2023 Nebraska HS Football Preseason Elite 33
Preseason Elite 33 Defense

After months of tape evaluation, the 2023 season is finally here. Time to start anew. Here is the offensive team in this season’s Nebraska HS Football Elite 33.

Preseason Player of the Year
QB – Anthony Rezac | Omaha Westside | 6’4/200 | QB
– Preseason 11-Man Player of the Year
– 3,460 career passing yards, 38 TD’s; 1,366 career rushing yards, 21 TD’s

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB – Daniel Kaelin | Bellevue West | 6’3/200
– Committed to Nebraska, Kaelin is arguably the best high school football quarterback to ever come out of his home state. Kaelin was named to the Elite 11 in June and comes into his senior campaign with a pair of fellow Nebraska commits at receiver along with emerging hot prospects for the future. Kaelin was named Second Team Super State according to the Lincoln Journal Star as a junior, throwing for 3,186 yards and 36 touchdowns while completing 63.6 percent of his passes. Bellevue West is must-see entertainment this fall.

RB – Sebastien Boyle | Scottsbluff | 6’0/205
– One of Huskerland’s best kept secrets, Boyle has been highly-productive thus far in his high school career out in the Panhandle. A second team Super State honoree, Boyle rushed for 1,926 yards and 26 touchdowns while piling up 8.1 yards per carry as a junior while helping his team to the Class B quarterfinals. Boyle has 3,700 career rushing yards, visiting the end zone 51 times over the past two seasons for the Bearcats.

RB – Payton Prestito | Papillion-La Vista | 5’11/185
– A team that ought to see some noise in the preseason in Class A is Papillion-La Vista. Prestito rushed for 1,178 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 7.7 yards per rush as a junior for a Class A playoff team. Prestito is approaching 2,000 career rushing yards, scoring 18 touchdowns over the past two seasons for the Monarchs while recording 65 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss to boost the defense.

WR – Dae’Vonn Hall | Bellevue West | 6’2/190
– Hall’s recruiting exploded early on after promising tape as a freshman and being unguardable in 7v7. Considered one of the top wide receiver prospects in the region, Hall pushed the 1,000-yard mark as a junior, catching 62 passes for 974 yards and 11 touchdowns.  Over his career, Hall has caught 111 passes for 1,670 yards and 21 touchdowns. In June, Hall committed to Nebraska over Penn State and Tennessee, to name a few. 

WR – Isaiah McMorris | Bellevue West | 6’0/170
– After McMorris transferred to Bellevue West from Millard North prior to last season, things have gone well for the elite level wide receiver. Many around the metro were unsurprised by his performance. McMorris reeled in a Class A record 90 catches, covering 1,297 yards and 14 touchdowns to earn both First Team All-State (OWH) and Super Star (LJS) honors. McMorris committed to Nebraska over the likes of Kansas State, Oklahoma, and USC in late June. 

WR – Jackson Williams | Millard West | 5’11/170
– Westside quarterback Anthony Rezac will get the bulk of the “most underrated” headlines entering the 2023 campaign. Williams, perhaps, has an equally strong case. On a Class A playoff team in 2022, Williams was able to take advantage of his opportunities as a junior. Williams caught 28 passes for 711 yards (25.4 per catch) and nine touchdowns while further making a massive impact on special teams in the return game. Williams returned two punts for a score, averaging over 24 yards per punt return. If Williams get the ball in his hands, watch out. 

TE – Carter Nelson | Ainsworth | 6’5/215
– Preseason Eight-Man Player of the Year
– 92 career receptions, 1,572 yards, 27 TD’s; 663 passing yards, 15 TD’s; 761 rushing yards, 14 TD’s

TE – Michael Burt | Omaha Creighton Prep | 6’6/230
– On a physical team that threw for around 80 yards per game, Creighton Prep’s advantage up front paid off in a run to the Class A semifinals after a brutal schedule saw the Junior Jays finish 6-3 in the regular season. Burt caught 11 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown, but is more impressive as a blocker. Burt committed Iowa in June over Nebraska, Illinois, and Minnesota.

OL – Max Gray | Millard South | 6’3/275
– . Millard South is one of the most intriguing teams in Class A heading into the 2023 season. Leading a very talented offensive line for the Patriots, Gray enters his senior season considered a FCS or Division II prospect with offers from the latter. His tape will be worthy of review after the season for a potential late offer.

OL – Ben Gustafson | Elkhorn South | 6’8/270
– Gustafson’s frame will make any college recruiter do a double-take. Gustafson quietly emerged from an outstanding Storm offensive front and used a strong spring to see his recruiting pick up. Eklhorn South rolled through the regular season unbeaten and finished in the quarterfinals, averaging 407.3 yards per game. Gustafson committed to Northern Illinois in June.

OL – DeAndre Harper | Omaha North | 6’6/300
– Another prospect from the Omaha area that might have more college looks in a location with a higher volume of prospects, Harper has Division II offers heading into his senior season. Perhaps, maybe more so than any other prospect in the Class of 2024 in Nebraska, his tape will also be a candidate for further review after the 2022 season is said and done. Harper is outstanding and has the frame college coaches want.

