Video: Kicker nails 76-yard field goalNot to get too cliché here, but several Nebraska prep football players over the past decade have been awarded for sticking to their game plan, executing it and because of it – earned the Big Daddy of them all, getting selected in the NFL Draft.
From Beatrice to Schuyler and from North Platte to Omaha, 15 former Nebraska prep football players paid their dues over the life of their football careers and have earned the privilege to join the grind that is today's NFL.
In just a couple of days, another class of college football players is looking to earn that same rite. Guys like Giltner's Drew Ott (Iowa) and Zach Sterup (Nebraska) of Hastings St. Cecilia just want an opportunity to prove themselves. And according to the experts at CBSSports.com, both Ott and Sterup could get drafted somewhere in the seventh round. They could go sooner. Then again, maybe not at all.
As we break down the draft of the past decade in Nebraska, it'd be pretty easy to assume most of the talent comes out of Omaha and Lincoln. But that's not always the case. One could easily argue that eastern to southeastern Nebraska has produced the majority of the Cornhusker State's NFL talent since 2006.
But with Omaha so centrally located we have decided to split Nebraska's largest city in the same manner that the Shrine Bowl has the past couple of years when selecting its rosters, for the purposes of this post. When the line is drawn in that regard, it couldn't get much closer, with northeast Nebraska producing seven NFL draftees, since 2006, and the southeastern part of the state producing six.
Millard North, Elkhorn (which is located just west of Omaha), Omaha Burke and Omaha Creighton Prep have been North squad Shrine Bowl representatives. Omaha Central, on the other hand, is the only Omaha school that has produced at least one NFL draftee in the last decade to compete for the South squad in 2015.
See some fun facts, and then below that see a comprehensive chart of all Nebraska draftees since 2006.
* With NFL team's selecting Seth Olsen and Niles Paul of Millard North and Elkhorn's Spencer Long and Jay Moore, these two Nebraska football powers are Nebraska's top producers of NFL talent over the past decade.
* Nebraska has been known for producing some of the best linemen in the NFL over the years, and many have come from the Cornhusker State's prep ranks. That trend continues with five of Nebraska's 15 draft selections in modern times coming from up front on both sides of the ball. Guards Olsen and Long as well as defensive tackles Jared Crick (Cozad) and Titus Adams (Omaha Creighton Prep), both Cornhuskers as was defensive end Moore, continue to keep Nebraska big man football on the map.
* Nebraska prepsters have also filled holes on NFL rosters in regards to kicking specialists and the skilled positions. Kickers Greg Zuerlein (Lincoln Pius X) and Alex Henery (Omaha Burke) as well as punter Sam Koch (Seward) have all tasted NFL success. Idaho quarterback Nathan Enderle (North Platte), wide receiver/tight end Niles Paul (Millard North) and running back Xavier Omon (Beatrice) have also represented Nebraska in the NFL.
* Some may say 15 athletes in 10 years is not that many, and those critics may be right. But the Cornhusker State has produced at least one football player at nearly every position (excluding safety, offensive tackle, fullback and center) over the last ten drafts collectively.
* Nebraska hasn't produced a first or second rounder from 2006 and on, but the Cornhusker State has put forth plenty of middle round selections. The Washington Redskins made Long the highest Nebraska pick over the past decade when they grabbed his talents with the 78th overall pick in the third round. Olsen (Denver), Crick (Houston), Henery (Philadelphia) and Moore (San Francisco) all went in the fourth round. Enderle (Chicago), Omaha Central's Shaun Prater (Cincinnati), Paul (Washington) and Schuyler's own Kyle Emanuel (San Diego), the only Nebraska native selected a year ago, were all chosen by their respective teams in the fifth round.
* Five of Nebraska's draft selections remained with the team that drafted them through last season. Zuerlein just signed a one-year deal with the now-Los Angeles Rams, who drafted him when the franchise resided in St. Louis in 2012. Long (2014) and Paul (2011) are still listed on the Redskins' roster. Koch (2006) remains with the Ravens, while Emanuel (2015) is still a Charger. Nine of the 15 modern day Nebraskans are either on rosters heading into the 2016 season, or are pursuing a roster spot through free agency.
* Koch has been a mainstay with the Ravens and has put together probably the best NFL career in this modern era. The 6-foot-1, 219-pound former Bluejay has started every game for the Ravens through his 10-year career. Since 2006, Koch has booted the ball 782 times for an average of 45.2 yards per punt and has put forth a 39.5 yard net average. Koch has planted the ball inside the 20-yard line 280 times in his NFL career.
* Koch is also the only Nebraska native to make a pro bowl over the past 10 seasons, earning his only invitation a year ago. Koch booted the ball twice for 89 yards in the game, as he and his Team Irvin teammates went on to knock off Team Rice 49-27.
* Bo Ruud joins his brother Barrett and his father Tom as former Cornhuskers that received their shot at making it in the NFL. Bo Ruud (Lincoln Southeast) was taken in the sixth round with the 197th pick by the New England Patriots in 2008, while former Nebraska-Omaha tight end Zach Miller (Bishop Neumann) played three seasons in Jacksonville before joining the Bears in 2015. Miller has 79 catches for 909 yards and nine scores through four NFL seasons.
* Omaha and Lincoln have produced plenty of NFL talent over the years, and still do. But don't think for a moment that the rest of the state has been barren in that regard, especially as of late. Of the 15 athletes that have been invited by NFL franchises to continue their football careers, six were produced outside of the Omaha and Lincoln area. Eight of the above athletes were produced by schools with enrollments below Class A.
| NAME |
SCHOOL |
RD |
PICK |
YEAR |
TEAM |
| Kyle
Emanuel |
Schuyler |
5 |
153 |
2015 |
Chargers |
| Spencer
Long |
Elkhorn |
3 |
78 |
2014 |
Redskins |
| Shaun
Prater |
Omaha
Central |
5 |
156 |
2012 |
Bengals |
| Jared
Crick |
Cozad |
4 |
126 |
2012 |
Texans |
| Greg
Zuerlein |
Pius
X |
6 |
171 |
2012 |
Rams |
| Nathan
Enderle |
North
Platte |
5 |
160 |
2011 |
Bears |
| Alex
Henery |
Burke |
4 |
120 |
2011 |
Eagles |
| Niles
Paul |
Millard
North |
5 |
155 |
2011 |
Redskins |
| Seth
Olsen |
Millard
North |
4 |
132 |
2009 |
Broncos |
| Zach
Miller |
Neumann |
6 |
180 |
2009 |
Jaguars |
| Xavier
Omon |
Beatrice |
6 |
179 |
2008 |
Bills |
| Bo
Ruud |
Lincoln
Southeast |
6 |
197 |
2008 |
Patriots |
| Jay
Moore |
Elkhorn |
4 |
104 |
2007 |
49ers |
| Sam
Koch |
Seward |
6 |
203 |
2006 |
Ravens |
| Titus
Adams |
Creighton
Prep |
7 |
220 |
2006 |
Jets |
