The 2026 season is a very interesting one as we are set to see several Nebraska teams travel to or host programs from out of state. In the next few weeks, we’ll see some of the top programs in Nebraska battle some of the top programs in Missouri, South Dakota, and Kansas.
To spread a little bit of that “Nebraska Nice” I wanted to start a series covering prospects from these programs as we head into these matchups. These players are guys that I believe have the upside to play at the next level and ones that I will be making sure to keep an eye on throughout their recruitments.
Here are five prospects from Missouri and South Dakota:
Bryce Thompson | 2027 | Lee’s Summit North (MO) | (@BryceJThompson5)
In-State Opponent: Millard South (9/4)
The Lee’s Summit North Broncos will pay visit to the Millard South Patriots this Friday, fresh off a 27-7 win over Park Hill South. Senior RB Bryce Thompson is one player I will be watching out for after leading the offensive charge last week with 20 carries for 136 yards and two touchdowns. I don’t have any game film, but looking back at Bryce’s junior tape, you can see the talent pop off the page. My biggest takeaway from Bryce’s game is that he is a glider at RB, displaying a great combination of elite vision and swift change of direction that make him extremely elusive in the open field. Bryce does an excellent job being patient as he analyzes the field in front of him and trusts his blockers to set up the lanes before firing through his gaps like a train. He maintains his speed very well while hitting his cutback lanes and has an insane top gear (reported 4.36 prorated 40-yard) that can outrace the field to the endzone. Thompson’s balanced base and strong 5’9″ 180 pound frame allow him to fly past arm tackle attempts with ease. Bryce also brings a tough, physical mindset to the field as he has no problem driving through a defender’s chest or wrestling with a pair of defenders trying to bring him down as he fights for additional yardage. Bryce has some solid D2 offers on the table and should continue seeing his interest increase with more strong performances.
Elijah McMahan | 2029 | ATH | Sioux Falls Washington (SD) | 6’0″ 170 lbs | (@Elijah1012011)
In-State Opponent: Millard North (9/18)
The SF Washington Warriors have a great young prospect coming up through the pipeline in sophomore two-way star Elijah McMahan. Looking back at some of Elijah’s freshman tape, it’s clear he has next-level talent, and now he returns with a bigger frame and is more polished on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Elijah is a smooth operator at wide receiver with clean footwork, a great release off the ball, and excellent acceleration through the stem. He is very sudden with his change of direction, with impressive explosiveness coming out of his breaks. McMahan’s speed is a legit threat to take the top off the defense, and he does a great job tracking the ball on deep passes and adjusting to the ball on a dime. Very aggressive at the catch point— great “hands” receiver. Nice burst and acceleration after the catch make him a threat to hit the home run ball on any given play. Defensively, Elijah projects as a fluid, technical cornerback who can also be physical with opposing receivers. He displays smooth footwork through his backpedal, can easily flip his hips when changing direction, and plays with great instincts in coverage. He had a few reps where he looked like the receiver on the play. McMahan also flashes a great nose for the football, showing he is willing to attack the ball at the catch point to either snag it for himself or end up with a PBU. I’m excited to see the level of impact Elijah brings to the Warriors this season.
Kyle Schempp | 2028 | Sioux Falls Lincoln (SD) | 5’9” 160 lbs | (@Schemppy10)
In-State Opponent: Omaha Central (9/25)
The Central Eagles will have to keep an eye out for the high-flying junior receiver Kyle Schempp who is fresh off a big opening week. Despite the loss, Schempp still erupted for seven catches, 191 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns, setting the tone for what could be a breakout campaign. Despite being “undersized” by some metrics, that doesn’t take away the electric playmaking he brings to the field, with the ability to strike from deep or house a quick dump-off pass for a TD. Kyle is explosive coming off the ball and is quick to build speed through his stem, but what stands out is his sudden stop/start in his routes that can set defenders up to get torched. He has a great feel for finding space in coverage and attacking those soft zones. Schempp is very reliable at the catch point with excellent concentration and hand strength to hold on to the ball in all conditions. Great deep-ball tracker. Kyle’s versatility to play anywhere along the formation, diverse route tree, and athleticism would make for a fun time for any creative offensive coordinator at the next level. Definitely keeping an eye on Kyle when the Patriots battle the Eagles.
Anneyso Ahmed | 2027 | EDGE | Brandon Valley (SD) | 6’1″ 205 lbs | (@AnneysoA)
In-State Opponent: Bellevue West (Win 10-7)
Although the Brandon Valley-Bellevue West matchup already happened, it doesn’t stop us from looking at a standout player from the game. In a defensive battle, senior Anneyso Ahmed was able to make an impact resulting in six tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovered with a 57-yard return tacked on. Anneyso plays an versatile role where he excels when asked to pin his ears back and get after the ball. He displays a very quick first step as he fires off the ball and showed great bend when rounding the edge. Ahmed is very strong with heavy hands that can land like bricks when he hits his initial punch and the ability to violently rip away at blockers. He isn’t just a pass rusher though, as Anneyson showed that he can put his hands in the dirt and clog up running lanes while still tracking and closing in on the ball carrier Ahmed’s strong base allows him to anchor down along the edge to shut off outside runs while also having the twitch to get across his blocker’s face to disrupt the inside gaps. Solid prospect who can be versatile piece in your front seven.
Max Trillo | 2028 | Lee’s Summit (MO) | 6’4″ 230 lbs | (@MaxTreeYo)
In-State Opponent: Omaha Westside (9/4)
When scrolling through the Lee’s Summit Tigers roster, junior TE Max Trillo was a player who stood out right away. Right off the bat, Max has the type of size and frame that coaches look for in tight ends at the next level, standing at 6’4″ and 230 pounds with room to continue filling out his frame. His size alone makes him a mismatch in most cases, but then you add in his athleticism and it creates all new problems as he can easily weave through defenders with his route running. Trillo does a great job setting up defenders with his route before attacking the open space created. He has a huge catch radius and strong hands that can snag anything thrown his way, even through contact. The Tigers opened their season with 370 rushing yards and three touchdowns and you can expect that Max’s blocking skills helped with that effort. Max’s blocking ability in the run game was very impressive as he showed good technique and hand placement when engaging with defenders, along with the strength to move them off the ball. Good footwork and leg drive. P4 programs have already started showing interest in Max with offers likely to follow as they start focusing on the 2028 class.
