Nebraska's best high school football players: Meet the state's top offensive linemen

There are plenty of guys on this list who have earned their shot at the next level. However, perhaps the theme for most is a little bit of doubt. There are a lot of high school linemen in Nebraska who will be a steal for a program willing to give them a chance to shine.

Caleb Pyrfom – Omaha Central Senior – 6-6, 305

The list is headlined by the top-rated offensive lineman in the Class of 2024 and a guy who will be joining coach Bret Bielema at Illinois. He’s considered the No. 4 prospect in the state, regardless of position, by Rivals.com and the 49th-best tackle in the country.

Up to this point, Pyfrom’s success has mostly been determined by his power. His wide frame, strength and wide base give him the leverage necessary to turn defenders away in the pass game and get movement when the Eagles are running the ball.

And whether it’s protecting the quarterback or opening a hole, Pyfrom is a relentless blocker who locks on with physicality and finishes the block. At Illinois, he’ll get the chance to make his mark both as a guard and a tackle.

“Caleb is an extraordinary young man. His size, strength, quickness and determination set him aside from the others,” Central coach Terrence Mackey said. “He is very determined to be the best he can be. He is a quiet leader.”

Ben Gustafson – Elkhorn South Senior – 6-8, 280

Gustafson is a three-star tackle who has committed to Northern Illinois. He’s one of the bigger guys on this list, but it’s his footwork that has college coaches salivating about his potential.

In addition to the Huskies, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Montana, Lindenwood and Northern Iowa also extended offers. Gustafson was once more of a basketball player who has used that training to develop his feet. Thanks to his footwork he develops a nice, wide base that brings his hips into the equation. Like all good linemen, his feet and his hips do most of the work.

“Ben is a big and physical lineman with good feet that come from a basketball background. He can pull and re-direct and can also maul people at the point of attack,” Elkhorn South coach Guy Rosenberg said. “He's got the length that colleges love and has put on quality mass in the weight room over his career while maintaining his athleticism.”

Dallas Hamilton – Papillion-La Vista Senior – 6-2, 270

Hamilton is in the middle of what might be called a resurgence at Papillion-La Vista where the Monarchs are 4-1 through the first five games of the season. The Monarchs haven’t finished above .500 in 10 years but look like the story of the early season in Class A.

Running back Payton Prestito has made the offense one of the most dynamic anywhere, and in front of him, he has guys like Hamilton.

The Papio football player, wrestler and track athlete is a National Honor Society officer, has a GPA over 4.0 and a 76-inch wingspan. He’s a physical presence up front who gets off the line quickly, finishes his blocks to and through the whistle and adjusts to blitzes and stunts because of solid footwork.

Papio head coach Tim Williams has been impressed with Hamilton in all aspects of his work as a student-athlete, but it’s his willingness to be a student at all things that Williams said will make Hamilton successful.

“He will be so successful in his life because he will outwork anyone,” Williams said. “He doesn't like to be bad at something, which is why he will continue to work. He is a true leader, and his peers respect him. I am going to cherish the rest of the time that I have with Dallas. Once he graduates, someone will have to fill his shoes. That will be tough.”

Broc Regner – Westside Senior – 6-5, 285

Regner is the starting left tackle for the reigning state champs. He’s one of several Warriors who will make various lists of the best players in the state on SBLive, but he might be the most important. Regner protects the left flank for starting quarterback Anthony Rezac and anchors an offensive line that is averaging 436 yards of offense and 47 points.

Regner has size, speed and knows how to use his hands. He has plenty of talent to move on to the next level and has received offers from places like Wayne State and Southwest Minnesota State. He’s also a wrestler and track athlete who has become gradually more aggressive, thanks in large part to that time on the mat.

“Broc is a very good football player. He is aggressive and tenacious. Broc works very hard to master his craft. He never misses any team activities and is always the first guy to everything,” coach Paul Limongi said. “Broc has gotten better each game and is a powerful run blocker as well as a very good pass protector. He is a great teammate and valuable captain. He is also an excellent student who is always willing to help in the community. I believe Broc is a steal for any college next season.”

Nolan Fennessy – Norfolk Catholic Senior – 6-4, 240

Fennessy is one of those guys the top programs seem to churn out every so often. Thus, despite the graduation of several playmakers on last year’s Norfolk Catholic championship squad, the Knights have won the first five games of 2023 and look to be in line for another run to Lincoln thanks to players like Fennessy.