OL – Cooper Johnson | LIncoln Southeast | 6’6/300
– The well coached Johnson was part of a Lincoln Southeast offense that averaged 340.6 yards per contest in 2022. A tricky district put Southeast in a difficult position seeding wise when it came to the postseason, hence its early exit after a spirited performance against Gretna. Johnson has good tape and perhaps should have more recruiting interest. Southeast is a team that likes to pound the football by using its physicality up front.

OL – Caleb Pyfrom | Omaha Central | 6’6/305
– After a first team All-State performance according to the Omaha World-Herald, Pyfrom was considered one of the top offensive linemen in the region. Absolutely dominant on almost every single play, Pyfrom has all the physical tools you would want in a Power 5 lineman. He will be part of a much improved Omaha Central team in 2023. In June, Pyfrom committed to Illinois over Nebraska and Minnesota. 

OL – Broc Regner | Omaha Westside | 6’5/285
– Regner was part of a well-oiled machine up front a year ago for Class A state champion Omaha Westside. Regner was the starting left tackle, vital in protecting Anthony Rezac’s back side while paving a way in a grinding running game. Westside averaged 399.0 yards per game en route to its second state title win in three years. Regner is considered a Division II prospect at this time. 

OL – Sam Thomas | Elkhorn North | 6’5/285
– Thomas enters his senior season with Group of Five offers in recruiting and continues to be a prospect to monitor moving forward. Elkhorn North made its first playoff appearance in school history in 2022, averaging 352.1 yards per game en route to a Class B quarterfinal appearance. Thomas earned First Team Class B All-State honors according to the Omaha World-Herald for his efforts. On defense, Thomas recorded 32 tackles and 13 tackles for loss.

K – Cameron Bothwell | Gretna | 5’8/170
– In a season where clutch kickers litter the Nebraska high school football landscape, Bothwell has been nearly automatic as Gretna made a run to the state championship game in 2022. Bothwell connected on 68 of 70 point after attempts and 8-of-10 field goals with a long of 31 yards last season.

2023 Preseason Elite 33: Offense: 17 | Defense: 16

2023 Preseason Elite 33 Second Team (17 Offense/16 Defense)
Offense
QB – Brady McGill | Omaha Roncalli | 6’4/200 – 1,849 passing yards, 25 TD’s; 315 rushing yards, 6 TD’s; 47-yard FG
QB – Carson Rauner | Elkhorn South | 6’3/200 – Committed to Holy Cross; 1,602 passing yards, 13 TD’s; 468 rushing (10.9 per carry), 4 TD’s
RB – Parker Borer | Boone Central | 5’10/185 – 1,215 rushing yards, 20 TD’s; 315 receiving yards, 2 TD’s; 31 tackles, 3 INT’s
RB – Keenan Valverde | Pierce | 5’7/165 – 1,900 rushing yards, 26 TD’s for Class C-1 state champions; 2 TD receptions; 13 tackles, 2 TFL, INT
WR/P – Chase Loftin | Elkhorn North | 6’5/200 (Jr.) – FBS prospect; 39 receptions, 577 yards, 5 TD’s; 40.9 yards per punt
WR – Zander Reuling | Kearney | 5’10/170 – 37 receptions, 643 receiving yards, 8 TD’s
ATH – Dylan Sheard | Bellevue West | 6’2/225 – 50 receptions, 1105 receiving yards, 9 TD’s; 226 rushing yards, 4 TD’s; 62 tackles
TE – Tanner Hollinger | Cross County | 6’5/230 – Committed to Illinois; 13 receptions, 141 yards, 3 TD’s; 50 tackles, 9 TFL
TE – Joseph Stein | Grand Island Northwest | 6’6/225 – Committed to Northern Illinois; 21 receptions, 227 yards, 3 TD’s
OL – Dylan Eby | Plattsmouth | 6’3/290 – Dominating run blocker and two-year starter
OL – Nolan Fennessy | Norfolk Catholic | 6’5/255 – First Team C-2 All-State (OWH); 68 tackles, 7 sacks for Class C-2 state champions
OL – Dallas Hamilton | Papillion-La Vista | 6’2/270 – Physical center with Division II offers; Monarchs averaged 344.9 yards per game in 2022
OL – Jayden Potter | Lincoln North Star | 6’6/295 – A season playing varsity basketball will benefit a leaner Potter
OL – Tyler Thaden | Millard West | 6’5/270 – Prospect enters senior season with FCS and Division II offers
OL – Joel Thomas | Columbus | 6’3/290 – Worth a look; A prospect to monitor for further recruiting development
OL – Josh Tollefson | Lincoln Southwest | 6’4/285 – Key contributor on Class A quarterfinalist; offense averaged 382.7 yards per game in 2022
K – Christian Campbell | Papillion-La Vista South | 6’0/140 – 5/6 FG (33 Long); 33/35 PAT; 17 touchbacks

2023 Nebraska HS Football Preview
By The Numbers
2023 Preseason 11-Man MVP
2023 Preseason 8-Man MVP
After That: Elite 33 Juniors

Soon: Elite 33’s for Class A, Class B, Class C-1, Class C-2, a Special Eight-Man List, and a Six-Man List
Preseason Top 10’s

Other Links
2022 Season Archive
2023 Known Signings
2024 Prospects | Commits
2025 Prospects | Commits
2026 Prospects