Nebraska
Nebraska Prep Football Class A Linebackers To Watch in 2024
Of all the defensive positions, the Linebacker slot is the one that intrigues me
the most. The man in the middle with his hands planted firmly on top of his kneecaps, surveying the upcoming play with the eyes of a hawk.
I became spoiled watching the incomparable LaVonte David play for the Huskers, uncorking some of the greatest lateral movement I have ever seen.
It takes a real Athlete to man that Linebacker position at any level of football, so I have decided to salute those players I think have a huge impact under those sacred Friday Night Lights in each class.
I’ll begin with Class A Linebackers who strike fear into the hearts of anyone with a football in their hands.
CLASS A
*Christian Jones-Omaha Westside-6’3, 225, Senior – Top LB in the state. Saw him play twice last season and there’s a reason he has a gazillion D1 offers. Jones will make a smooth transition from Friday Night Lights to the Saturday afternoon spotlight.
*Pierce Mooberry-Millard North- 6’4, 215, Senior – Husker commit has incredible athletic skills and has for quite some time. A true BALLER.
*Sawyer Schilke-Kearney, 6’3, 225, Senior – Good lord! This dude swallows up ball carriers like they’re an afternoon snack. You also better hope Schilke isn’t rushing off the edge because if he is, you’re done. Sawyer Schilke is one mean motor scooter.
*Dylan Kuhl-Millard South-5’11, 195, Senior – Talk about lateral movement. Kuhl was all over, across, up and down the football field with frequent visits to the opposition’s backfield. Every game. Perfect model of a championship high school linebacker.
*Cash Buettenback-Lincoln Southeast-6 ‘0, 210, Senior – Great footwork, fine speed and this guy will hunt you down, shed blockers and make the tackle. Cash is Money on Friday nights.
*Nate Appleget-Lincoln Southeast-6 ‘3, 200, Junior – Buettenback’s LB partner in that Knight’s defensive middle, Nate is quick off the ball and fast enough to cover speedy wide receivers. Great vision and a nose for the ball.
*McCorter Goese-Elkhorn South, 6 ‘1, 210, Senior – Last I checked, Goese was benching 320 and it showed on the field a year ago. McCorter sets the tone for physicality on this Elkhorn South football team and uses his 4.8 speed to stuff the run game big time. This young man is a BALLER!
*Kale Johnson-Papillion-La Vista, 6 ‘3, 225, Senior – Reminds me of a bigger Nate Appleget with his 4.8 speed and keen ability to cover receivers. Very smart football player who is patient and usually tracks down the man with the ball and snuffs out the play.
*Ben Shafer-Papillion-La Vista South, 6’2, 205, Senior – This Shafer kid is literally EVERYHERE on defense! Ben’`s HUDL film clips list him as MLB, OLB, DE, RB and ATH. They are not kidding. Shafer, who has 4.6 speed and can lift a small building, is a real menace rushing off the end. Goo1d grief, Shafer is on the man with the ball before anyone has a remote shot of blocking him. Ben also accumulated 532 yards rushing and 6 touchdowns as a running back. Can you say Swiss Army Knife?
*Jameson Rayner-Millard South, 5’11, 200, Senior – Really, really terrific MLB, in fact, Rayner is the leading returning tackler in Class A. The man knows where the football is on every play. Jameson also brings the wood with every hit. Smart football mind with that internal radar that ball carriers fear.
……AND, the rest of the top notch Linebackers in the Class A ranks.
*Johnny Hurtado-Omaha Westside-5’10, 215, Senior
*Ian Asselin-Omaha Creighton Prep, 6’1, 180, Senior
*Max Clark-Omaha North, 6’2, 220, Junior
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) – The Nebraska Extension hosted a workshop Wednesday morning for ag producers, focusing on how to use drought monitoring and forecasting tools, assess drought impacts and risks, explore management strategies, and identify available resources.
Organizers say the goal is to help producers make more informed, timely decisions as changing weather patterns continue to affect soil moisture, crop conditions, and long-term planning.
The session also highlighted practical tools farmers can use to track drought development and adjust operations before conditions worsen.
“The really warm temperatures and strong wind just sucked the moisture out of the soil, out of the vegetation and this has been going on since at least October and were not going to come out of it over the night, it’s going to take a while to rebuild those moisture supplies even if we get average moisture it will be enough for vegetation but it won’t helped us recover what we’ve already lost,” said Deborah Bathke, Nebraska state climatologist.
