2023 Nebraska HS Football Preseason Elite 33

These are the defensive members of the Nebraska HS Football Preseason Elite 33, which is a list of top 33 players to watch entering the 2023 high school football season. Everybody is 0-0. It’s all to play for. This is a fan’s view.

Preseason Elite 33 Offense
2023 Preseason 11-Man MVP
2023 Preseason 8-Man MVP
(Ones will be done for all classes before the season, so please be patient. The more names mentioned, the better.)

First Team Defense

DL – JT Brands | Oakland-Craig | 6’1/270
– Brands is a two-time All-State honoree in Class C-2 according to the Omaha World-Herald. Over his career, Brands has recorded 187 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, and 13 sacks in dominating fashion. Brands is considered underrated in the recruiting world. In 2022, Brands finished with 69 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and six sacks on a Class C-2 quarterfinalist. Brands makes running the football his way extremely difficult.

DL – Eric Ingwerson | Papillion-La Vista | 6’7/250
– Due to Nebraska’s tight ends per capita rating being particularly high in the Class of 2024 with five Division I commits thus far, Ingwerson has been moved over to the defensive side for the purpose of preseason accolades. The Pittsburgh pledge projects on offense at the next level, using his frame as a prominent red zone target. Ingwerson caught 10 passes for 175 yards and three scores. On defense Ingwerson earned his First Team accolades by recording 51 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks as a junior.  

DL – JR Lecuona | Millard South | 6’3/250
– Lecuona committed to South Dakota State over the summer and is a prospect to monitor for potential FBS activity before his recruiting is said and done. Lecuona earned Third Team All-Metro honors according to the Omaha World-Herald after picking up 77 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks as a junior while playing multiple techniques up front for the Patriots. 

DL – Ashton Murphy | Elkhorn South | 6’5/250
– Murphy could have been named Elite 33 as an offensive lineman, too. Murphy is a two-way contributor for a Class A quarterfinalist from 2022. The Storm averaged 407.3 yards per game on offense last season, while Murphy recorded 37 tackles, five tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Murphy is committed to Nebraska and projects as a defensive lineman at the next level.

DL – Tyson Terry | Omaha North | 6’3/290 (Jr.)
– Terry came out of the gates flying as a freshman in 2021 and has been outstanding his entire career, already committing to Nebraska. Over the past two seasons, the First Team Super State honoree has recorded 139 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, and nine sacks. Last season, Terry helped an offensive line that rushed for 161.5 yards per game. You could argue Terry is the top prospect in the Class of 2025 out of the state of Nebraska. 

LB – Dash Bauman | Lincoln East | 6’3/200
– Bauman returns as the unquestioned leader on both sides of the football for Lincoln East in 2023  Bauman recorded 77 tackles and picked off a pass at linebacker for the Spartans to follow up an outstanding sophomore season. On offense, Bauman rushed for 454 tough yards while picking up another 222 receiving yards, scoring six touchdowns. Air Force and Wyoming are Bauman’s best offers heading into the 2023 season. 

LB – Christian Jones | Omaha Westside | 6’3/215 (Jr.)
– Another one of the top juniors in the state, Jones has received the most national attention of any prospect statewide in the Class of 2025. Jones is considered a Top 150 prospect nationally after registering 60 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and three sacks as a sophomore. Jones will be part of another outstanding linebacking corps for the defending Class A state champions. Jones was invited to the All-American Bowl in San Antonio this past week, showing that he is considered one of the top linebackers in the nation for the Class of 2025.

LB – Kevon Newsome | Omaha Central | 6’1/215
– Repeatedly on his junior tape at Omaha Benson, the underrated Omaha Central linebacker not only displayed a tenacious knack for the football but also proved to be a bruising hitter. Newsome earned First Team All-Metro honors as a junior according to the Omaha World-Herald after recording 130 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, and two interceptions. The active Newsome will help transform the Omaha Central defense overnight.

LB/DB – Teddy Rezac | Omaha Westside | 6’4/205
– Playing out of position in the defensive backfield to fulfill a team need, Rezac’s athleticism is difficult to ignore. After a relatively slow start in the recruiting process that included a Boston College offer, Rezac showed out in workouts and eventually earned an offer from Notre Dame before committing to the Irish on May 12 just six days after his offer. The Second Team All-Metro honoree recorded 47 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two interceptions. On offense, Rezac had 414 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

DB – Caleb Benning | Omaha Westside | 5’11/190
– Benning missed most of the 2022 season due to injury, but returned to play a key role in Omaha Westside’s state championship game win over Gretna. Benning caught 13 passes for 96 crucial yards and intercepted two passes from Oklahoma State signee Zane Flores in the 43-41 victory. Despite playing only three games, Benning was a repeat All-State selection from both the World-Herald and Journal Star. Benning is considered a Power 5 prospect entering his senior campaign. 

