With the class of 2023 signing days behind us, it’s time to look ahead to the 2024 in-state class.
Seven in-state prospects in the class have received power conference offers. Who might be the next in the 2024 class to receive a power conference or even a Group of Five offer and where do the seven stand with their recruitment?
Let’s start in alphabetical order with the seven who have power conference offers.
Caleb Benning – Omaha Westside
>> Omaha Westside was a busy place in January during the contact period. The main reason: Caleb Benning. Listed as an athlete but probably projecting to a slot receiver or safety at the next level, Benning holds offers from Duke, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Vanderbilt and Wisconsin. It isn’t quite a slam dunk that he will commit to Nebraska. Iowa made numerous stops at Westside in January as did Nebraska. Minnesota coach PJ Fleck, Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea and Iowa State’s Matt Campbell all made trips to check on the junior ball hawk.
Dae’vonn Hall – Bellevue West
>> Dae’vonn Hall’s most recent offer came from Penn State. The composite four-star receiver at Bellevue West had a bit of a lull in his recruitment prior to the Nittany Lions offering him last week. He’s been to Nebraska multiple times and has visited some of the top programs in the country. Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State, Minnesota, Missouri and the previous staff at Wisconsin have offered. The feel here is he is wanting more than the regional recruiting interest and offers he’s received. At the same time Nebraska is in a strong position with who some consider the top in-state prospect in the class.
Danny Kaelin – Bellevue West
>> Bellevue West quarterback Danny Kaelin has seen a major uptick in his recruitment in the last week. Tuesday, he received offers from Virginia and North Carolina. He previously visited UNC, and Virginia was one of the schools that came to Bellevue West in January. Kaelin took an unofficial visit to Colorado on Jan. 28. A few of the schools Kaelin has seen are Nebraska, Florida, Duke, Rutgers, Vanderbilt and Michigan State. He has compiled 15 power conference offers since his freshman season as a T-Bird. The front-runners appear to be his most recent offers — Colorado, UNC, Virginia, Nebraska, Miami, Kansas State, Kansas, Duke, Rutgers and Vanderbilt — and those schools that made visits to Bellevue in January.
Isaiah McMorris – Bellevue West
>> Isaiah McMorris made the move to Bellevue West from Millard North last offseason. His recruitment took off last fall when Texas Tech was the first big offer for the shifty receiver. Kansas was next, followed by Kansas State, Penn State, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa, all of which offered prior to Christmas. Minnesota came next in January, and Oklahoma offered on Jan. 31. He’s previously visited Minnesota and there is interest from USC along with Virginia and Colorado. Minnesota’s Fleck and NU’s Matt Rhule were a few of the head coaches at Bellevue West in January to check on McMorris.
Ashton Murphy – Elkhorn South
>> Elkhorn South lineman Ashton Murphy is the most recent in-state offer Nebraska has made. The NU offer came just two days after Colorado offered (Jan. 29). His first FCS offer came from Northern Iowa prior to visiting Cedar Falls Jan. 23. It’s not a slam dunk he commits to Nebraska. His recruitment is just now heating up.
Carter Nelson – Ainsworth, Nebraska
>> When Rhule makes multiple appearances in tiny Ainsworth, Nebraska, in two months it figures there is an athlete there who is an in-state priority. Throw in a visit from Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman and assistants from Kansas State, Michigan, Michigan State and Colorado in January, and it figures that the town’s airport might need a new runway by this time next year. The target? Carter Nelson, who has all the earmarks of a special athlete. At 6-foot-5 and 205-pounds, Nelson has lots of measurables including a 7-foot high jump. He’s been to Lincoln several times and holds offers from 18 power conference schools. The most recent ones coming from Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, and Colorado since Jan. 1.
