Nebraska
Couple who crashed due to object on rural Nebraska highway waits for results of sheriff’s investigation
BENNINGTON, Neb. (WOWT) – A Nebraska couple is still waiting for answers from investigators and their insurance company.
It’s been more than a month since several drivers reported large objects on a busy Douglas County highway. Sheriff’s deputies continue to investigate the incidents as intentional, but so far, no arrests have been made.
After swerving to avoid what appeared to be a TV in the highway and then crashing down into a ravine, Garrison and Skylar Beach escaped with their lives.
But six weeks later, life has been stressful.
“It isn’t a harmless thing that happened,” Garrison said. “It’s had a huge impact on us financially and in other aspects.”
The couple believes their insurance provider is waiting on the outcome of the sheriff’s investigation for a final settlement, but in the meantime, the Beaches’ out-of-pocket costs are estimated at $6,500, including a $1,500 deductible and the price of a used car they had to buy, which is cost more than the replacement value of the crashed Toyota Camry.
On top of all that, the couple says they have an expense they didn’t expect. They received a bill from the Nebraska Department of Transportation for repairs to the guardrail cable they wrecked while trying to avoid the object in the middle of the road.
“It’s the cherry on top, I guess,” Skylar Beach said. “After all this, we got the bill for the guardrail, but hopefully our insurance can help us out with that.”
Douglas County Sheriff’s Captain Eric Sellers told First Alert 6 last month that several incidents of objects sitting on Highway 36 near Bennington appear intentional to have been intentionally placed there.
“We have a subject of interest we’re looking at now in the case,” Capt. Sellers said in December.
A 22-year-old Bennington man has been questioned, but without a confession, investigators must prove he intentionally put the objects in the roadway.
“I feel like the responsible part should have to make it right for people, especially like us, where it’s putting us out thousands of dollars,” Garrison Beach said.
The Beaches are a single-income couple right now as Garrison is a full-time student studying to be a physician’s assistant.
“We just wish whoever did this will come forward and just make it right for us, because we’re at a point in our lives where this has really effected us financially,” Skylar said.
Capt. Sellers says the investigation into the highway objects is ongoing and no more similar incidents have been reported. As for the guardrail, the district engineer says that’s standard procedure but most times a driver’s insurance will cover the bill.
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With the NCAA recruiting dead period now in effect following a three-week stretch of official visits, Nebraska sits firmly among the top schools still in contention for a number of its top 2026 targets. June offered programs across the country their final window to make in-person impressions before the summer slow-down, and Matt Rhule’s staff made the most of it.
After three straight weeks of boots on the ground in Lincoln, the Huskers are closing in on the foundation of their 2026 class. With dozens of high-profile visitors spanning both sides of the ball, and nearly every position in between, Nebraska is positioned to make a splash. Here’s a look at where things stand coming out of a pivotal stretch in June.
Though smaller in number, Nebraska’s defensive line visitors in June packed serious potential.
First up was four-star edge rusher Kamron Wilson, a top-40 prospect at his position and current Syracuse commit. Wilson has long been on Nebraska’s radar, dating back to Tony White’s tenure as defensive coordinator. Interestingly, 247Sports lists Wilson as a 50-50 crystal ball between Nebraska and Florida State, where White now calls plays.
The following weekend brought four-star defensive lineman Valdin Sone to campus. A top-25 player at his position and ranked No. 183 nationally, Sone is a raw but intriguing talent. Originally from Denmark, he’s only played American football for a few years but shows major upside, making him an absolute priority for this staff.
While Nebraska only hosted two official defensive line visitors, the coaching staff appears to be in a wait-and-see mode, likely due to a young core already in place for 2025. Still, Wilson and Sone are high-impact prospects who would instantly elevate Nebraska’s 2026 class if they chose to call Lincoln home for the next couple of years.
Odem committed to Nebraska on Monday, June 23, 2025.
Moving onto a secondary group under new position coach Addison Williams, Nebraska hosted six defensive back prospects in June, though scholarship limitations (105 total) likely mean room for only two or three.
The biggest shake-up came earlier this month when four-star cornerback CJ Bronaugh decommitted, leaving a sizable hole in the 2026 class at a premium position.
However, last weekend, Nebraska hosted a key duo from Florida: safety Devin Jackson and cornerback Danny Odem, who are high school teammates. Just yesterday, Odem committed to the Huskers. With Odem’s pledge to Nebraska, it could pave the way for Jackson to follow suit, given they are the only school currently pursuing both players.
In-state target Darion Jones, the younger brother of current Husker Donovan Jones, also made an official visit in June. Jones is currently viewed as an Iowa lean, but Nebraska remains firmly in the mix. His decision, along with the potential Odem-Jackson tandem, could make or break how this cycle shapes up for Nebraska’s secondary.
