We have been focusing on the 27s and 28s in evaluations right now, but we also wanted to shout out some underclassmen who are already putting in the work and flashing as potential prospects.
Here are five prospects from the 2029 and 2030 classes that you should keep an eye on right away:
William Fischer, 2029 – WR/DB – Fort Calhoun – 6’4″ 195 lbs – (@BigFisch1734)
Fort Calhoun’s William Fischer has been high on my radar since his freshman campaign and has continued to show why in year two. Right off the bat, Fischer poses a matchup nightmare with his taller frame at 6’4” and 175 pounds, with excellent length and leaping ability to snag passes at the high point. When you cut in the tape, you see a receiver who moves surprisingly well for his size, with a clean release and smooth footwork at the line of scrimmage. Additionally, William moves well throughout the entirety of the route, using his long stride to build speed through the stem and a sharp change of direction through his breaks. Good job creating separation at the top of his routes and settling into the dead spots in the defense. He’s an excellent red zone target who can win above the rim and hold on to the ball through contact. He showed nice wiggle after the catch and is willing to push back against defenders, making him a hard player to bring down on initial contact. I also noticed that William has no problem getting his hands dirty by picking up blocks in the run game and showing the mean streak to finish in the dirt.
Isaiah Louis, 2029 – DL – Omaha Westside – 5’11” 240 lbs – (@Isaiahxlouis_)
Westside’s Isaiah Louis is a new player on my radar, and I’m excited to dig deeper at season’s end. Through 6 games, Louis has contributed 13 tackles and five TFLs on one of Class A’s best D-lines. Isaiah really caught my attention in his recent film drop, showing he is not bothered by an “undersized” label and can hold his own against bigger linemen. Part of what helps Isaiah win his 1v1s is how explosively he shoots out of his stance and how much power he packs into his punch. At 5’11” and 240 pounds, Isaiah can use his natural leverage and upper body strength to stand his opponents up while also having the leg drive to force blockers off their spot. His hands land with great placement on his opponents’ frames and can even work them inside to gain better leverage. Louis also showed that he can use his hands to disengage from blockers. His combination of power, quick get-off, and motor has already resulted in a number of big plays for loss. Great pursuit and lateral quickness drive him to the ball on nearly every play. I was also impressed with his usage on offense, where he lined up as a fullback and was effective as a blocker. Isaiah looks like another excellent prospect to watch in the Westside ‘29 class.
Tyson Hergert, 2029 – LB – Lincoln East – 5’11” 185 lbs – (@tysonhergert44)
Lincoln East’s Tyson Hergert was well on his way to a huge breakout campaign; however, an injury may shut him down early. Nonetheless, Tyson still flashed enough on the field to keep him high on our radar, racking up an impressive 55 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, and a sack in only four games. I had the chance to watch Tyson and the Spartans earlier this season, where he had one of his best showings, and my biggest takeaway is that he has an intense motor that never quits. His quick instincts help him trigger the run immediately, while his closing speed lets him get to the ball and be involved in nearly every play. Hergert is a great tackler who uses leverage and power to make secure stops in the hole or open field. He’s very rangy for a linebacker, which helps him get out to defend the edges against outside runs or move in coverage across the middle of the field. Look for Tyson to come out looking to make some noise once he’s 100%… buy stock now!
Lucas DeWaard, 2030 – OL – Malcolm – 6’4″ 210 lbs – (@LDeWaard54)
Looks like the Clippers have another DeWaard coming up through the pipeline: freshman Lucas DeWaard, who will be a big part of this impressive 2030 class. Lucas already has great size for a freshman lineman, standing at 6’3″ and 210 pounds, with plenty of time to continue maxing out his frame, along with length that you can’t teach at the position. Lucas has served as the Clippers’ backup tackle, but in some blowout wins, he’s gotten a fair amount of varsity time and looked good. He fires out of his stance well and uses his length to extend and be the aggressor at the point of contact. His quick first step also helps him get after it in the run game, as he can easily climb to the second level to seal off LBs and even throw in some chip help along the way. Once he gets to his target, his heavy hands make for a powerful punch that can explode through the defender’s chest. Strong leg drive to move defenders at will. A promising young prospect who will only get better with every rep!
Bryson Thorpe, 2030 – DB – Millard South – 6’1″ 185 lbs – (@bthorpe0)
Speaking of having talent coming up through the pipeline, Millard South has an outstanding frosh group with tons of potential star power. One name to watch is safety/ATH Bryson Thorpe, who is projecting as a well-rounded safety prospect but can also do damage on offense and special teams. Bryson’s biggest asset is his high football IQ at this early stage in his development, which then trickles down to the rest of his skill set. His quick recognition lets him read and break on a route in a flash, while his closing speed and ball skills make him a true ball-hawk with the potential to snag any pass for himself. Once he has the ball, Bryson’s athleticism and vision take over as he quickly finds lanes and explodes through them to pick up big gains/returns. Thorpe doesn’t shy away from physicality, doing a great job fitting the run, making open-field tackles, and challenging receivers at the catch point. At 6’1″ and 185 pounds, Bryson already has great size for the position and will surely continue to keep growing. Bryson is a prospect who will likely blow up sooner rather than later, and when he does, it’s gonna be big time!