The senior was an all-state selection last season who simply mauled defenders and created running lanes for a Norfolk Catholic offense that scored over 37 points per game. On the hardwood, Fennessy helped lead the Knights to the state tournament by averaging over 10 points per game and seven rebounds. In the springtime, Fennessy made it to Omaha in the shot put.

Nebraska offered Fennessy a preferred walk-on spot in August as a defensive lineman.

“Nolan Fennessy works very hard in practice and the weight room. He has good size and good feet. He moves well, which allows him to pull and get down field to throw blocks,” Norfolk Catholic coach Jeff Bellar said. “He has improved his mental part of the game and he understands angles and leverage, which allows him to make blocks at the line of scrimmage or down field.”

Kalvin Janssen – Gretna Junior – 6-3, 280

Janssen is yet another Gretna blocker who finds his name on this list among the best in the state. Following a 2021 state championship and a run to the 2022 title game, it should be obvious at this point what made the Dragons so formidable. It’s players like Janssen with a well-rounded skill set that do the dirty work for all the skill players who get their names in the paper.

At Gretna, Janssen is often deployed as a puller in the run game. He has excellent fundamentals on the move – he gathers his feet, widens his base and keeps driving on impact. Regardless of position, Janssen is considered one of the best players in Nebraska for the Class of 2025.

“Kalvin Janssen started for us as a sophomore and is now a leader of our offensive line as a junior,” Gretna coach Mike Kayl said. “He has great size and footwork that allows him to finish blocks. He's been a big part of our offensive success the past two seasons.”

Trent Patzel – Boone Central Senior – 6-7, 280

Patzel is somewhat of a rarity at the Class C-1 level where most programs turn 180-190-pound guys into offensive linemen. At his size, Patzel could play anywhere in the state, and it’s not just size. He’s a little bit raw because few other guys can match up to his size at the C-1 level and physically challenge him, but it’s obvious that there’s something there.

Patzel’s footwork is tremendous thanks to his experience in dance as a boy. He’s strong, has good hand positioning and is an all-around athlete. Patzel is also a heck of a pitcher, basketball player and thrower. His size makes for a heavy fastball coming across the plate, a force down low in the paint and a lower body that sent the shot 52 feet, 10 inches for eighth place last May in Omaha.

He spent a lot of time in the weight room over the summer and has only become more of a monster.

“The one thing that sticks out is how smart he is. You only have to show him once and he gets it,” Boone Central Offensive Line Coach Michael Volker said. “He knows what everyone on the line is doing, and if we needed him to, he could step in at any other spot on the line. He also is incredibly competitive and plays extremely hard. Effort has never been an issue with him.”

Tyler Thaden – Millard West Senior – 6-6, 265

Thaden is an Indiana State commit who had other FCS offers but ultimately went with the Sycamores. Were it not for some injury setbacks, he’d have more game film and more looks from elsewhere.

That was the overall story for the Wildcats last fall – injuries. It was a lot to work through for the 2022 squad that has paid off in 2023. Millard West has won four of its first five and looks like a team that can do more than simply qualify for the postseason. Thaden is one of the reasons why. Even though he is one of the best in the state, he still has a lot of growing to do. Each week that goes by makes him a better and better player.

“Tyler's best football is in front of him - he's only played half of a season on the varsity level due to injury, so he's still getting acclimated to the speed of the game,” Millard West coach Kirk Peterson said. “He's a tremendous worker. It will be fun to watch his development at the next level.”

Josh Tollefsen – Lincoln Southwest Senior – 6-3, 275

Tollefsen began to emerge as a sophomore with the potential for the next level due simply to his size – he was already 280 pounds two years ago. Since then he’s continued to improve his skill set and technique. From pretty raw as a sophomore to Southwest’s Junior Male Athlete of the Year last season, Tollefsen’s rise has been a great story to watch up close for the Silver Hawk coaching staff.

Time on the mat as a wrestler in the winter has been beneficial as well. A year ago he won 31 matches, qualified for state and won a match in Omaha. Southwest coach Grant Traynowicz describes Tollefsen as generally a good dude who has a Jekyll and Hyde element to him once he gets on the gridiron.

