as it gets. Three Division One commits, two of which will be Huskers, grace our page today.

We salute a Quarterback, running back, tight end and a wide out on offense, plus an interior lineman on defense as well as a super charged linebacker with terrific bloodlines.

Let’s get after this bunch.

Quarterback:

*Kanon Koster - Kearney - 6-4, 208, Senior (QB/LB)

2016 Stat Line: Passing-108 for 185 (58%) for 1,452 yards, 17 TDs, 5 INTs.

Rushing-491 yards on 114 carries, 4 TDs.

I really like this young man. You know why? He’s a Division One basketball recruit who has declared he wants to that sport in college, yet he plays the QB position in Class A football against brutal Class A defenses and is not afraid to run the football and take a hit.

That’s why Kanon Koster is a man.

Lots of things to like about Koster as a quarterback. I would certainly consider him a dual-threat QB who could run for at least 800+ yards if Brandon Cool had the offense set up that way.

Koster’s QB draw is his bread and butter running play and the guy packs a wallop at the point of contact. Lots of extra yards after that.

As a thrower, Kanon is a true master of trickery with his ball fakes on play action passes. Very strong with an accurate arm with the ability to put the long ball right to a spot where the receiver should be. Koster is also excellent at throwing on the roll or against his body as well.

Kanon also has quick enough feet (see basketball) to avoid sacks. Brandon Cool has to be ecstatic about having this guy back to direct that Bearcat offense. Really intelligent field general that any coach would kill to have in his stable.

Running Back:

Austin Schultz-Norris - 5-10, 180, Senior. (RB/LB)

2016 Stat Line: Rushing-1,641 yards/204 carries, 23 TDs. Receiving; 4-102 yards.

If this dude isn’t the best back in the state, he has to be awful close. Burst on the scene a year ago and nearly helped Norris beat Skutt in the quarterfinals with his 309 yard rushing explosion.

Austin Schultz may not end up with as many yards as Norris great James Kruger, but his abilities will rival the aforementioned.

Schultz already has two offensive records for the Titans. His 309 rushing yards against Skutt is a single games record, as are his 30 points in the opening round playoff game prior versus Elkhorn.

If Austin Schultz sees daylight, he’s gone. Hits the hole lightning quick, follows his blockers well and has mastered the plant and cut as well as anyone in the state. Doesn’t need to cut back against the grain much. Just plants, cuts and explodes.

Schultz has a unique “hop” after he plants and gets the afterburners in full fire immediately after that. One plant is usually all this kid needs. His speed carries him the rest of the way. Seems to always head for the corner pylon.

Also one of the best punters in the state, averaging 41.7 yards a boot. Already committed to Division One Wichita State in baseball. Remember, Norris has produced some serious talent on the baseball front and Austin Schultz is one of them.

*Tight End:

*Cameron Jurgens-Beatrice - 6-4, 245, Senior (TE/MLB/ATH)

2016 Stat Line: 23 receptions for 286 yards (12.4) 3 TDs.

Defense: 22 solos, 76 assisted, 99 total stops.

We know all about Mr. Jurgens already. Committed to Nebraska football coming out of his freshman year at Beatrice. Also one of the top Discus and Shotput throwers in the country. Mom is former Holdrege and Nebraska shot and discus great, Beth Stuart. Bloodlines you say? Of yeah.

Saw this guy dominate as a freshman in a playoff game at Elkhorn South. Such a force that night. Going into his senior year, Jurgens is benching 315 pounds, squatting 500 (call him Sir), while running a 4.7 forty and jumping straight up in the air 35 inches from a standing position. That would be a vertical, folks.

On offense, he catches anything near him and actually lined up as the I-Back 24 times a year ago, scoring a touchdown on one run. No defense I saw stopped him in his tracks with a football in his hands. Highly improbable. Also a vicious blocker, as witnessed in the South Sioux City game when he blocked the would be tackler all the way from the Beatrice 9 back into the end zone before he let up. Plants (pancakes) defenders into the ground then helps them up and asks how the family is doing.

On defense, Cam is incredibly quick off the ball and can pull off RB like plant and cuts to change directions and gobble up ball carriers. Throws running backs around like rag dolls. Just so unbelievable strong. Huskers noticed that little detail 3 years ago.

Think he won’t make an impact when he straps on the red uniform? Wait and watch.