DB – Donald DeFrand Jr. | Lincoln Southeast | 6’1/170
– Prior to the 2022 season, DeFrand Jr. earned a Colorado offer under the previous coaching staff. His recruiting has somewhat slowed since, but DeFrand Jr. still put up an All-City performance according to the Lincoln Journal-Star as a junior at Lincoln High. DeFrand Jr. will play at Lincoln Southeast this fall, bolstering the secondary on a Class A playoff team from a year ago. There is potential there on tape, but DeFrand Jr. will need to put it all together for the Knights.

DB – Donovan Jones | Omaha North | 6’1/180
– The numbers were a bit deceiving from Jones a year ago as he was put into coverage situations a large majority of the time for the Vikings. Jones earned Third Team All-Metro honors according to the Omaha World-Herald after recording 42 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and two interceptions and was a major slight on the Nebraska HS Football Class of 2024 Elite 33 team after the season. We got that one wrong. After an impressive string of camp performances that included Jones running the in the low 4.4’s in the 40, Nebraska eventually offered Jones a few days after its camp. Jones committed to the Huskers on June 22, just three days after his offer. 

DB – Gunnar Lym | Bennington | 6’0/180
– After helping Bennington to back-to-back state championships in Class B with 26 straight wins, Lym committed to North Dakota in June. As a junior, Lym recorded 90 tackles and four interceptions, but was a difference maker in the return game. Lym returned a kickoff, punt, and an interception for touchdowns last season. Lym has seven career interceptions. If you are looking for a nickel’s worth of free advice, you probably should avoid kicking the ball to Lym.

DB – Zac McLeay | Omaha Creighton Prep | 6’0/185 
– Creighton Prep got on a roll late in the season in 2022 and then in the playoffs, losing out in the semifinals after pulling an upset over Elkhorn South in the quarterfinals. The sure-handed tackler in the open field is one of few returnees on defense for the Junior Jays, coming off a season where the Division II prospect recorded 69 tackles, three fumble recoveries, 2.5 tackles for loss, and two interceptions. 

ATH – Caden VerMaas | Millard North | 6’0/195 (Jr.)
– VerMaas committed to Nebraska after an impressive sophomore season before his recruiting ever really got moving. Dangerous with the ball in his hands, VerMaas finished with 892 total yards and 11 touchdowns on a team that missed out on the postseason in 2022. VerMaas also returned two punts for touchdowns for the Mustangs. On defense, VerMaas recorded 49 tackles and forced three fumbles. VerMaas explodes off tape. VerMaas is another prospect you may want to avoid kicking to.

P – Kael Forney | Columbus | 6’1/175
– Forney put up very good numbers and was one of the bright spots for Columbus in 2022. Forney averaged 40.6 yards per punt to lead Class A last season. Forney has booted a career long of 55 yards two times in his career for the Discoverers. Forney also features in other areas for Columbus, where his role could be increased on defense.

Elite 33 Second Team Defense (17 Offense/16 Defense)

DL – Harry Caskey | Ogallala | 6’4/220
– 618 passing yards, 2 TD’s; 797 rushing yards, 12 TD’s; 257 receiving yards, 3 TD’s; 48 tackles, 3 TFL
DL – Caden Cetak | Lincoln East | 6’4/220
– 43 tackles, 6.5 sacks
DL – Brecken Erickson | North Platte St. Patrick’s | 6’3/220
– 30.5 TFL, 12.5 sacks, 2 INT’s, 2 defensive TD’s
DL – S’Marious Henderson | Omaha North | 6’3/295
– 26 tackles, 5.5 TFL
DL – Jonquel Osler | Omaha Westside | 6’0/230
– 72 tackles, 8 TFL, 3 sacks
DL – RIo Remund | South Loop | 6’4/255
– 65 tackles, 9 sacks
LB – Sam Brummund | Omaha Skutt | 6’3/220
– 68 tackles, 7 TFL, 2 INT’s
LB – Mason Chandler | Bellevue East | 6’0/200
–  1,054 passing, 10 TD’s; 372 rushing, 8 TD’s; 94 tackles, 2 TFL
LB – Kale Gustafson | Osceola | 6’5/220
– 466 passing, 8 TD’s; 1,481 rushing, 29 TD’s; 104 tackles, 5 INT’s
LB – Justyce Hostetler | Grand Island | 5’11/215
– 103 tackles, 6 TFL, 4 sacks
LB – Hank Hudson | Boone Central | 6’0/220
– 90 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks
LB – Beau Ryan | Omaha Westside | 5’11/200
– 93 tackles, 15 TFL, 5 sacks, INT return for TD
DB – Ryker Evans | Hi-Line | 5’11/165
– Committed to Air Force; 1,268 rushing yards, 26 TD’s; 16 receptions, 306 yards, 3 TD’s; 87 career tackles, 7 career INT’s
DB – Asher Jenkins | Bellevue West | 6’1/185
– 56 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 3 sacks, INT
DB – Alex Runge | Gretna | 5’11/190
– 39 tackles, 4 INT’s, 2 FR
DB – Braeden Sunken | Lincoln North Star | 6’3/190
– All-City (Journal Star); 32 tackles, 5 INT’s

2023 Nebraska HS Football Preview
By The Numbers
Next Up: Elite 33 Juniors

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

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