“Josh is a player who can flip a switch - off the field he is a nice guy, conversational. On the field he competes his tail off and works hard for his teammates,” Traynowicz said. “He wants to be a good player and good leader. He has really come a long way as a freshman both as a person and player. Our team voted him as a member of our Leadership Council.”

Dawson Amick – Battle Creek Junior – 6-4, 250

Amick should be on your radar for the Nebraska Class of 2025 as one of the elite members of the group. He’s considered a top-20 player for next year’s recruiting cycle regardless of position and was most recently on an official visit to the Nebraska/Louisiana Tech game. He’s also been a part of the Warren Academy in Omaha as well as the UNK Football Camp and various other camps around the region.

His combination of strength and speed plus athleticism makes him a heck of a find for whatever program will look past his small school pedigree.

Amick plays left tackle for the Braves but would likely translate to guard in college. With Amick protecting the blind side and caving down defenders on the edge, Battle Creek started 2023 5-0 and is rolling up 256 yards rushing per game.

“Dawson is an athletic, aggressive and physical player. He has excellent feet and is a very smart football player,” Battle Creek coach Andrew Carlson said. “Dawson is a leader within our program who is willing to do whatever he needs to for our team to be successful. Dawson has been a starter since day one, which doesn't happen very often in our program. He has a strong work ethic and does extra work to make himself successful.”

Griffin Goldman – Gretna Junior – 6-2, 250

The Gretna junior is such a good player up front that he’s one of those rare Class A players who rotates on both sides of the ball.

He’s also an excellent baseball player who was an all-state honorable mention selection last spring. Goldman hit .330, drove in 19 runs, smacked two doubles and a home run. He made seven appearances on the mound, tossed 13 innings, gave up just three earned runs and struck out seven.

Although he’s somewhat lacking in size compared to others on his list, Goldman has the athleticism to handle bigger opponents and win one-on-one battles. After some time away to start this year, he’s back for a Gretna squad that is averaging 35 points per game and 340 yards of offense.

“Griffin Goldman rotated in on offense and defense as a sophomore. After dealing with a knee injury early this season he is back and helping us on both sides of the ball,” Dragon coach Mike Kayl said. “Griffin has good size and speed.”

Korbin Lemburg – Clarkson/Leigh Junior – 6-4, 315

Lemburg is the only eight-man guy on this list but don’t let that fool you. With typically one guy less up front, the work of the offensive line can be more obvious with six fewer players on the field.

That was the case for Lemburg last year whose size and athleticism helped lead Clarkson/Leigh to its first state championship as a combined program. The Patriots averaged over 302 rushing yards per game with Lemburg pancaking defenders, carrying the ball and even catching passes.

He has played guard, center, fullback and defensive line at Clarkson/Leigh and will have the chance to be one of those three in college. Lemburg has also lined up at tight end and caught a few passes around the goal line.

He can bring all of it together, Clarkson/Leigh coach Jim Clarkson says, because Lemburg has a mind for the game.

“Korbin is a big physical kid. He goes for about 315 pounds and he moves pretty well. His biggest attribute, however, is his intelligence,” Clarkson said. “He is a very smart kid and understands the intricacies of football. He is a leader on our offensive line and has a lot of room to improve to be an even more dominant player.”

Garin Maley – Papillion-LaVista Junior – 6-6, 260

Maley is a Class of 2025 prospect who’s starting to earn more attention with the work he’s doing up front for the Monarchs. He attended the Nebraska season opener against Northern Illinois, has an invite to North Dakota State, Augustana and has visited Lindenwood.

Maley was a starter last year and is one of just two up front who return for Papio. He was part of a unit that blocked for Payton Prestito, potentially the best back in Class A. Prestito rushed for 1,178 yards and averaged 7.6 per carry. Through the first five games of 2023, he’s rushed for 582 and is averaging 6.6 thanks to Maley and his brothers up front.

Maley’s lateral movement and hand placement are just a few of the qualities that stand out for the Papio left tackle.

“He is one of the best players on our team,” Monarch coach Tim Williams said. “He is physical and his feet are really good. He is a multi-sport athlete who plays basketball and track as well. He’s a great student in the classroom who has a GPA right around 4.0.”

Jayden Potter – Lincoln North Star Senior – 6-5, 305

Potter is in his third year of contributing to the Navigators and has the chance to play at the next level starting with his size. The North Star Senior is among the heaviest O-linemen in the state but one who carries all that mass with ease thanks to being an early bloomer. After starting as a sophomore who already weighed in at 300 pounds, Potter went to work learning how to make that figure work in his favor with the help of fundamentals and technique. With a year under his belt, he was even better as a junior and a big reason why North Star won more games than it had in seven years.