*Wide Receiver:

*Justin Appleby-O’Neill - 5-10, 175, Senior (WR/FS)

2016 Stat Line: Offense: 46 catches for 768 yards (16.7), 11 TDs.

Defense: 44 tackles, 5 INTs.

Anyone remember Steve Largent for the Seattle Seahawks back in the day? Not particularly fast, no fancy moves, but simply waltzed his way past the finest DBs in the NFL all the way into that league’s Hall of Fame.

That’s Justin Appleby.

His forty time is 4.82, vertical is 28” and his hundred meters has been clocked at 12 flat. Ahh, he shouldn’t be a problem to cover, said the defensive coordinator.

Yeah right. I remember playing for The Flying Wallendas high wire act in the late 1960s in the Shrine Circus and Appleby might have been able to gig with that bunch with his circus act….aka catches.

How many one-handed corner pylon circus catches did Justin Appleby haul in a year ago? Just mind boggling. Just one one magical reception after another. No tricky moves, simply an eye like a hawk for the football. I wonder how many hours Justin spent working on the tight roping one handed catch? They do that you know.

On defense, Appleby just knows the location of the ball at all times. His 5 INTs tied for 2nd in Class B, but how many defensive backs picked off TWO passes from a Division One quarterback in the state championship game?

Talk about a money player when it counts. Justin Appleby threw one pass all year long. ONE. And that resulted in an 18 yard TD pass in that C-1 title game in Lincoln against Neumann.

Already an All-State selection. Could have made it on either side of the ball. Watch for that Alex Thramer/Justin Appleby connection this Fall. Get your cameras ready. It’s going to be beautiful.

*Defense/Linebacker:

*Zach Schlager-McCook - 6-2, 215, Senior (MLB/QB)

2016 Stat Line: Defense: 65 solos, 51 Asst. tackles, 10 for losses.

Offense: Rushing: 1,134 yds/116 carries (9.8/carry) 16 TDs. 551 passing, 6 TDs.

Super-State Linebacker in 2016 and probably should have been a Class B selection as a sophomore with his unreal 138 tackles. Committed to Colorado State and plans to follow in the footsteps of his brother Jake, a defensive starter for the Rams. Another sibling Joe is playing D1 football for South Dakota University.

So last season, Zach’s tackles “dropped off” from 138 to 123. Fifteen less stops while playing quarterback on offense? I think McCook Defensive Coordinator and father Russ will let that one go. And can you imagine how effective Zach will be at Colorado State just going one way at LB? I’ll bet they can’t wait in Fort Collins.

Quite a season last year for the Bison, who arguably have one of the best coaching staffs in the entire state. Always have. Elkhorn South made the trip to McCook last November in the Class B semifinals and escaped with a crazy double-overtime win. Schlager was an offensive nightmare for the Storm that night with his 240 yards rushing/4 TD night.

Zach Schlager has always known where the ball is from his MLB spot. Packs a punishing punch with his textbook tackles. The guy benches 285, squats 365 and runs a 4.6 forty and has a 33” vertical. It’s going to hurt when he hits you.

Each time I’ve seen a Schlager play football, I think I’ve seen the best…...until the next one comes along. Now it’s Zach and he will make McCook a very legit Class B title contender when the 2017 season gets underway.

*Defensive Lineman:

*Masry Mapieu - York - 6-5, 295, Senior. (DL)

2016 Stat Line: NA

No need for stats on this guy. Mapieu continues to learn the game of football while holding that full ride from Nebraska in his hip pocket. Has made improvement each year for super coach Glen Snodgrass. His bench is up to 333 pounds last I checked. Dead lift is 500 big ones……...and he runs a 4.9 forty,

Masry often plays right up nose to nose with the offensive center. I wonder how the center that’s going to face him on Friday night feels when Thursday rolls around?

Mapieu really makes good use of his hands on defense. Loves to cast blockers aside and go after the quarterback. He might not record a sack every time but he sure raises cain and disrupts things back there. Scary thing about this guy is the fact he’s still learning.

Constantly forced to fight off double team blocking, I was there the night Aurora triple teamed Mapieu and he still made the tackle. Not going to happen that frequently but a pretty sight indeed.

It will be interesting to see how much forward progress this hulk of youngster has made over the summer. With Coach Snodgrass at the controls, I have a pretty good idea what the answer is to that.

Already a Super-State selection, chalk up another fo 2017.