UNK Loper Football Adds 33

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney football team today (Feb. 4) announced the names of 33 high school seniors who'll join the Lopers this fall.

Head coach Ryan Held expects four more to join the program in the coming days. This group of 33 features 19 Nebraska natives and 14 players from seven different states; Florida, Georgia, Kansas, North Dakota, Missouri, Texas, and Wyoming. By position there are 14 on offense (five linemen, four receivers, three running backs and two quarterbacks), 16 on defense (nine corners/safeties, four linemen/ends, and three linebackers) and three athletes.

"I'm very excited about this class. We've addressed many needs and stuck to the board and found the right kids. I want to thank the many people in our process to help us achieve this class on our campus," he said.

UNK picked up three players from Class A juggernaut Millard South (defensive lineman Jack Ladd, defensive back Teagan Urban and receiver Owen Zech) and Kearney High (linebacker John Florell, athlete Cole Larsen and defensive lineman Zach Wulf). Next, two new Lopers are coming from Elkhorn South, Mill Valley (Kan.) and Saint Thomas Aquinas (Kan.) High Schools.

Offensively, the Blue & Gold added to its backfield with highly productive and decorated running backs in Calin Arndt (Overland Park, Kan.), Kip Brigham (Wahoo), and Derek Jones (Papillion-La Vista South) with Jace Gill (Graham, Texas) and Coulter Lang (Gillette, Wyo.) the new quarterbacks. The Lopers are slated to have five signal callers going through spring workouts.

The defense added a total of nine corners and safeties including A'Maree Bohannon (Wichita East). He joined the program last month and is going through winter workouts. 

Next Wednesday (Feb. 11) at Fanatics, the Loper Gridiron club is hosting a Signing Day Social event. Fans are invited to come down at 6 p.m. and listen to Coach Held talk about the incoming class (freshmen and mid-year transfers). 

The Lopers are currently going through winter workouts and begin "Spring Ball" in mid-March. Fall camp starts Aug. 3 and the 2026 opener is set for Aug. 27 (Thurs.) at home vs. Wayne State. 

Nebraska H.S. Seniors (19 of 22)
Canon Allen (WR, 5-10, 160 lbs., Aurora)
Kip Brigham (RB, 5-10, 180 lbs., Wahoo)
John Florell (LB, 6-1, 205 lbs., Keanrey)
Bennet Gillman (DB, 6-0, 180 lbs., Elkhorn South)
Carter Hotz (LB, 6-1, 200 lbs., Omaha Skutt)
Tavion Johnson (WR, 6-3, 175 lbs., Raymond Central)
Derek Jones (RB, 5-8, 190 lbs., Papillion La Vista South)
Drew Kline (ATH, 5-10, 180 lbs., Omaha Westside)
Jack Ladd (DL, 6-1, 245 lbs., Millard South)
Bryce Lakers (WR, 6-1, 175 lbs., Gretna)
Cole Larsen (ATH, 6-6, 230 lbs., Kearney)
Griffin McDonald (LB, 6-2, 205 lbs., Elkhorn South)
Hayden Marr (OL, 6-4, 250 lbs., Lincoln Lutheran)
Liam Norton (DL, 5-11, 255 lbs., Gretna East)
Kairi Smith (DB, 5-11, 175 lbs., Bellevue West)
Teagan Urban (DB, 6-1, 190 lbs., Millard South)
Owen Zech (WR, 5-10, 165 lbs., Millard South)
Carson Wessel (ATH, 6-3, 200 lbs., Columbus Scotus)
Zach Wulff (DL, 6-2, 235 lbs., Kearney)

Out of State H.S Seniors (14 of 15)
Wade Antoine (CB, 6-1, 175 lbs., Belle Glade, Fla./Glades Central)
Calin Arndt (RB, 5-9, 200 lbs., Overland Park, Kan./Saint Thomas Aquinas)
Roman Barnes (OL, 6-6, 310 lbs., Bismarck, N.D./St. Mary's Central)
Tyler Barnes (OL, 6-2, 295 lbs., Overland Park, Kan./Saint Thomas Aquinas)
A'Maree Bohannon (DB, 6-1, 185 lbs., Wichita, Kan./Wichita East)
Ja'Mario Bradford (CB, 5-11, 165 lbs., Osceola, Fla./Osceola)
Ryan Eddington (OL, 6-6, 295 lbs., Oak Grove, Mo./Oak Grove)
Jace Gill (QB, 5-10, 170 lbs., Graham, Texas/Graham)
Haden Heller (DL, 6-0, 280 lbs., Shawnee, Kan./Mill Valley)
Jaidan James (CB, 5-10, 175 lbs., Powder Springs, Ga./Hillgrove)
Coulter Lang (QB, 6-1, 195 lbs., Gillette, Wyo./Campbell County)
Nick Philhour Jr. (OL, 6-3, 280 lbs., Shawnee, Kan./Mill Valley)
Ethan Prescott (DB, 6-2, 200 lbs., Lawrence, Kan./Lawrence Free State)
Reid Smith (DB, 6-4, 200 lbs., Cameron, Mo./Cameron)