“Jayden Potter is big, smart and athletic. He moves so well for his size,” North Star coach James Thompson said. “He is very experienced and possesses an abundance of talent.”

Jed Boettcher – Ord Junior – 6-2, 325

Most guys on this list have been blessed with a certain body type that they’ve developed in the weight room. And while that’s true of Boettcher as well, he might be the one guy on this list who’s always enjoyed a size advantage at every age.

He now stands at 325 pounds and has always been a load whether he was playing organized sports or tag during recess. Recently, the Chanticleer junior wrote his name into the Ord record books with a squat of 565 pounds and a deadlift of 730.

He may have trouble earning attention at the C-2 level, but his size, accomplishments in the weight room and game film will help dispel any doubters.

“Jed has tremendous power and strength. Jed works hard on his speed and agility. He moves well for being as big as he is at 6-2 and 325,” Ord head coach Nathan Wells said. He has always been a large human being even when he was a kid. If he gets ahold of you, it's over. He is only going to keep improving the next year and a half.”

Max Gray – Millard South Senior – 6-3, 275

Millard South won a game in the playoffs last season and brings back four on offense for a unit that averaged over 30 points per game. The offense relied on the passing game for two-thirds of its yards, and Gray is one of just two returnees up front. And while that typically spells growing pains, the Patriots have increased their average per-game rushing total through the first half of the season and generated nine rushing touchdowns through the first four games. Gray looks like an FCS or Division II player who can work himself into a D-II prospect with continued success up front.

DeAndre Harper – Omaha North Senior – 6-6, 300

Harper is an excellent player whether on the gridiron or the hardwood. Football is in his future at traditional DII powerhouse Northwest Missouri State. The Omaha North senior announced his commitment to the Bearcats in August but will likely earn attention at the FCS and FBS levels throughout the year. Harper could be the best guard in the Class of 2024. He has visited Iowa State three times but remains mostly unranked without a star rating by the various recruiting services.

“Big strong and explosive,” North coach Larry Martin said about Harper. He hasn’t played a lot of football, but he just continues to get better. DeAndre has huge upside.”

Cooper Johnson – Lincoln Southeast Senior – 6-5, 270

Johnson’s stock continues to rise but has yet to earn any star ratings from Rivals, 247 Sports, or anywhere else. But that looks like it’ll change soon due to interest from Northern Iowa, Nebraska and Wyoming. Northern Iowa extended an offer. Johnson was a state wrestling runner-up a year ago whose ability to dominate opponents in the circle has easily translated to the gridiron.

If he continues to be overlooked by D-I schools, he could be a steal for an FCS program. And while his size says pass blocker, he might do his best work in the run game. Southeast averaged 173 yards rushing through the first part of 2023 and averaged 186 last year.

Dylan Eby – Plattsmouth Senior – 6-3, 290

Eby is a guy who’s been so important to the Blue Devils that he earned the title of captain each of the past two years. A season ago, it was a little bit of a struggle for a Plattsmouth team that went 4-6. But while it wasn’t all pretty, Eby helped lead an offense that averaged 5.7 yards per carry and was on its way to becoming more and more effective. A year later with more experience back, the Blue Devils won four of their first five, averaged over six yards per carry and put up nearly 200 rushing yards per game.

It's not hard to see why. The Plattsmouth coaching staff typically puts Eby at strong tackle and lets him cave down that side of the defense. When he gets an angle on a defender, then gets his hands on the guy, it’s over.

Eby has an offer from Morningside and is gradually gaining more and more interest elsewhere.

Turner Bertrand – Kearney Junior – 6-6, 240

Bertrand is a guy who’s somewhat flying under the radar even though it’s clear from the tape he has movement, fundamentals and athleticism.

He’s one of the taller guys in this group but also has one of the leaner body types. He’ll be able to pack on more pounds with a college nutrition and lifting program. When it does, he’ll already bring footwork and mobility to the mix.

He has a great stance, great lateral movement and has great potential to be a real contributor for whichever school gives him the opportunity.

Bertrand was on hand for the Nebraska/Louisiana Tech game as an official visitor for the Huskers.