2025 Bobby Mills 1000 Yard Club Returnees (Part One of Three)

Howells-Dodge RB Hunter Luther (#22, left f me) if this year's leading returning rusher in 8-Man football.

There won't be too many more empty Friday nights before high school football starts here in Nebraska and that means it's time to take a detailed look at the returning 1000 yard rushers in my Bobby Mills 1000 Yard Club.

A record number 40 thousand yarders return in 2025, sixteen of whom were just Sophomores a year ago.

Let’s do this in three parts, beginning with the Top 13 dazzlers who obviously all had some outstanding blocking by the men up front in the trenches, where the real work is done.

*Kip Brigham-Wahoo - 2,033, Senior

165 carries for 2,033 yards (12.3 ypc), 36 TDs. 20 pass receptions for 476 yards (23.8 per catch), 7 TDs.

This dude is phenomenal, period! Last season, when Wahoo already had a returning All-State 1000 yard rusher in Noah Bordovsky, Brigham exploded on to the scene by running for 199 yards on just 11 carries and 3 TDs against C-1 pre-season #2 Ashland-Greenwood, then short-circuited the scoreboard at #3 Aurora by rushing for a mind-boggling 342 yards and 7 touchdowns on only 13 carries, averaging a ridiculous 26.3 yards every time he touched the football. That’s 541 yards and 10 scores on 24 touches against two traditional Class C-1 powerhouses my friends. And Kip Brigham never let up in 2024, flashing his blazing speed and breathtaking ability to shed tacklers, make silky smooth cuts and turn on the afterburners in a Warrior instant.

*Corbin Kyes- Central City - 2,007, Senior

280 carries, 2007 yards (7.2 ypc), 27 TDs. 19 rec for 191 yards (10.1 pc), 2 TDs.

Like Brigham, Kyes possesses blinding, breakaway speed with a nasty power surge at the point of contact. The Central City jet, who just missed a thousand yards his sophomore season, has the stunning ability to plant and cut moving laterally, then turning on the high gear in a hurry. If Kyes gets into the second level of the opposing “D”, he’s gone. He also returned a kickoff AND a punt for scores a year ago.

*Tay Tay Jenkins- Omaha Westside - 1,993, Junior

235 carries-1,993 yds (8.5 ypc), 22 TDs. 13 rec for 217 yards (16.7), 4 TDs.

Any Sophomore that runs for nearly 2000 big ones in Class A is a flat-out stud. Tay Tay took advantage of that fabulous Westside O-line, hitting the openings quickly, then using his speed and vision to do the rest. Along with Brigham and Kyes, Jenkins is on another level as far as Nebraska HS 11-Man backs are concerned. The Westside flyer is also a lethal pass receiver out of that Warrior backfield and should post more big offensive numbers in 2025 with most of his blocking up front returning.

*Hunter Luther-Howells-Dodge - 1,710, Senior

167 carries-1,710 yds, (10.3 ypc), 28 TDs. 4 rec for 97 yards (24.3), 1 TD. DEFENSE: 36 solo/38 assists-74 Total tackles. Punts-39.1 per-All;-State numbers.

35 game Career; Rushing, 3,620-440 (8.2)-58TDs {100+ games-16} 1,716 yards rushing as a Sophomore.

King of the 8-Man running back nation in Nebraska right now. Nobody does it better on those patented Mike Speirs sweeps than Hunter Luther. The 6/2 195 LB Luther, who averages over 10 yards a pop a season ago, possesses an extraordinary combination of fine speed and crushing power with the ability to go the distance on any play. The senior standout is also one of the best punters in eight man football.

*Adam Denkert-Kenesaw - 1,488, Senior

220 carries-1,488 yds, (6.8 ypc), 20 TDs. 28 rec for 543 yards (19.4), 8 TDs. DEFENSE: 57-61-118 tackles, 3 INTs, 2 fumble recoveries.

Another 8-Man star whose build is similar to Hunter Luther of HD. Denkert, who's older brother was one of the best players in the history of eight-man football, is not only one tough son of a gun, but one of the best past receivers in all of eight-man football out of that Blue Devils backfield. The Kenesaw standout could probably be an All-Stater on either side of the football.

*Jaron Cannon Omaha North - 1,447, Senior

235 carries-1,447 yds., (6.2 ypc), 19 TDs. 16 rec for 204 yards (12.8), 2 TDs.

For the past two seasons, two-year 1000 yard rusher Jaron Cannon has been the beneficiary of a great blocking from once in a lifetime lineman Tyson Terry, who is now a Nebraska Cornhusker. But, we all know that it takes two to tango, and Cannon is a real threat once he reaches that second level of the defense. Quick to hit the hole with eagle eye vision, the Omaha North product knows what to do once he breaks into that second level. Sure, Cannon will miss the great blocking provided by Tyson Terry, but don't expect much of a drop off if any from his rushing numbers in 2025. This kid is really, really top notch and it may take some time for this young Omaha North O-Line to get going, but Cannon’s numbers will still be up in the elite section this Fall.

