Nebraska High School Class D-2/8-Man Running Backs To Watch in 2024

Sandhills-Thedford QB Kyle Cox after a record setting performance in the 2023 Class D2 State Championship game.

If defending D2 champion Sandhills-Thedford B Kyle Cox isn’t the roughest, toughest hombre in his class, he has to be close. I watched every single play of the D-2b title game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln from the Knights sideline and could not believe what I witnessed.

Kyle Cox, at 5-8, 162 pounds carried the ball 65 of 68 running plays, gained 486 yards, and ran for 6 touchdowns in Sandhill-Thedford’s 50-12 win over a strong Wynot squad. (the national high school record for rushes in a single game is 72).

Cox also added TEN tackles on defense, of which were solos, intercepted a pass and broke up 3 passes.

The Iron Man ended 2023 with a massive 2,900 yard on the ground, 55 rushing TDs, completed 63 of 106 passes (59%) for 970 yards and 11 TDs (with just 3 INTs),

CAUGHT 8 passes for 188 yards and 4 more scores (remember, he’s a quarterback), That’s 4,058 Total Yards.

Now…Defense. 112 tackles, 70 were solos, 6 interceptions, 2 recovered fumbles and 2 blocked punts.

Cox also is the punter, returns kickoffs occasionally and ended 2023 with 60 total touchdowns, and ran in 21 two point conversions or a total of 402 points in the Knights perfect 13-0 season.

And the real kicker was when I asked Kyle if he was tied after his record setting Championship performance. His response, “maybe a little I guess.”

Good Lord!

Another very tough competitor is Grady Kelly from rugged Central Valley, who may have the strongest coaching staff in 8-Man football, Kelly, nearly 30 pounds heavier than Cox, is lightning quick, which aided him in sprinting for 2,006 yards rushing and 38 touchdowns a year ago.

Kelly is also a demon on defense, posting 107 stops a year ago.

Another youngster destined for back-to-back-to-back thousand yard seasons is Howells-Dodge junIor Hunter Luther, who is nearly impossible to stop one on one when he has a football in his hands Luther comes from a long, long line of incredible runners molded by Coach Mikle Spiers, one of the greatest coaches in the history of 8-Man football.

Class D-2 possesses some really talented running backs who should continue to make an impact beginning in a few weeks and here are some notes on those Friday Night Lights Heros.

** Gage Hedstrom-O’Neill St. Marys-Just a junior and already a two-time All-State selection, young Hedstrom played injured for a rebuilding St. Marys team but will be ready to roll this season and start where he left off two years ago as a sensational Freshman.

*Graiden Ritner-Wilcox-Hildreth-2023 All-Stater previously toiling in the 6-Man ranks, the rich bloodlines Ritner should have little trouble adapting to the 8-Man game. This kid is a Baller.

*Cauy Meyer-Loomis-Now HERE is an Athlete and just a junior. The 6-0, 175 pound Baller who completed 57% of his 142 passes for 1,002 yards and 10 TDs, rushed for an additional 87 yards and 11 more scores, but I’m wondering if young Meyer doesn’t love playing defense more than offense? Cauy made a gigantic 142 tackles in NINE games a year ago from his MLB slot, 88 of which were bone-crushing, Excedrin headache stops. I mean, this kid brings the wood, baby!

*Gatlin Reimers-Palmer- Speaking of bringing the wood, nobody in Class D2 does it better than Gatlin Reimers. In addition to rushing for 638 yards and 18 touchdowns, threw for 854 yards and 4 TDs, but on the other side of the ball, Reimers is just flat out nasty from his middle linebacker position. Reimers, who made 159 stops for a 1-7 football team a year, has a mind-boggling 394 tackles (206 solo) the past 3 years (24 games).

CLASS D-2 (8-Man)

Kyle Cox-Sandhills-Thedford-5-10, 162, Sr (2,900 Yds/55 TDs)

Grady Kelly-Central Valley-6-0, 190, Sr (2,006 Yds/38 TDs)

Hunter Luther-Howells-Dodge-6-2, 180, JR. (1,827 Yds/27 TDs)

Jack Molt-Riverside-5-10, 175, Sr (1,128 Yds/14 TDs)

Adam Denkert-Kenesaw-6-1, 180, JR (1,092 Yds/12 TDs)

Jorgan Condon-Creighton-JR. (944 Yds/10 TDs)

Graiden Ritner-Wilcox-Hildreth-Sr. (889 Yds/15 TDs)

Cauy Meyer-Loomis-JR. (QB/873 Yds/11 TDs)

Hayden Gravatt-Johnson-Brock-JR. (798 Yds/13 TDs)

Justin French-Mullen- (769 Yds/12 TDs)

Jacob Halverson-Axtell- (750 Yds/10 TDs)

Haden Helgoth-High Plains- (674 Yds/13 TDs)

Karson Shuler-Hitchcock County-JR. (FB/656 Yds/8 TDs)

Beau Rice-Hyannis-SOPH (650 Yds/7 TDs)

Gavin Geilenkirchen-Humphrey St. Francis-SOPH (QB/646 Yds/11 TDs)

Gatlin Reimers-Palmer (638 Yds/18 TDs)

Hunter Bohling-Humboldt-TRS- (617 Yds/13 TDs)

Hayden Muirhead-Overton- (QB/566 Yds/10 TDs)

Ethan Wieseler-Humphrey St. Francis-SOPH (563 Yds/9 TDs)

Dylan Brichacek-Howells-Dodge (FB/516 Yds/9 TDs)

Jaxon Tenbensel-Silver Lake - 5-10, 160, JR. (499 Yds/6 TDs)

Rocco Hageman-East Butler - 5-10, 160, JR. (498 Yds/9 TDs)

Tate Kvanvig-Mullen - 5-10, 160, JR. (484 Yds/5 TDs)

Quin Oberg-Elm Creek - 5-10, 160, JR. (462 Yds/9 TDs)

Gage Hedstrom-O’Neill St. Marys (QB/460 Yds/10 TDs)

AJ Starr-South Loup (435 Yds/6 TDs/9.06 YPC)