Nebraska
Jett Thomalla Named Gatorade Nebraska Football Player Of The Year
Over 72 percent completion percentage. Nearly 60 passing touchdowns. Almost 3,500 yards in the air.
That, in a nutshell, summed up the incredible senior season for Millard South High School sensation Jett Thomalla.
But there was so much more to the game of the future Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback.
“Jett Thomalla is one of the most prolific high school quarterbacks to come out of Nebraska,” said rival head coach Allen Burrell, Jr. of Millard North. “What sets him apart is his ability to process the game at a high level and make every throw on the field.
“His ball placement is elite, and when you combine that with his decision-making and command of the offense, it’s easy to see why he’s one of the Top 10 high school quarterbacks in the country.”
Thomalla has been named the Gatorade Nebraska State Football Player of the Year, the organization announced.
The 6-foot-5, 190-pounder led the Patriots to a 12-1 record this past fall – with the lone loss being a contest that was ruled a forfeit. They claimed another Class A Nebraska high school state title, as Thomalla led an offense that put up 204 points during a four-game postseason run.
Regarded as one of the top players in the Class of 2026 by 247Sports, Thomalla ended his high school career by setting a single-game state record seven touchdown passes in both the semifinals and finals.
Thomalla sits atop the all-class Nebraska high school football passing lists in yardage, with 10,253 and touchdowns, with 134.
Off the football field, Thomalla holds a 3.4 grade point average and is actively involved in the elementary school literacy outreach initiative, as a YMCA youth sports referee and has donated his time on behalf of a Special Olympics Unified Sports team and as a football camp counselor for the past three years.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one state winner from each of the 50 states and Washington D.C., in 12 different sports: football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball, boys and girls soccer, and boys and girls track and field.
In total, 610 high school athletes are honored each year. From the pool of state winners, one national winner is selected in each of the 12 sports. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the winners in each sport.
As part of Gatorade’s commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year also receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner. To date, the Gatorade Player of the Year program has provided more than $6.4 million in grants to winners across more than 2,200 organizations.
Nebraska
Nebraska’s Recruiting Momentum Continues with 2027 Safety Still Considering Huskers
A 2027 four-star safety is beginning to sharpen the focus of his recruitment, trimming down the list of schools under consideration, and Nebraska remains firmly in the mix.
Kennedy Green from Douglasville, Georgia, has a combination of production and playmaking ability that is already drawing national attention. The Huskers’ inclusion underscores their continued push to secure top defensive talent for the future. This latest development adds intrigue to Nebraska’s recruiting narrative as the program looks to build momentum heading into the next cycle.
The prospect is rated a 90 overall by 247Sports, placing him at No. 201 nationally in the 2027 class. At the safety position, he comes in ranked No. 23, while within the state of Georgia, he holds the No. 21 spot. This combination of rankings highlights him as a strong four-star recruit with both regional and national recognition for his defensive skills.
Green’s recruitment is heating up, with several powerhouse programs still in contention. Nebraska has secured a spot among his top choices, joining South Carolina, Tennessee, Miami, North Carolina, and Florida State as schools under serious consideration.
Each program brings its own appeal, from tradition-rich defenses to regional ties, but Nebraska’s inclusion highlights the Huskers’ growing presence on the national recruiting stage. As the safety narrows his focus, the battle among these programs is expected to intensify, with Nebraska positioned to make a compelling case for his future.
NEWS: 2027 4-star safety Kennedy Green is narrowing focus on schools, eyeing early decision.
The latest: https://t.co/5d7Hcag6qK pic.twitter.com/oLU4D9Piwy
— ChadSimmons (@ChadSimmons_) December 7, 2025
In 2024, Green put together a consistent and productive season, finishing with 75 total tackles, including three tackles for loss, while adding two pass breakups and two fumble recoveries. He also showcased his playmaking ability in coverage, recording six interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Altogether, his 2024 stat line reflects a balanced impact across multiple phases of the defense, combining reliability in tackling with game-changing plays in the secondary.
