OFFENSE

JOHN LEVORSON, Crete, ATHLETE

6-3, 190 pounds, senior

Opposing coaches knew Levorson, who has committed to Nebraska, could hurt them with his legs or his arm, but most of all, his head. He guided Crete to its second straight championship season with 1,158 yards rushing (10.1 yards per carry) and 738 yards passing (completing 55 percent). On defense, he had 92 tackles, 41 of them unassisted, and had six interceptions and three fumble recoveries. “He’s always had a read good grasp of our offense and defense,” coach Chuck Meginnis said of his three-year starter. “He was calm and collected as a sophomore and he just got better. He has a quiet confidence about himself.” Levorson was second-team Super-State last year.

JESSE VerVELDE, Millard West, BACK

5-11, 170 pounds, senior

VerVelde rushed for 712 yards (5.9 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns and was 110-for-192 passing (57 percent) with 18 touchdowns and just eight interceptions, throwing for 1,897 yards to lead the Wildcats to the playoff semifinals. “He managed the game so well for us. In short-yardage situations, we’d run our version of the zone read and he’d just flat out run kids over,” said coach Kirk Peterson. “I don’t know it we’ve had a more accurate thrower in our school. He didn’t force things. If a window opened, he was throwing through it. And he threw the deep ball really well, right where it was supposed to be.”

NICK FAILLA, Millard North, BACK

5-10, 180 pounds, junior

Failla rushed for 1,845 yards, picking up an average of 7.4 yards each time he kept the ball. He also threw for 477 yards in the Mustangs’ run-first-and-then-run-again offense. “He’s a great player and he gets better every five minutes,” said coach Fred Petito. “His physical talents and his execution are great. He gets to top speed pretty quick and he is meticulous about his execution and makes everyone else better. He had his biggest games against the best teams -- 186 yards against Millard West, 197 against Westside, 195 against Southwest, 201 against Bellevue West. He can break plays and distribute it.”

COLLINS OKAFOR, Omaha Westside, BACK

6-2, 212 pounds, senior

Okafor, who has committed to Nebraska, rushed for 1,525 yards on 205 carries (7.4 per carry) and scored 17 touchdowns. In his two-year career at Westside, he racked up 3,375 yards and 33 touchdowns. “It’s his size and strength. He has large hands, he’s just chiseled and he has speed. I think he has the potential to be a great college player,” said coach Marty Kauffman. “He has that combination of being a power runner and also an explosive runner. He’s a long strider, but he can get to the hole fast. He either explodes through a hole and runs someone over or he just flies around them.” Okafor was first-team Super-State last year.

RUSTIN DRING, Kearney, BACK

5-11, 185 pounds, senior

Dring rushed 145 times for 1,221, averaging 8.4 yards per carry, and scored 23 touchdowns. A powerful back, he also has the ability to find the open field. “Anytime we got into short-yardage situations or on the goal line, we were going to hand the ball off to Rustin,” said coach Brandon Cool. “He has the attitude and the power to get in the end zone and that has been the case for three years. He’s a hard-nosed, tough football player. He has great foot speed and great vision, so once he finds the seam, he can get the pedal down in a hurry. He has been a mainstay for us for two years.”

TY KILDOW, Millard South, SPLIT END

5-8, 170 pounds, junior

Kildow caught 44 passes for 976 yards (22.2 yards per catch) and 10 touchdowns. He also rushed 13 times for 303 yards (23.3 yards per attempt). He had 32 solo tackles, 10 assisted and three interceptions. “He is so fast and so quick and he can jump. He changes directions so well. He definitely causes defenses some problems,” said coach Andy Means. “He led our team in touchdowns, receptions and returned a punt and two kickoffs for touchdowns. When somebody runs 4.3 (seconds), it gets your attention. He can stop and start and accelerate so fast.” Kildow has had contact from Kansas, Iowa State, Purdue and Nebraska. He was second-team Super-State last year.