Reynolds’ committed to Nebraska on May 5, 2025.
Rounding out Nebraska’s June official visits is the linebacker group, which featured two intriguing prospects who could eventually call Lincoln home.
Three-star Kasen Thomas out of Sioux City, Iowa, seemed like the type of prospect that could become a versatile piece in new defensive coordinator John Butler’s scheme. Instead, Thomas recently committed to Iowa, so look for Nebraska to potentially expand their board.
Also making a trip to Lincoln was Calvin Thomas, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound backer and composite four-star prospect, currently ranked as the No. 18 linebacker in the 2026 class. With offers from several playoff-contending programs, Thomas is a nationally sought-after defender. Even with a 2025 linebacker group that includes both veteran transfers and promising youth, Thomas would bring immediate athleticism and versatility to both run support and pass coverage if he chooses Nebraska.
Nebraska also secured a commitment from in-state three-star linebacker Jase Reynolds out of Elkhorn North (Omaha metro area). At 6-foot-2, 206 pounds, Reynolds brings immediate size and versatility to the defensive side of the ball. Whether dropping into coverage or coming downhill as a blitzer, he’s shown a willingness to do both effectively. Expect the Nebraska staff to add weight to his frame and potentially develop him into a hybrid chess piece within John Butler’s evolving defensive scheme.
Overall, linebacker is considered a position of strength for Nebraska heading into 2025 and beyond, and with Kasen Thomas now committed to Iowa, landing a pledge from Calvin Thomas would absolutely represent a significant win, one that would be well received by the fan base and strengthen the long-term depth of the room.
As the 2026 recruiting class continues to take shape, Nebraska’s staff is working to strike a careful balance between building for the future and maintaining a “win-now” mindset.
With the newly imposed 105-man roster limit, and Nebraska currently 15+ players over that mark, the class is expected to remain small. That means every high school addition must be evaluated with both current team needs and long-term fit in mind.
At the same time, the staff knows that instant-impact players will become available in the transfer portal next December. Like every program in college football today, Nebraska is walking a tightrope between recruiting for the future and staying competitive in the now.
Next. Husker Recruiting Central: 2026. Husker Recruiting Central: 2026. dark
But one thing is clear: Matt Rhule and his staff are trusting THEIR process. A strong 2025 campaign could lead to a late-cycle push for elite high school talent or give Nebraska the edge in securing top transfer prospects. A disappointing season, on the other hand, would likely mean another unpredictable swing in the portal to shore up immediate weaknesses.
Though the 2026 class may not turn heads just yet, Nebraska is clearly giving itself room to breathe and adjust course based on how the 2025 season unfolds. Of course, the hope is that the Huskers take a major step forward this fall, but even beyond the win column, Matt Rhule’s long-term vision deserves recognition. This class may not finish in the top 10 nationally, but if Nebraska finds success on the field in 2025, don’t be surprised to see a few high-profile commitments flip in the Huskers’ favor by signing day.
Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
A class of 2026 defensive back announces his commitment on Monday evening. Four-star corner Danny Odem committed to the Nebraska Cornhuskers and became the class of 2026’s seventh commitment.
Nebraska was one of the five finalists vying for Odem. The other schools were Oklahoma, Penn State, Clemson, and Ohio State.
The Florida native recorded 45 tackles, two interceptions, three pass deflections, and a fumble recovery in his junior season. He also played on the offensive side of the football and recorded five receptions for 40 yards on the year, according to statistics from MaxPreps.com.
According to the On3 Recruiting Rankings, he is the No. 19-ranked corner in the 2026 class and the No. 27-ranked overall player in his class from the state of Florida.
The class of 2026 ranks 74th in the nation and 18th in the Big Ten, according to the latest analysis from On3.
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There have been 25 seasons of Huskers making big plays on the outside.
Now, as HuskerMax looks to build the Nebraska All-Quarter-Century team, we must decide on the offensive linemen to represent the last 25 years of Cornhuskers. There are 20 players eligible.
All-Quarter-Century Team: Voting Schedule. All-Quarter-Century Team: Voting Schedule. dark. Next
The Nebraska All-Quarter-Century team will include five offensive lineman. The full team will be released on Aug. 1.
Vote for five players below. Continue scrolling for information on each of the players.
Bryce Benhart is the youngest player on this list, finishing his career in 2024. That youth didn’t stop him from setting a number of records while playing in 20% of the eligible seasons for the All-Quarter-Century Team. Benhart holds the Husker record for career starts at 54 and career games played at 60. He also has the most starts for an offensive lineman or right tackle, with both at 54.