Officials add that continued education and early planning are key to helping producers stay resilient through increasingly variable growing seasons.
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Copyright 2026 KNOP. All rights reserved.
Adam Carriker is joined by HuskerOnline publisher Sean Callahan to break down the upcoming season for Matt Rhule and Nebraska football. Callahan gives unique insight on what Nebraska’s offense may look like, realistic expectation for quarterback Anthony Colandrea, if the offensive line is legit better, the new 4-2-5 defense, the undersized defensive line and if the Huskers will win more than seven games. Also, will Nebraska basketball make a Sweet 16 run again?
Hit the play button for that and more in this episode of the Carriker Chronicles. For a synopsis, scroll down.
Synopsis
In the latest installment of the Carriker Chronicles, Adam Carriker and Sean Callahan discuss the upcoming season for Nebraska football and why this year is so important. They explain that Year 4 under Matt Rhule is a big turning point because by now, the program should reflect his system, culture, and recruiting. If things are going to work long-term, this is the season where fans should really start to see it.
One of the first things they talk about is the overall vibe of the offseason. Callahan mentions that Nebraska has “closed the lab,” meaning the team is done experimenting and now fully focused on playing football. The expectation is that players understand the system better and can execute at a higher level without the outside distractions.
They also discuss the offense and what it might look like under Dana Holgorsen. While there may be some similarities to past systems, there will also be differences based on the players Nebraska has. Part of the conversation is quarterback Anthony Colandrea, and they set realistic expectations for him. He doesn’t have to be perfect, but he does need to be consistent, make plays with his feet and take care of the football.
The offensive line is another key topic. Callahan believes the group has improved this offseason, especially with players like Elijah Pritchett, who seems to be on the uptick. If the offensive line can protect the quarterback and create running lanes, it could make a huge difference for the entire offense. They also mention the running back room, which has potential but still needs to prove itself during the season.
On defense, Nebraska is expected to run more of a 4-2-5 scheme this year. This means more speed on the field, but it also raises questions about size, especially on the defensive line. One of the biggest concerns is whether the defensive front can hold up against physical teams. However, they point out that the secondary might be the strongest position group, which could help balance things out.
Special teams are briefly discussed, with the expectation that they will be solid but not necessarily a major strength or weakness. Recruiting is another area where Nebraska seems to be trending in the right direction, which is important for building long-term success.
They also touch on men’s basketball and whether the team can make another Sweet 16 run. While it’s possible, it will depend heavily on player development and who will replace those that have left.
To wrap it up, they debate whether Nebraska football will win more than seven games this season. It’s seen as a realistic but challenging goal. This is a critical year for Matt Rhule and the program, and fans should have a much clearer idea of the team’s future by the end of the season.
Program order
- 00:00: Intro
- 01:09: Sean Callahan Joins the Show
- 01:54: Year 4 Under Matt Rhule
- 04:04: Offseason Vibe: Closing the Lab, Focusing on Football
- 05:30: Dana Holgorsen: Similarities & Differences to Expect
- 07:30: Offensive Line: Offseason Improvements
- 09:45: Elijah Pritchett Spotlight
- 12:54: Running Back Room: What to Expect
- 15:20: Defensive Scheme: What to Expect This Year
- 18:53: Biggest Defensive Question Marks
- 22:10: Strongest Defensive Position Group
- 23:00: Special Teams Outlook
- 25:08: Recruiting Class Breakdown
- 27:45: Nebraska Basketball Preview
- 29:50: Over/Under: 7 Wins Next Season
- 31:18: Fan Questions
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LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska baseball team lost to Kansas 9-7 on Tuesday in front of a record crowd at Hoglund Park. The Huskers took an early lead on an RBI single by National Freshman of the Week Drew Grego. After giving up three unanswered runs, Nebraska rallied to go back in front on a 3rd-inning single by Will Jesske. Both Grego and Jesske finished with two hits in the game.
Kansas, however, took control in the middle innings. The Jayhawks got home runs from Tyson Owens and Josh Dykoff in the sixth frame. Both round-trippers came off NU relief pitcher Ty Horn. Kansas added insurance in the 7th inning before a late rally by the Huskers.
Nebraska trimmed a five-run deficit to two, but couldn’t complete the comeback on the road.
The Huskers’ loss is their second to the Jayhawks this season. Nebraska’s record drops to 31-10 overall.
Will Bolt’s team returns to action on Friday at Illinois. Game one is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. in Champaign.
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
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