High school football: Top 10 Nebraska players from the Class of 2022

By Ryan Casey Aug 18, 2021, 7:00am

Top prospect Devon Jackson headlines look at Nebraska's top seniors according to 247Sports.


Ahead of the 2021 high school football season, MaxPreps is breaking down the top senior prospects in the country state-by-state as rated by 247Sports.

We continue the series with Nebraska, which opens play On Aug. 27.

This fall marks a return to play for a portion of the state, as Omaha schools did not play football in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The top-10 in Nebraska is spread out among the state. Bellevue West and Millard South both feature two players, but other than that no school has more than one player on the list.


By position, the group is led by four linebackers. There are also three tight ends.



As of Aug 4, nine of the top 10 players had made their college decisions -- with top-ranked linebacker Devon Jackson of Burke (Omaha) the lone undecided.

The in-state Huskers have two of the 10 committed to their program, as does Northern Illinois.

Micah Riley-Ducker of Bellevue West.
Micah Riley-Ducker of Bellevue West.
Samuel Mfinanga
Nebraska’s Top 10 football players from the Class of 2022

1. Devon Jackson | Burke (Omaha)
6-2 | 200 | LB | Undecided
Jackson is a top-200 recruit nationally, coming in at No. 153 in the 247Sports Composite Ratings, and the No. 18-ranked linebacker in the country. This will be his first season in two years, as Omaha schools did not play football in 2020. In 2019, he had 26 tackles, 2.0 sacks, a forced fumble and a blocked field goal. Jackson has 19 total offers.

6-4 | 270 | OL | Missouri
In 2019, Woods helped Omaha Central to 1,423 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns, as well as 849 passing yards. He had 15 offers from colleges prior to committing in June. Woods is rated as the fifth-best interior offensive lineman in the country according to 247Sports.

3. Kaden Helms | Bellevue West
6-5 | 222 | TE | Oklahoma
Last season, Helms had 322 receiving yards and four touchdowns. His recruitment drew wide interest across the country, and he had 24 offers before choosing Oklahoma in June.



4. Ernest Hausmann | Columbus
6-3 | 205 | LB | Nebraska
Hausmann amassed 69 tackles -- including six for a loss -- forced two fumbles, and also had a sack during his junior season in 2020. A two-way threat, he also led his team in receiving with 34 catches for 447 yards and five touchdowns.

6-6 | 235 | TE | Auburn
Riley-Ducker had 23 catches last year for 310 yards, and hauled in seven touchdowns. In addition to Auburn, 28 other schools offered him scholarships. He is rated as the 18th-best tight end nationally by the 247Sports Composite.

The rest of the top-10

6. Gage Stenger | Millard South (Omaha, Neb.) | 6-2 | 200 | LB | Kansas State
7. Jake Appleget | Lincoln Southeast | 6-4 | 210 | EDGE | Nebraska
8. Jake Gassaway | Millard South (Omaha, Neb.) | 6-2 | 195 | LB | Northern Illinois
9. Caden Becker | Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Neb.) | 6-4 | 220 | QB | Wyoming
10. Garett Oakley | Scotus (Columbus, Neb.) | 6-5 | 205 | Northern Illinois