Nebraska
National Weather Service confirmed at least 8 tornadoes in Nebraska and Iowa from Thursday’s storms
On Thursday morning, June 11, a cluster of thunderstorms raced through southeast Nebraska into southwest Iowa. While it brought heavy rain and lightning to Omaha, just 30 miles south of Omaha, it brought all kinds of significant weather.
The worst of the damage began in Cass County and continued through southwest Iowa. Within this broad swath, winds exceeding 80 mph at times brought substantial tree damage to a region already hit hard by severe storms this season.
The storms also brought hail up to 3″ in central Page County. Then, significant flash flooding occurred in Sidney, Shenandoah, and Essex.
In the days following the storms, the National Weather Service offices in Omaha/Valley and Des Moines have been surveying the damage to determine whether tornadoes or straight-line winds caused it. The findings, released Sunday afternoon, determined that eight tornadoes occurred in the storms. Six of those were rated EF-1 with winds as high as 110 mph. Two were rated EF-0.
NWS Omaha/Valley
The tornadoes began just east of Weeping Water in Cass County, where a farm building had its walls collapse. This tornado was rated a high-end EF-1 with winds up to 100 mph. An EF-0 tornado hit the creekbed of South Cedar Creek, where tree damage was observed.
Farther east, another EF-1 tornado developed north of Union. Extensive tree damage was noted at a residence and the East Union Cemetery. Meteorologist Joseph Meyer visited the cemetery and spoke with the president of the East Union Cemetery.
East Union Cemetery tornado damage
In Iowa, an EF-0 hit southwest Mills County in the bluffs northwest of Tabor. Tree damage was noted in this area.
The strongest tornado of the day happened in Fremont County, just west of Thurman. At a home just west of I-29, a roof was lifted off. This tornado was rated a high-end EF-1 with winds up to 110 mph, which is borderline EF-2 intensity.
NWS Omaha/Valley
As the storms continued into Montgomery and Page Counties, 80-90 mph winds caused extensive damage to trees, power lines, and outbuildings. Within this intense core of winds, several tornadoes occurred in the Villisca vicinity.
One of these, an EF-1, began over Viking Lake and continued east. At one home, the roof was damaged. Grain bins were thrown a mile away, landing at the interchange of US-34 and US-71. This tornado had estimated wind speeds up to 105 mph.
NWS Omaha/Valley
Southwest of Villisca, an EF-1 tornado crossed over northern Page County, twisting trees along a 7-mile path. A final EF-1 occurred between Villisca and Hepburn, where a farm outbuilding lost a wall.
The National Weather Service in Des Moines is still surveying damage in Adams County and near Corning. This story will be updated when those results are released.
A Nebraska quarterback commit is making headlines heading into his senior season. Five-star prospect Trae Taylor has been named by Rivals as one of the ‘five high school football transfers that will make a big impact this 2026 season.’
Taylor heads into 2026 after a strong 2025 season at Carmel Catholic (IL). In 11 games, he threw 3,571 yards, 38 touchdowns, and three interceptions. He also ran 77 times for 633 yards and 12 touchdowns.
The five-star quarterback is transferring to Millard South (NE) this offseason and will join a team that went 12-1 this past season and won back-to-back Class A State championships. He is taking over as the starting quarterback, replacing Jett Thomalla, who signed with Alabama.
Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power writes that the transfer quarterback is well-rounded and one of the stronger arms in the 2027 cycle. He also believes that the development he has shown this late in his career should be seen as a positive.
“Brings a combination of high-end arm talent and refinement to the table. Has a whippy release that uncoils quickly to generate fast arm action. Added arm strength in the off-season prior to his senior year. Can drive the football to all areas of the field with palpable zip. Rips throws out to the far hash and up the seam. Throws a tight spiral that cuts through the wind. Has proven to be accurate in multiple settings. Hyper-trained and plays with a good level of consistency as a passer.”
Taylor is also the first Cornhusker commit to ever hold the title of Elite 11 MVP. He was named the Most Valuable Player at the conclusion of The Opening Finals at Nike’s World Headquarters last month.
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College football programs would rather not play true freshmen. Programs would rather give the kids a year to mature, get reps and get stronger. Learn behind experienced players, learn the system, grow mentally and physically. Make inevitable mistakes on the practice field, not in games.
Nebraska is no exception.
But Huskers true freshman running back Jamal Rule might be an exception.
Rule, one of the stars of Nebraska’s spring game, recently was cited by CBS Sports as one of 11 Big Ten true freshmen to watch who could have an immediate impact in 2026.
There is buzz around the Nebraska program regarding Rule, a 6-foot, 205-pound, three-star recruit from Charlotte, N.C. In the spring game, Rule scored on a 75-yard touchdown sprint and had 119 yards on 10 carries. He also caught a pass for 15 yards.
Nebraska coach Matt Rhule certainly has noticed. The early enrollee has them talking around the Huskers’ program and around Lincoln, too.
What Rhule said about Rule
“Jamal had a really good spring,” Rhule told reporters after the spring game. “What he looked like today, he looked like all spring long. He’s very conscientious. He’s big, he’s tough, he’s fast, he’s got home run ability.”
Rule comes along at an opportune time for himself and Nebraska, which lost 2025 Big Ten Running Back of the Year Emmett Johnson to NFL Draft and the Kansas City Chiefs. Without Johnson, who gained a conference-leading 1,451 yards on the ground last season, the Huskers’ running back room was a serious question mark coming into the season.
Now, Nebraska is dealing with the arrest of presumed starting running back Mekhi Nelson in Key West, Fla. Nelson was arrested last week, charged with aggravated battery, as first reported by Pete Nakos, of On3.
Nelson’s legal ramifications are unknown as well as how this will affect his football status.
What CBS Sports said about Jamal Rule
CBS Sports writer Brad Crawford wrote this about Rule in selecting him as a Big Ten freshman to watch: “Some would say he was overlooked a bit by the elite programs during the recruiting process, but this three-star out of Charlotte, North Carolina, was identified early as a must-have for the Huskers and checked every box for coach Matt Rhule and his staff.
“Virginia Tech, Michigan State and Syracuse were in on Rule as well, but Nebraska won his commitment and may have grabbed an unexpected freshman starter as a result.
“Hoping to prove a point during spring camp, Rule showed aggression and ran hard on every rep. The expectation is that the Huskers will take a by-committee approach in the run game this season following the departure of leading rusher Emmett Johnson, and Rule should get some totes along with Isaiah Mozee and Mekhi Nelson.”
Rhule, whose Huskers face a brutal schedule in 2026, said after the spring game that Rule is “certainly preparing to play this year as a freshman.”
What it could mean for the offense
An established running attack certainly could help new quarterback Anthony Colandrea and the offense. If Rule is the real deal, Nebraska’s now uncertain running back room could become a much-needed strength.
A running back who can break a big play would add a dimension to the Huskers’ offense that could allow them to run on obvious passing downs and keep defenses off-balance.
Opponents might be forced to specifically game-plan for that aspect of the Huskers’ offense. That added defensive focus on the running game could mean less attention paid to the passing attack — a potential Nebraska advantage.
A strong passing game begins with a strong ground game. That was a go-to, bread-and-butter Nebraska strategy for years.
Everyone will know soon enough, as the season begins in a mere two months.
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