*Callen Schnitzler-Nebraska City Lourdes - 1,446, Senior

OFFENSE: Passing; 1,260 yds, 1 TDs. Rushing; 1,446 yds, 23 TDs. DEFENSE; 44 solos-117assists-161 total tackles.

One of the best two-way players in eight-man football, Callen Schnitzler is not only a 1000 Yard Passer/1000 Yard Rusher Quarterback on offense, but a terrific defensive player, logging over 160 tackles during the 10-game season a year ago. Very intelligent football mind, especially on offense where he makes quick, smart decisions.

*Gage Hedstrom-O'Neill St. Mary's* - 1,434, Senior

2024 stats-Passing: 98 of 189 for 1,659 yards, 29 TDs/6 INTs, Rushing: 160 carries for 1,434 yards, 9.0 ypc, 25 TDs. CAREER (27 games): Passing; 287 of 528 for 4,029 yards (54.4%) with 64 TDs/18 INTs. Rushing; 427 carries for 2,514 yards (5.4 ypc) 47 TDs. TOTAL YARDS-6,555

DEFENSE: 2024 stats; 68 solos/66 assists, 134 tackles, 4 INTs, 1 FR. CAREER; 186 solos/230 assists, 396 total, 23 TFL, 8 INTs, 10 FR.

Best overall player in Nebraska 8-Man football right now. Four year, two-way starter for St. Marys, the great Gage Hedstrom can put up video game numbers in 2025 if he has a good O-Line to protect him in passing situations and run blocking when he chooses to keep the football. Hedstrom has been turning heads since his Freshman season and is poised to turn in some record numbers if he stays upright in ‘25.

*Jace Schukar-Loomis - 1,434, Junior

194 carries-1,434 yds (7.4 ypc), 24 TDs. 21 rec for 451 yards (21.5), 4 TDs. DEFENSE: 31 solos, 20 assists, 51 Total Stops, 3 INTs, 2 FR

Young Schukar was the scariest Sophomore in all of 8-Man football a year ago, leading Loomis to an undefeated regular season before the Wolves suffered a heartbreaking 36-34 opening round playoff loss to Twin Loup. The lightning fast Schukar scored a total of 31 touchdowns in 2024, with the scoring plays coming from every conceivable part of the football field you can imagine. Not only did Jace Schukar rush for 100 yards in every single game he played a year ago, he also scored touchdowns via the rush, the pass reception, on a punt return, a kickoff return and an interception return on defense. This young man is nothing short of a shining star for the Loomis Wolves and JUST a junior.

*Carter Eickmeier Shelby/Rising City - 1,362, Junior

182 carries-1,362 yds (7.5 ypc), 19 TDs.

I watched young Eickmeier play the second game of the regular season in the Huskies 28-6 loss to eventual state champion Sandy Creek. During a vanilla first quarter where both teams were feeling each other out, Eikmeier carried the ball several times in succession, taking a pretty frightful beating and I wondered why. Shelby-Rising City apparently knew what they were doing and what a diamond in the rough they had at the time. During the first five games of last season, Carter Eickmeier ran for 373 yards and five touchdowns. He was then ready for The Breakout. The next five games Carter exploded for 954 yards and 15 touchdowns including a three-game stretch against Centennial, Mead and McCool Junction when he dashed for 631 yards and 10 touchdowns. The only time he cooled off was in the lopsided 54-0 playoff loss to Sandy Creek when the Cougs held him to 35 yards on 13 carries. Eikmeier shoud be a star this Fall for the Huskies, who return most of their talent from a year ago excepting for the great Dalton Pokorney and Vrbka (Collin).

*Tristan Campbell-McCook - 1,360, Senior

206 carries-1,360 yds (6.6 ypc), 15 TDs. 9 rec for 122 yards (13.6), 3 TDs. DEFENSE: 31 solo/23 assists-54 Total tackles, 1 INT.

Campbell is not very big but is quick, elusive and has the heart of a lion on defense. Typical McCook football player, tough as nails and knows the game i1nside and out.

*Quin Oberg-Elm Creek - 1,336, Senior

Not playing football this season to concentrate on basketball.

*Brock Jennoutot-Bloomfield - 1,328, Senior

235 carries-1,328 yds (5.7 ypc), 15 TDs.

Big dude who carried the ball nearly 30 times a game against a brutal schedule that saw a proud Bloomfield team finishing an uncharacteristic 4-5 a year ago. Jeannoutot rambled for over a hundred in every game but Stanton (where he had 98) and Crofton (74), a team he bolted for 152 yards on 23 totes during the regular season. This kid is a typical Bloomfield RB…. strong, durable and tough to bring down.