Caleb Pyfrom – Omaha Central
>> Omaha Central offensive lineman Caleb Pyfrom had a busy January, too. Penn State, Illinois, and Colorado all offered. Nebraska was his first offer in September, followed by Kansas, Iowa State, Missouri, Kansas State, and Iowa in the fall. NU’s Rhule watched him play basketball in January, and the staff made multiple appearances at Central throughout the month. Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz and Minnesota’s Fleck were head coaches who made a stop by Central in January.
Who’s Next?
Anthony Rezac, Teddy Rezac, Trevor Spady – Westside
>> Omaha Westside won a state championship in 2022 with a roster full of young skill talent. Two names to watch are brothers Anthony Rezac and Teddy Rezac. Anthony is a dual-threat quarterback, and Teddy is a versatile outside linebacker/receiver. They have ideal size at 6-3 and 6-4, while both weigh 195. Look at maybe Vanderbilt to make a play with them potentially. Iowa State offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhasse spent time at Westside evaluating Anthony as a quarterback in January. Tight end Trevor Spady (6-5, 205) is another name to keep an eye on at Omaha Westside.
Carson Rauner – Elkhorn South
>> Elkhorn South’s Carson Rauner made a name for himself in 2022. Some may think of him as a pro-style quarterback, but put the game tape on or watch in person, and it’s evident he can also run. Elkhorn South is usually busy in recruiting periods, and that didn’t change in January, with the likes of Kansas State, Wyoming, and Nebraska making visits to the school.
Eric Ingwerson – Papillion-La Vista
>> Papillion-La Vista tight end Eric Ingwerson became the latest to receive an offer from a Group of Five school when Northern Illinois offered on Jan. 22. NU’s Rhule, Iowa, and Wyoming are who that made stops by Papio in January to check on Ingwerson. NU offering Ingwerson might hinge on what Nelson chooses, or they could take two tight ends in the class.
JT Brands – Oakland-Craig
>> When you think of Oakland-Craig interior lineman JT Brands the recent in-state comparison is 2023 Iowa commit Kade Pieper of Norfolk Catholic. Brands (6-2, 265) has plenty of lower body power and is a multi-sport athlete. In fact, he’s in just his second year of wrestling after playing basketball as a freshman. Northern Illinois and FCS schools South Dakota, South Dakota State, and North Dakota State have shown interest. Remember, Pieper was an NDSU commit before Iowa came in late with an offer.
Joseph Stein – Grand Island Northwest
>> Grand Island Northwest tight end Joseph Stein recently received an offer from Division II Chadron State. In January, Iowa State’s Campbell flew to Grand Island to check on Stein. As the saying goes, usually, where there is a little smoke, there is some fire.
Sam Thomas – Elkhorn North
>> Sam Thomas at Elkhorn North is another defensive-end type who has found a recent recruiting bump. Northern Iowa offered on Jan. 21 to get things rolling for the 6-5, 250-pound lineman.
Cooper Johnson – Lincoln Southeast
>> Lincoln Southeast lineman Cooper Johnson (6-5, 285) had a busy fall visiting the likes of Wyoming and Nebraska for game day visits.
Seven Nebraska High School Football Players with Power Conference Offers(Class of 2024) |
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| Player | School | Position(s) | Offers From |
| Caleb Benning | Omaha Westside | Athlete | Duke, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Vanderbilt, and Wisconsin |
| Dae’vonn Hall | Bellevue West | Wide Receiver | Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State, Minnesota, Missouri, Penn State, and the previous staff at Wisconsin |
| Danny Kaelin | Bellevue West | Quarterback | 15 power conference offers, including Virginia and North Carolina |
| Isaiah McMorris | Bellevue West | Wide Receiver | Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas Tech, and Minnesota |
| Ashton Murphy | Elkhorn South | Lineman | Colorado and Nebraska |
| Carter Nelson | Ainsworth, Nebraska | Athlete | 18 power conference offers, including Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, and Colorado |
| Caleb Pyfrom | Omaha Central | Lineman | Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Penn State |
