Six Star Football hosted a showcase event on Sunday at Doane University. The event was open to athletes in the 2023–26 recruiting classes. Around 80 prospects came out to compete. The players did combine drills like the 40-yard dash, broad jump and vertical jump, and got a lot of time to go through drill work at their respective positions. The day featured some fun one-on-one competition periods. This all allowed the high schoolers to get plenty of evaluation and analysis of their games.
The top 25 performers got invitations to take part in the Finals Showcase on Memorial Day weekend in Kansas City.
Thank you for the recognition to go to your All-American camp @6starfootballFL very excited to continue to prove myself at the national level. pic.twitter.com/gE1xHk80d3
— Brayden Layman (@LaymanBrayden) April 24, 2022
Here are my five thoughts on the camp.
Tight End Talent Impresses
Every region seems to produce a position or two at a high rate. This state and the region has been on a roll in recent years producing college-worthy tight ends. The camp had a range of players from 2023 to 2025 players but the athleticism in the tight end group was hard to miss. Norris tight end Cooper Cerny (6-3, 175) was a standout player running a 4.76 40-yard dash. He ran good routes and caught the ball well. It’ll be fun tracking him this fall. Class of 2025 prospect Alijah Wayne from Omaha Central is one to watch for the future.
Camp MVP in trenches
It’s hard for linemen to stand out in these types of camps. These events lend themselves to flashy plays from skill position players. It was pretty neat to see the camp MVP award go to defensive lineman Kadence Velde (6-3, 275) from York. Coach Glen Snodgrass’ program is no stranger to producing college talent. Velde looks to be part of the next group as a 2023 player.
Thanks for coaching me up today @CoachPoe1914! Had a blast competing @6starfootballNE! pic.twitter.com/VpZlxF8LiG
— Kadence Velde (@kadence_velde) April 24, 2022
Great Opportunity for Kids
These camps are always a great chance for high school football players to sharpen their skills and compete. The campers had plenty of chances to do that on Sunday but there was a bonus based on who was coaching them up. Members of the Doane coaching staff ran the drills for the camp. They provided instruction for the players. That’s a great opportunity for the players to get exposure to college coaches. They could end up recruiting them. After the camp the players were able to tour the Doane facilities. I wouldn’t be surprised if several of the campers land on Doane’s radar after the event.
Young Talent in State
The consistent uptick in talent across the state of Nebraska has been a talking point around the state. All those players don’t end up going Power Five. It’s been impressive to see the number of players in the state going on to play college football. From what I saw on Sunday that pipeline will continue to flow. Class of 2025 Skutt Catholic quarterback Dylan Van Dyke and 2025 Elkhorn South running back Gavin Shanahan impressed. There were 2024 standouts, too. Millard South defensive lineman JR Lecuona and Gering linebacker Hayden Bennett stood out.
Lincoln North Star 2024 offensive lineman Jayden Potter was an impressive looking player. He got a ticket to the Finals in Kansas City too. The young talent in the state continues to impress which is great to see.
Team Bonding and Improvement
One of the things I noticed at the camp was that several teams used the camp to get better as a group. There were many players at the event from Omaha Skutt, Millard West, Millard South and Ord. I spoke with many high school teams before last season. Many spoke about these camps as bonding activities to launch into summer workouts. That cycle began again for many programs on Sunday. I bet it pays off for them over the summer and into next season.
Thank you @6starfootballNE for the camp! @ @MSouthFootball @DoaneFootball pic.twitter.com/lcJinHaMh2
— Keaton Valdez (@KeatonValdez) April 25, 2022