JAKE DRWAL, Millard West, SPLIT END

6-1, 190 pounds, senior

Drwal had 52 receptions for 1,056 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Wildcats and was their go-to receiver in tight situations. A powerful runner once he made the catch, which was most of the time. “He has the capability of making big plays. If it was third-and-6, he was a possession receiver for us and he would get the first down,” said coach Kirk Peterson. “If you threw a fade for a touchdown, he’d go up and get it. He has a great belief in his ability to catch a football. It didn’t matter to him where the ball was or if he was going to get smacked when he did it. He just went for the ball and usually he got it.” Nebraska has asked Drwal to walk on.

TIM BIERE, Omaha Westside, TIGHT END

6-4, 235 pounds, senior

Biere, who has committed to Kansas, had 21 catches for 303 yards (14.4 per catch) to finish his career with 48 catches for 759 yards. At free safety, he had 55 solo tackles, 36 assisted, broke up 10 passes, had three interception and a fumble recovery. “Tim is a great blocker and we really needed shoring up in the offensive line this year,” said coach Marty Kauffman. “He’s probably the biggest safety around. He just has a knack for the ball and can make plays at the line or drop back in coverage. People were looking for him if they got through the line and they remembered him after he hit them.”

BRIAN THORSON, Millard North, OFFENSIVE LINE

6-4, 290 pounds, senior

Thorson helped plow the way for the Mustangs’ running game, which piled up 4,375 yards and two 1,000-yard rushers in Failla and fullback Rob Pirnie. “We always knew we could run behind ‘Thor’ and pick up the yards we needed,” said coach Fred Petito. “He is a massive dude and very athletic. When he was a freshman, he was the post on my freshman basketball team. That helped him tremendously. He has very good footwork and I can guarantee you, he used all his fouls. He still goes to all of the open gyms and plays basketball. But he did his work in the weight room.” Thorson has committed to Buffalo University. He was second-team Super-State last year.

COLE PENSICK, Lincoln Northeast, OFFENSIVE LINE

6-2, 250 pounds, junior

Pensick was the anchor of the Rocket offensive line, which paved the way for Tyler Collier to rush for 1,367 yards. “He has great feet, he benches 370 (pounds) and squats in the middle 500s,” said Rocket coach Dave Svehla. “There’s a switch he turns on in games. He’s a mean kid between the lines, but off the field, he’s a good student, well thought of and a leader. He craves competition, but his demeanor off the field is great. You talk about being able to flip the switch and he can. He’s a polite kid, a good student off the field, and on the field, he is ultra-competitive. He’ll do anything to dominate his opponent.” He was second-team Super-State last year.

TREVOR ROBINSON, Elkhorn, OFFENSIVE LINE

6-5, 300 pounds, senior

The mainstay of the Antler offensive line, Robinson also had 42 tackles playing interior line on defense. “He practiced hard every night and we ran behind him all the time,” said coach Mark Wortman. “It didn’t matter whether it was short yardage or long yardage. He was a leader, like another coach on the field for us. He’s extremely strong and there’s not a lot of fat on him. He was going to go out for basketball again but decided against it. If he’s in the weight room, you can’t watch anyone else.” Robinson has narrowed his college choices to Nebraska, Michigan and Notre Dame.

BAKER STEINKUHLER, Lincoln Southwest, OFFENSIVE LINE

6-6, 291 pounds, senior

Steinkuhler, a first-team Super-Stater for the third time, saw plenty of double-teams this year and always drew the opponents’ attention, whether he was in the offensive line or on defense. He was a four-year starter for the Silver Hawks. “He has athletic ability with great size, with great work ethic, with great personality,” said coach Mark King. “When the ball is snapped, he’ll knock the crap out of you and then help you up. As long as the play is going, he’s relentless. As big and strong as he is, he runs really well. He runs the 40 in 4.8. He gets better all the time. Baker has those long levers and when he hits, it’s like getting hit by a light pole.” Steinkuhler has committed to Nebraska.

BRETT MAHER, Kearney, KICKER

6-0, 170 pounds, senior

Maher was 41-for-46 kicking extra points and 8-for-14 on field goals. In his first year at receiver (he formerly played quarterback), he caught 40 passes for 775 yards (19.4 yards per catch) and scored 10 touchdowns. “Brett averaged 57 yards on kickoffs and also 41.2 yards on punts. Kyle Larson (Cincinnati Bengals) and Brett Maher are the only ones over 41 for us,” said coach Brandon Cool. “He thinks of himself as a kicker, not a punter or anything else. He was going to compete for the starting quarterback job, but once he got his feet wet at receiver, he felt comfortable.”