Mike Caputo started 27 games between the 2010 and 2011 seasons, earning second-team All-Big Ten as a senior. He was a semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, given to a standout college player who began their career as a walk-on.
Toniu Fonoti earned All-Big 12 honors twice in the early 2000s, including 2001 when he was a first-team All-American. A finalist for the Outland Trophy and semifinalist for the Lombardi, he helped lead Nebraska to the BCS National Championship. Along the way, Fonoti set records for single-game pancake blocks (32, Texas Tech), single-season pancakes (201), and career pancakes (379).
John Garrison was the starting center for the Big Red during the 2001 season. The Huskers made the BCS National Championship while Garrison was snapping the ball to Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch.
Nick Gates earned All-Big Ten honors as a sophomore in 2016. From 2015-17, he started 35 games. His 25 straight starts at left tackle was the longest streak for a Husker since 2001.
Ricky Henry earned unanimous first-team All-Big 12 honors as a senior in 2010, making him the first Husker offensive lineman to do so since Toniu Fonoti in 2001. The Nebraska native transferred back to Lincoln for his final two years, where he started every game at right guard.
Jacob Hickman started for three seasons with the Huskers, including his second-team All-Big 12 campaign in 2009. After seeing action in 12 games as a sophomore at guard, he started all 27 games as a junior and senior at center.
Russ Hochstein earned more than just All-Big 12 honors in 2000, he was also an All-American. He helped Nebraska claim the NCAA rushing title in 2000. Against Notre Dame, he set a school record for pancake blocks in a game with 23.
Richie Incognito was the first Husker freshman offensive lineman to start in the season opener and just the third rookie lineman to earn any start in his first year of competition. He would eventually earn All-Big 12 honors and notch the second-highest pancake total in a season with 171.
Brenden Jaimes set Husker records for consecutive starts by an offensive lineman (40) and starts by a true freshman offensive lineman (9). He was just the fifth true freshman offensive lineman to start at Nebraska and only the 11th Husker offensive lineman to play as a true freshman. Only Jermiah Sirles had started more career games on the offensive line as a Husker by the time Jaimes was done.
Cam Jurgens made the switch from tight end to center during a redshirt season in 2018. That move proved to be perhaps the single best decision of the Scott Frost era. Jurgens started all but one game over the next three seasons, earning third-team All-Big Ten in 2021.
Alex Lewis spent two seasons in Lincoln, starting all 26 games at left tackle. Earning All-Big Ten honors in 2015, Lewis also joined his father and former Husker, Bill, in becoming a team captain, making them only the third family in Nebraska history to have a father-son combination both serve as Cornhusker captains.
Spencer Long had his career at NU end with an injury, but before that he left a legacy. A two-time Burlsworth Trophy semifinalist after beginning as a walk-on, Long earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2011. In 2012, he improved to first-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-America. Despite a senior season cut short, Long and his brother Jake became third set of brothers in Nebraska history to both earn academic All-America awards, and the first to do so in the same season.
Kurt Mann started every game in 2004 and 2005 for the Big Red. The Nebraska native earned All-Big 12 honors in ’05 while anchoring the line at the center position and helping Zac Taylor to have a record-setting passing season.
Carl Nicks made 13 starts and appeared in 23 games over his two seasons in Lincoln. The 2007 second-team All-Big 12 selection saw time at both tackle positions, helping the Huskers to an electric passing attack in his final year.
Cole Pensick earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2013. Originally a defensive tackle, Pensick worked his way into consistent time by his junior year. In 2012, he played in all 14 games and got a pair of starts at center. As a senior, Pensick made 12 starts over 13 games, including sliding over to guard as teammates fell to injuries.
Dominic Raiola is the only player on this list to have his jersey retired. The inaugural Rimington Award winner in 2000 as the best center in the nation, Raiola was also a finalist for the Lombardi and the Outland trophies. He earned first-team All-America while helping the Huskers to an NCAA rushing title (349.0 yards per game).
Jeremiah Sirles made more starts than any other Husker offensive lineman had before him, with 41. He fought through multiple injuries to see action in 53 games, including both tackle positions.
Matt Slauson saw time at the guard and tackle positions over his four years in Lincoln, proving his versatility time and again. An All-Big 12 selection in 2008, Slauson appeared in 45 games over his career.
Dave Volk earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2001 while helping the Huskers to a 15th NCAA rushing title and a BCS National Championship appearance. He was just the fourth Husker with more than 300 career pancakes, finishing with 343 pancakes to rank fifth all time at NU. He, Toniu Fonoti, and John Garrison all averaged double-figure pancakes in ’01.
Have a question or comment for Kaleb? Send an email to kalebhenry.huskermax@gmail.com.
Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
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