Hit
News
Rank

Name
High School
College Offer
*Verbal Commit
**Signed

POS

(Ht, Wt)
Bench, Squat,
40 Time,

Shuttle,

Vertical

ESPN
Grade,
National
Rank

Rivals
Stars, Score,
National Rank

1.

Jon  Lechner
Creighton Prep

Buffalo, Iowa State, *Ohio University, Lousiana Tech. 

OL

(6-5, 315)√
315, 550
5.25,

NA,
NA

 80,

 17

3 Star,
5.7,

31

Skills & Attributes: Good size, very good balance, good strength, good pad level, good feet, and good hands.

 Analysis: Like most of the top HS OL prospects, we have yet to see what Lechner can really do. The fact is: “Big athletes take a little longer time to fully blossom.” However, Lechner certainly possesses all the skills and attributes and potential necessary to rank him among the top HS linemen prospects in the nation. At this stage in his development, he is more suited for a run oriented type of offensive attack, as he is often quick and explosive coming off the snap, while he  demonstrates the ability to control and to drive his opponents off the line. Lechner is also nimble enough to lead, pull, block in the open field, and to pick up blitzes, which may make him more suited to play OG at the next level. Lechner has the athletic potential to also line up at the left tackle spot, but he will need to work on his hand placement and hand speed to control top DE rushers.

2.

Tyrone Sellers
McCook
*Kansas, Wyoming, Iowa,
Kansas State

DE

 (6-4, 215)  

 305, 450,

      4.57      

 4.42,

 33″

73,

130

3 Star,

5.7,

26

Skills & Attributes:  Very good speed, explosive, good first step, quick feet and hands, very athletic, very good toughness, high football IQ.

Analysis: Sellers has the speed, quickness and athleticism to develop into a very good D-1 rush end. In addition, he also seems to display a good football IQ and the proven toughness that could see his talents put to use at the weakside LB spot or even at the safety position. 

Sellers is more of a finesse DE who is very adept at using his quick feet and hands to get by bigger defenders on his way to the QB. But Sellers also demonstrates good leverage and decent pad level along with the ability to hold his ground and to easily shed bigger opponents at the HS level. However, at the next level, he will need to develop considerably more size and strength to be an effective every down DE or a weakside LB, who can stop the run.

3.

C. J. Zimmerer
Omaha Gross Catholic
*Nebraska

FB

 (6-0,  213)√
 295, 400,

 4.6,

 4.2,

 27″

76,

12

2 Star,
5.4,

NR

Skills & Attributes: Great hips, very explosive, very good acceleration, very good toughness, plays violently, quick feet, plays with very good leverage and pad level, high football IQ.

Analysis: Zimmerer’s stock has risen faster than any Class of 2009 recruit due to the hard work he put in during the off season and through his remarkable performance on the field this year. He has an astonishing 10. 6 yard per carry average while accounting for over 1,200 total yards rushing from the FB position—Whew! From his stance to his brutal blocking and tough explosive and–at times –surprisingly shifty running style, this kid has all the markings of the great classic FBs of the past.

ESPN has Zimmerer rated the 12^thbest FB in the nation and it is easy to see why when you watch him play on film. He is a very good blocker who exhibits excellent pad level, accuracy and explosiveness when delivering blocks. And when Zimmerer is running he exhibits very good leg drive and is violent upon contact, which accounts for a lot of YAC (yards after contact).  He is also quick-footed and fleet enough to elude and to run by tacklers in the open field.

It’s all is his hips! Your feet may lead but it’s the vertical, horizontal, and rotational position of the hips that enables a player to deliver effective blows or to effectively absorb punishing hits, or to explosively accelerate out of cuts–Zimmerer has great hip action!

4.

Vondrae Tostenson

 Millard South
Iowa

WR

(6-5, 225)
285, NA,

4.6,

NA,

37″

73,

162

3 Star,
5.7,

51

Skills & Attributes: Size, excellent athleticism, very good vertical, good strength, good hands, good football IQ, potential difference maker.

Analysis: Amongst all the  prospects in the Nebraska HS class of 2009, Tostenson has the most potential for greatness. However, injury has limited his ability to demonstrate his true potential on the field. Therefore, though we consider Tostenson to be the top Nebraska  HS Class of 2009 prospect with the most ability to excel at the next level –injury limitations have contributed to a current level of play that prevents us from making him Hit News’ No. 1 prospect. Furthermore, WR may not be Tostenson’s best opportunity for—greatness–at the next level.  His height, frame, speed and athleticism are an ideal combo for bulking up into a devastatingly good TE.  Fortunately for the gifted Tostenson no matter what position he ultimately plays, once he recovers fully from his injury—the sky is the limit!

5.

Cole Pensick
Lincoln Northeast
*Nebraska

DT

(6-2, 250)
360, 540,

4.97,

 NR,

26″

73,

87

3 Star,
5.5,

79

Skills & Attributes: Very good balance, very good strength, good feet, good hands,  good athleticism, good football IQ

Analysis: Pensick plays with very good balance and leverage and at times flashes the ability to be explosive on contact. He is a good tackler and appears to have a good feel for the game with his ability to anticipate ball movement and to read blockers.

At his current skill level he is more  likely to be a two-gap  type DT in a 4-3 scheme or a nose tackle in a 3-4 defense–to play either he will have to bulk up considerably. However, it is still unclear at this stage whether or not this talented athlete (Lincoln Metro heavyweight wrestling champ and reigning State shot-put champ will end up on offense or defense.

6.

James Davis
Omaha North
*Ohio University

OL

(6-3, 315)
325, 530,
5.5,
NA,
NA.

75,
94

2 Star,

5.4,

75

Skills & Attributes: Excellent balance, very good hands, good feet, good strength.

Analysis: Davis is one of the best pass blocking O-line prospects in the country. His excellent balance, quick feet and fast and accurate hand thrust allow him to control the best of rushers.   Due to his current height, Davis will most likely play OG at the next level. Therefore, on running plays, he will have to do some work on becoming more explosive and moving his body quicker into position at the point of contact in order to neutralize D-1 DT”s that will be as large or larger than him. 

7.

Eric Koehlmoos
Pierce
Wyoming

DB

(6-1, 190)
225, 400,

 4.53,

NA,

33″

69,

171

2 Star,

5.2,

NR

Skills & Attributes: Athleticism, high football IQ, acceleration,  versatility, very good explosiveness, violent

Analysis: Koehlmoos is a gifted athlete that plays very well on both sides of the ball. SF is most likely Koehlmoos’ projected position at the D-1 level. But he is a truly gifted athlete that can play a variety of different positions on both sides of the ball.

As a DB, Koehlmoos is very good at reacting to and making a play on the ball when in the air. He is an explosive player who is often violent at the point of contact–he has the ability to punish a runner. Koehlmoos also demonstrates good range and adequate closing speed and the ability to make tackles in the open field.

 WILL THERE

 BE

 ANY MORE

 NEBRASKA PROSPECTS

 RECEIVING D-1 OFFERS?