DEFENSE

SEAN FISHER, Millard North, ATHLETE

6-5, 215 pounds, senior

Fisher, who has committed to Nebraska, is the all-everything guy for Millard North. He anchors the secondary, he punts, returns kicks and took the offensive load when quarterback Nick Failla was hurt. He finished with 43 solo tackles (68 total), including three for loss, and had an interception. “He’s real bright and covers a lot of ground. I think he brings a presence that people know where he is all the time,” said coach Fred Petito. “Some guys get to places instinctively and other have to learn their trade. He’s a student of game with a lot of natural instinct.”

NICK PHILLIPS, Omaha North, DEFENSIVE LINE

5-10, 255 pounds, senior

Phillips had 36 solo tackles and 11 assisted, with 23 tackles for loss of 96 yards. “He has a great feel how to get off blocks and fight pressure,” said coach Larry Martin. “He’s diligent to the ball, is very difficult to block and could just shed the double-teams. He takes control in the line of scrimmage right in the middle. He has a low center of gravity and knows how to use leverage. This year, I made him a backup guard on first-team offense so we never had to go up against him in practice. The defensive coaches knew what I was doing. He’s just a hard-nosed player.” He was first-team Super-State last year.

TYRONE SELLERS, McCook, DEFENSIVE LINE

6-4, 215 pounds, junior

Sellers changes games from either his defensive end spot or at tight end. He had seven sacks, 17 tackles for loss, blocked three punts, had 51 solo tackles and 22 assisted. He caught 13 passes for 174 yards and six touchdowns. “Tyrone has the athleticism and speed to run down things from the back side, but he doesn’t rely on that. He stays home and does his job,” said coach Jeff Gross. “He likes playing with his hand on the ground, but he could easily play linebacker. He spends a lot of hours of homework outside of the field of play.” He has been offered a scholarship by Kansas State, with interest from Iowa State, Iowa, Oklahoma State and Colorado.

KENNY ANDERSON, Millard West, DEFENSIVE LINE

6-2, 225 pounds, senior

Anderson finished the season with 13 sacks. He had more than 30 solo tackles and topped 60 in total tackles, despite missing a game with dislocated cartilage in his rib cage. “He really wanted to play in that (Omaha) Bryan game, but I told him we’d need him the rest of the playoffs,” said coach Kirk Peterson. “I think what makes him special is inside his heart. He decided a year ago that he wanted to make his senior season special. He didn’t care who was blocking him. It could be a Super-Stater or a backup. He played with maximum effort all the time.”

COLIN McDERMOTT, Creighton Prep, DEFENSIVE LINE

6-2, 230 pounds, senior

McDermott had 57 assisted tackles and 40 solo stops, including eight for loss, four sacks, caused two fumbles, broke up three passes and intercepted two passes. “He is very mobile, which makes him a very effective defensive end. He’s very aggressive,” said Creighton Prep coach Tom Jaworski. “Colin is a three-year starter with good speed and he just keeps going. He also started at right guard, so we counted on him to give our backs some holes to run through.”

CONOR McDERMOTT, Creighton Prep, LINEBACKER

6-2, 230 pounds, senior

McDermott, who is just slightly older than his twin, Colin, was the Junior Jays’ second leading tackler, with 64 assisted tackles and 29 solos, including eight for loss, and broke up two passes, had three sacks, two interceptions, caused a fumble and recovered three fumbles. “We brought him up to varsity during his sophomore year and he’s done great ever since. He played some linebacker and played offensive tackle last year,” said Prep coach Tom Jaworski. “We moved him to tight end this year and he is just a terrific blocker. We needed a little help in the offensive line and he was just like having another lineman.”

TRENT GOODMAN, Omaha Westside, LINEBACKER

5-11, 215 pounds, senior

Goodman had 113 tackles, including 55 unassisted, 15 for loss and two sacks. He also played fullback, rushing for more than 300 yards and catching passes for nearly 100 yards. “He’s a kid who is very intense and a real high-motor kid. He can’t stand still and wants to be in the action all the time,” said coach Marty Kauffman. “He has a real knack of getting through traffic and finding the football and he delivers a thud when he gets there. He’s pretty athletic and called all our defensive signals. We used him at fullback because he can block and has really good hands.” South Dakota State and Colorado State are recruiting him.

