Nebraska High School Class C-1 Running Backs To Watch in 2024

The fabulous Quinn Bailey leads the returning 1000 yard rushers in Class C1. The Chadron star, who rambled for 1,997 yards a year ago, has rushed for 3,490 yards in 29 games the past three seasons and is a very strong candidate to reach the coveted 5000 yard career rushing mark. He needs 1,510 to reach it.

Bailey, who enters the 2024 season with SEVEN straight 100 yard plus rushing games. In 2023 alone, Quinn had five hundred yard rushing outings, three 200+ games and a dandy 346/4 touchdown explosion in the Cardinals win over Alliance.

The game that caught my eye was Bailey’s gem against Valentine. Thirteen carries-195 yards and SIX TDs. A touchdown every other carry.

Fast, elusive and strong, Quinn Bailey is a real Baller.

Norris gained a brilliant talent in the rough, tough Markus Nelson, who powered his way to 1,475 yards and 20 touchdowns for a 5-4 Nebraska City squad as a SOPHOMORE.

In fact, Nelson finished last season with games of 282 yards/4 TDs against Raymond Central, 258 yard/4 touchdown blast against Syracuse (both wins) and a 283 yard/4 TDs effort in a 34-32 loss to Auburn.

Perhaps Nelson transferred out because Nebraska City will be eligible for the playoffs the next two years after opting to remain in Class C1 when their boy numbers placed them in Class B.

What looks strange is to see a Boys Town player on a “who;’s returning list”. Normally Boys Town doesn’t know who they are going to have from year to year, but I’m thinking Cowboy head coach Chris Nizzi is thrilled that thousand yard rusher Taylor Jacobs and big, tough 500 yard rusher Darien Whitaker (6-3, 215) are back for the upcoming season.

Keep an eye on Whitaker by the way, the dude can fly.

Bordovsky will get as may yards as he pleases with that Wahoo O-Line, Central City’s junior Cobin Kyes would have hit his thousand yards last season as a sophomore had he not been injured before the finale against Aurora, and I saw Minden’s Orrin Kuehn play as a sophomore and he is a certainly a legit 1000 yard runner in 2024.

Auburn will have a fine 1-2 rushing duo with QB Nixon Ligouri and RB Brant Gulizia. They don’t just play basketball down there in Jim Weeks country. Those Bulldogs know how to play some football. Year in-year out, matter of fact.

CLASS C-1

Quinn Bailey-Chadron - 5-11, 170, Sr. (1,997 Yds/29 TDs)

Markus Nelson-Norris*- 5-9, 190, Jr. (1,475 Yds//20 TDs)

Taylor Jacobs-Boys Town - 5-6, 160, Sr. (1,041 Yds/ TDs)

Noah Bordovsky-Wahoo - 6-0, 170, Sr. (1,035 Yds//19 TDs)

Corbin Kyes-Central City - 5-6, 175, JR. (951Yds//2 TDs)

Nixon Ligouri-Auburn - 6-3, 185, Sr. (QB/815 Yds/5 TDs)

Orrin Kuehn-Minden - 5-8, 160, Sr. (795 Yds/6 TDs)

Porter Mathews-O’Neill - JR. (576 Yds/6 TDs)

Cody Kuszak-St. Paul - 5-10, 190, Sr. (569 Yds/3 TDs)

Cy Petersen-Syracuse - 5-7, 16, Sr. (567 Yds/9 TDs)

Blake Weichart-Fort Calhoun - JR. (543 Yds/6 TDs)

Darien Whitaker-Boys Town - 6-3, 215, Sr.(530Yds/6 TDs)

Brant Gulizia-Auburn - 6-0, 190, Sr. (465 Yds/6 TDs)

Noah Shoemaker-Cozad - 6-3, 185, Sr. (QB/384 Yds/8 TDs)