Week 1 of the 2026 season was one for the books with several stars, breakout performances, and last-minute barnburners across the state. I spent the day checking out incoming film posted on X and decided to do some film review of the players who caught my eye right out of the gate.
I have another batch of great prospects who opened the season with a BANG!!
Oakley Osborn | 2028 | DL/EDGE | Platteview | 6’3″ 230 lbs | (@oakley_osborn)
Platteview’s Oakley Osborn had a monster season-opening performance in the Trojans’ win over Hastings. Oakley tee’d off against the Tigers’ offense to the tune of nine tackles, 5.5 TFLs, and 4.5 sacks, already surpassing some of last year’s season totals. The biggest thing that stood out about Oakley’s game was his get-off, using a twitchy first step to beat his opponent off the ball. Osborn displayed a powerful jab with great “pop” in his hands when making initial contact. He plays with a violent streak, which shows in his hand usage and ability to rip and disengage from blockers. Oakley showed he can win with this speed/twitch, but he also used his strength and powerful base to bully his way into the opposing backfield. Once he’s broken through, Oakley gets tunnel vision on the ball carrier, with the lateral quickness and closing speed to track them down. Excellent motor that keeps him running red-hot from snap to whistle and is a violent finisher when he gets to the ball carrier. Osborn does a great job defending the outside run by stacking and shedding blocks as he sets the edge. Oakley showed off a bit of his athleticism as he ran in a score on offense. I can see coaches flocking to the Platteview prospect if he continues this level of play!
Reese Sabatka | 2028 | LB | Lincoln North Star | 6’2″ 195 lbs | (@ReeseSabatka)
Lincoln North Star’s Reese Sabatka had a breakout game in Week 1 as he made plays all over the field for the Gators’ defense. Reese ended his night with 13 tackles and two TFLs, along with three receptions, including a successful two-point conversion. Reese has been on the rise throughout the summer and laid it all out on Thursday night, displaying a great mix of size, speed, and physicality. He has a very quick trigger that is always ready to go off as soon as he reads and diagnoses the play, and he shows solid burst when shooting his gaps. At 6’2″ and 195 pounds, Reese has next-level size with great length and room to continue bulking out his frame. His size and closing speed also allow him to win the contact battle when meeting RBs in the gap and make stops at/behind the LOS. Sabatka isn’t just a downhill defender, as he displayed the range to cover from sideline to sideline and work his way to the edge to fit the outside run. He has great instincts in coverage and is quick to communicate to his teammates. Reese showed that he can win battles at the line of scrimmage using his strength and hand usage to disengage from blockers. Offensively, Sabatka gives his QB a big-bodied target who can win at the catch point and be a sure safety valve target in the short-intermediate range. In-state program Midland is the first/sole team to offer Reese so far, but expect that to change as he continues his junior season.
Max Michel | 2027 | OL | Plattsmouth | 6’4″ 280 lbs | (@MaxMich81387438)
We had to make sure to highlight some of the big movers from Week 1, and Plattsmouth’s Max Michel was definitely deserving of some praise after a strong showing. Max is the Blue Devils’ starting right tackle and has shown a lot of upside as a run-blocker and in pass-protection. In the run game, Max is quick to fire off the ball and is usually the aggressor at the point of attack. He maintains good pad level while engaged and can use his power leg drive to move defenders out of lanes. Good job working off combo blocks to pick up defenders in the second level. The Blue Devils didn’t throw a lot, but Max still displayed the footwork and mobility to mirror defenders along the line of scrimmage. Once engaged, Michel is smart and effective at working his hands inside his defender’s frame to take over the leverage battle. Max plays with a great motor and will keep going through the whistle or until he’s driven his opponent into the dirt. Max holds offers from Midland and Morningside, with other NAIA and D2 programs keeping tabs on him.
Tyler Thorell | 2028 | WR | Lexington | 6’0″ 160 lbs | (@TylerThorell)
Lexington’s Tyler Thorell has been one of the more consistent players in the 2028 class, making plays since his freshman campaign and continuing through a big Week 1 of his junior season. Tyler’s 4 catches for 107 yards, 75 rushing yards, two receiving touchdowns, and a rushing touchdown played a big role in the Minutemen’s win over Holdrege. Tyler is a starter on both sides, but has really stood out as a receiver, especially as a route runner. He does a great job getting a clean release at the line of scrimmage, attacks his opponent’s leverage, and can explode out of his breaks to create separation at the top of the route. Thorell also has a great sense for spacing and can usually find and attack the soft spots in coverage. Tyler’s speed is very underrated; he showed on both of his long TDs that he can erase defenders’ angles and quickly accelerate to top gear once he finds the open field. He also has the quick twitch to make defenders whiff in the open field. Great hands and concentration at the catch point— will work back to the ball. Definitely someone to consider adding to your 2028 recruiting boards ASAP!
Drew Sterup | 2028 | QB | North Bend Central | 6’1″ 190 lbs | (@dsterup2028)
Speaking of 2028 recruiting boards, the ’28 QB class is shaping up to be a really special one with several great gunslingers, including NBC’s Drew Sterup. Despite the loss, Drew still posted impressive totals of 197 passing yards, 96 rushing yards, and three touchdowns. My biggest takeaway from watching Drew’s tape is that he seemed very smooth operating the offense, showing calm and poise throughout the night. In the pocket, he didn’t seem rattled by pressure or good coverage downfield, instead opting to keep his eyes moving through his progressions, resetting his feet, and letting it rip when he finds a target. Sterup also showed the mobility to extend plays outside of the pocket and was surprisingly elusive on the run. He flashed the arm strength and accuracy to hit his deep passes and excellent zip when firing into tight windows in the short/intermediate range. Overall, Drew looks like a true gamer who can find ways to keep the offense moving and is a threat to strike from anywhere. Lots of upside here!
Camden Berry | 2030 | WR | Omaha Central | (@mrnebraska1)
I tried to wait a bit before covering players we just wrote about, but watching Camden Berry’s varsity debut made it difficult. The Eagles’ freshman erupted for six catches for 169 yards and three touchdowns as he showed he can score from anywhere. Camden had the big play, beating his defender off the ball with a great release and elite speed that can take the top off the defense, and he finished by outracing everyone to the end zone. His second touchdown came on a WR screen, where he took full advantage of the blockers in front of him and used his vision to find the open lane to the score. Camden’s third touchdown came in the redzone where he used his sharp route-running ability to create separation from defenders, made the catch, and turned around quickly to outrun defenders’ angles. To recap, Camden has WHEELS! On top of that, he also displayed strong hands at the catch point and the ability to elevate over defenders to high-point the ball. Miami and Nebraska have already extended offers to Berry and will likely kick off a nationwide recruiting push.
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