NICK NENEMAN, Omaha North, LINEBACKER

5-9, 170 pounds, senior

Neneman was the Vikings’ leading tackler with 68 solo tackles, 34 assisted, three sacks and seven tackles for loss. At tight end, he had 15 receptions for 289 yards and four touchdowns. He is the third member of his family to earn Super-State honors. Sister Christy was honored in basketball and brother Tim in football. “You could tell he was seasoned in athletics,” said North coach Larry Martin. “Nick just has a nose for the football. He’s as fast with his pads on, which is unusual, and he has a tremendous work ethic. In three years on varsity, I never heard him complain about anything. He’s a very good blocking tight end.” Nebraska-Omaha and Northwest Missouri State are recruiting him.

JORDAN HALE, Millard South, DEFENSIVE BACK

5-11, 175 pounds, junior

Hale led the Patriots in interceptions with four, was the second-leading receiver (32 catches for 571 yards) and second-leading rusher (51 carries for 369 yards). He played special teams, returning one punt for a touchdown. He had 51 solo tackles, 44 assisted and seven for loss. “He played really well at free safety. We went to the Nebraska 7-on-7 camp and he really did well,” said Millard South coach Andy Means. “He’s a heady player, he has the instincts you need and he likes to hit people. He and Ty (Kildow) gave us so much flexibility with all the things they could do.”

CHRIS GRIFFIN, Omaha Central, DEFENSIVE BACK

6-0, 170 pounds, senior

Griffin was 92-for-176 passing for 1,672 yards and 22 touchdowns (a school record) with just eight interceptions, and rushed for 414 yards and five touchdowns. On defense, his interception sealed the state title for the Eagles. “Chris was a heck of a cornerback. He could play there in college. He had four interceptions and he had them in big games when we needed them most,” said coach Jay Ball. “The bigger the game, the better he played. Sometimes he had to scoot, but part of that is the confidence that comes with being a three-year starter. He knew he had playmakers he had to get the ball to somehow, somewhere.”

RONNELL GRIXBY, Omaha Central, DEFENSIVE BACK

5-10, 205 pounds, senior

Grixby began playing defense full-time in the playoffs and he helped propel the Eagles to the title. On offense, he rushed for 1,310 yards, had 23 catches for 392 yards and scored 21 touchdowns. “He is one of the most physical football players. Our defense carried us through the title. And without a doubt, he raised the level and the confidence of those kids,” said coach Jay Ball. “He was our leader this year. The kids will get behind a guy like Ronnell. He has the aura factor. He’s just got it. He brings something different to the table, an invisible force, than any player I’ve coached.” Iowa, Ohio, Colorado State and Iowa State are recruiting him.

SHAUN PRATER, Omaha Central, DEFENSIVE BACK

5-11, 165 pounds, senior

Prater anchored the secondary with 62 solo tackles and 20 assisted, with four for loss. On offense, he caught 33 passes for 656 yards (19.9 yards per catch) and 11 touchdowns. “Shaun is Mr. Playmaker on defense. Some guys have a bunch of tackles and nothing else. He had five interceptions, three fumble recoveries and 11 pass breakups,” said coach Jay Ball. “He obviously has tremendous physical skills with his speed. He finds the football and he just makes plays. He had big plays on offense, too, but his heart and his mind are on defense. He leads that parade.” He’s committed to Iowa.

SLADE BOLLES, Grand Island, PUNTER

5-11, 175 pounds, senior

Bolles averaged 42.3 yards per punt and had three punts travel more than 70 yards. “He is a super athlete. He started two years at linebacker for us and has done a whale of a job punting for us. He’s a team captain, an all-around leader and a three-sport athlete (basketball, baseball). He’s just a really well-rounded kid,” said coach Jeff Tomlin. “He was a big factor in three wins by his punting alone, giving us big swings in field position. We relied so much on him on defense, we didn’t go to him a lot on offense. He was the surest blocker we had. He could play football or baseball or combination in college.”