Green’s fit at Nebraska comes down to his versatility, defensive instincts, and the Huskers’ need for playmakers in the secondary. His skill set aligns with Nebraska’s emphasis on physical, multi-phase athletes who can contribute immediately in coverage and run support.
As a safety, he has the ability to rotate seamlessly between deep coverage, nickel responsibilities, and run support, giving the Huskers flexibility across multiple defensive looks. Combined with his tackling and coverage skills, Green represents the type of hybrid defender who can immediately strengthen Nebraska’s evolving defense.
Green’s 75 tackles in 2024 demonstrate consistency and toughness, traits Nebraska fans embrace. The program’s culture rewards blue-collar defenders who can handle both the grind of Big Ten play and the spotlight of national matchups.
#AGTG🙏🏽 I’m blessed to be placed on the defensive 6A All State Georgia Defense #ALLSTATE @Alex_B2C @borntocompete @coachwilblack @scoobieford24 @CoachDawsey_2 @BuckFitz @NatlPlaymkrsAca @samspiegs @ChadSimmons_ pic.twitter.com/6Ub8KRrxdh
— Kennedy (UNO) Green ||| 4⭐️ (@KjGreen7k) January 5, 2025
Nebraska’s recruiting momentum in the 2027 class is already evident with cornerstone commitments such as quarterback Trae Taylor and safety Tory Pittman III, both highly rated prospects who strengthen the foundation of the roster. Securing Green would not only add depth to the defensive backfield but also reinforce the Huskers’ ability to compete on a national scale for elite talent. His addition would signal that Nebraska is building more than just a regional pipeline. It’s positioning itself as a destination program capable of attracting and developing top-tier recruits across the country.
Green would fit Nebraska as a plug-and-play safety who strengthens their turnover-driven defense, adds depth to a growing 2027 class, and embodies the Huskers’ culture of toughness and adaptability.
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Nebraska
Nebraska volleyball advances to Sweet 16 with sweep of Kansas State
Nebraska (32-0) entered the second round of the NCAA tournament on Saturday, taking on Kansas State (18-10). Though the Wildcats put up a fight, the Huskers swept the night (25-17, 25-21, 25-16) to advance to the Sweet 16.
Nebraska struggled at times against the Kansas State defense, the Wildcats posted 14 blocks and 32 digs. This helped KSU stay in each set against the Huskers, even taking the lead multiple times. But Nebraska found itself out in front by the time it reached the red zone, allowing it to get the sweep.
The Huskers finished with 43 kills off 99 attacks for a .253 hitting percentage and posted 48 digs and eight blocks to hold Kansas State to .118 and 27 kills on 102 attacks. Nebraska also delivered seven service aces in the win.
Harper Murray and Andi Jackson co-led Nebraska, each delivering ten kills in the sweep. Murray also snatched six digs while Jackson posted a team-high three blocks and earned her ten kills off 15 attacks. Taylor Landfair hit 8-of-18 on the night, while Virginia Adriano finished 7-of-12 with a service ace.
Rebekah Allick posted six kills off 13 attacks for the Huskers, while Allie Sczech finished 2-of-4. Bergen Reilly tallied 34 set assists and a service ace. Laney Choboy and Olivia Mauch each delivered two service aces. The duo also combined for 25 digs, with Mauch earning 13 and Choboy grabbing 12.
Nebraska will host Kansas on Friday in the Sweet 16. The match is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN2.
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Nebraska
Nebraska Weathers Dip in Offense, Sweeps Kansas State
The Nebraska offensive machine ran into a few glitches against Kansas State Saturday night.
The Huskers posted a .253 hitting percentage, their lowest since hitting .250 against Creighton, but relied on tough serving and a stingy defense to quash KSU. Despite the struggles, NU still earned a 25-17, 25-21, 25-16 sweep in front of 8,601 fans at the Devaney Center.
NU coach Dani Busboom Kelly said the Wildcats used their block to disrupt the Huskers’ offense. KSU finished with eight blocks, all of which came during the first two sets. The Huskers hit .139 in the second set, just the 10th time they’ve posted a hitting percentage below .200 for a set this season.
“This was one of the first matches in a while, we had to get it out with our serve and pass and floor defense, which is kind of like classic Nebraska volleyball,” Busboom Kelly said. “I felt like we handled it really well. We kept our composure, stayed really steady, and finished the match with our best volleyball of the night.”
With the win, NU (32-0) moves on to its 14th straight regional semifinal and will face fourth-seeded Kansas on Friday evening. No. 2 Louisville and No. 3 Texas A&M will also play in the Lincoln Region and start the doubleheader at 6 p.m., with the second match starting 30 minutes after the conclusion.
Despite the less-than-dominant performance, Harper Murray said she was grateful that their season is still alive and they have more matches to play, something only 15 other teams can say. She said the Huskers will learn from the match and get better the next time they step on the court.
“We’re not invincible,” Murray said. “Teams are going to put their best fight up against us, and as they should, and they deserve our best effort too.
Nebraska appeared to be on track for another beatdown of an opponent after jumping out to a 7-2 lead in the first set. However, Kansas State (18-10) rallied and closed to 9-7 after back-to-back hitting errors.
NU responded with a 5-0 run to rebuild its lead, but errors allowed the Wildcats to climb back. Kansas State won seven of the next nine rallies, with four points coming on NU hitting errors and another via a bad set from Bergen Reilly.
However, the Huskers responded with four kills and a block during a 5-0 run to go up 21-14 before closing out the set.
Nebraska’s offensive woes carried over into the second set as Kansas State staked a 4-1 lead after three more Husker hitting errors, including two blocks. KSU coach Jason Mansfield said their block shut off the low angles for NU’s attackers.
“They took some swings where they were trying to bounce it, and our blockers are obviously physical, and made them pay,” he said. “They’re a team that usually keeps it high, and they didn’t, and we made them pay eight times.”
Senior opposite Allie Sczech provided some relief at the net as she recorded two kills on four swings. Virginia Adriano put up seven kills, but also committed five hitting errors.
While the offense was struggling, Nebraska stayed afloat with strong serving and good passing. The Huskers recorded three aces in the second set, including an ace from Choboy that broke a 10-10 tie. NU also only allowed two aces by the Wildcats all night.
“Our defense hung in there, and we were ready for long rallies,” said Reilly, who finished with 34 assists. “I was really proud of us, even when it didn’t feel super clean, like we still were just playing Nebraska volleyball.
The Huskers’ offense started clicking in the third set as they hit .393 in the set. After KSU hung close early, Nebraska turned a 9-8 deficit into a 16-10 lead thanks to a pair of missed serves and three hitting errors from KSU. Landfair, who tallied eight kills, ended the match with an attack that went off the Wildcat block and landed out of bounds.
Junior middle blocker Andi Jackson put up five kills in the set while Murray added four to end the match on a strong note. They both finished with 10 kills, as Jackson led the NU attackers with a .533 hitting percentage and three blocks. Rebekah Allick had six kills and one solo block.
Olivia Mauch and Laney Choboy finished with 13 and 12 digs, respectively, while they both recorded two aces.
Despite Nebraska’s offensive struggles, Busboom Kelly wasn’t worried about any long-term issues. Even though KSU pressed the Huskers at times, she never thought the Huskers lost their composure.
“It never felt like we were stressed, even though it looked like it out on the court,” Busboom Kelly said. “The timeout communication was great. The communication between plays was great. So all the things that we can control were very, very good, and that’s what you want this time of year.”
When asked if she had any concerns going forward with the team, Busboom Kelly was quite concise with her response.
“Nope.”
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