2000s Class A All-Decade FB Team

CLASS A

Offense

Pos., Name, School, Ht., Wt., Final Season

QB - Bronson Marsh, Millard South 6-0 205 2009

He finished his career with a state title and a whole bushel basketball state passing records; threw for over 2,000 yards three straight seasons.

RB - Danny Woodhead, North Platte 5-7 185 2003

As a sophomore in the state finals against Millard West the Nebraska football world got a real good look at Woodhead, who would become a three-time all-stater and twice named Division II's college player of the year at Chadron State, where he also became the NCAA's all-time leading rusher.

RB - Stevie Hicks, Creighton Prep 6-2 205 2001

The late, great Stevie Hicks was a powerhouse running back who had the speed to close the deal. He would later start at Iowa State.

RB - David Horne, Om. Central 6-1 195 2001

The first of the great Class A backs of this decade, Horne had the perfect mixture of speed, power, instincts and attitude. After rushing for over 2,900 yards his final two high school seasons he would later play his college football at Nebraska, then Northern Iowa.

E - Niles Paul, Om. North 6-2 205 2006

He was an explosive talent in high school, too, all but uncoverable; twice named all-state and now a starter for Nebraska.

E - Matt Donahue, Fremont 6-2 165 2006

Donahue had a knack for making big plays, both as a wide receiver and as a ball-hawking defensive back. Team's never had great success, but this guy was the real deal.

L - Seth Olsen, Millard North 6-5 310 2003

Of all the players I've interviewed in person, Olsen probably left the most lasting impression. Sure, he was big and strong, but he was also "blessed" with a nasty football attitude. Later a scholarship player, and starter, at Iowa, he is now a member of the NFL's Denver Broncos.

L - Seth Copple, Lincoln SE 6-5 300 2003

A powerful force on both sides of scrimmage, Copple was a two-time all-stater who later went on to play college ball at Harvard.

L - Ricky Henry, Omaha Burke 6-5 295 2005

Tenacious and tough, Henry was a two-time all-stater at Burke and is now a starter for the Huskers. The headlock he gave the Burke Bulldog in the school lobby - still one of my favorite portraits we have published - was a classic.

L - James Septak, Millard West 6-3 290 2003

An outstanding run blocker, Septak was all-Huskerland as a senior and later was a schoarship player at North Dakota State.

L - Kurt Mann, Grand Island 6-5 255 2001

Exceptionally quick for his size, and very smart, Mann was a two-time all-stater and later started at center for Nebraska.

K - Keith Lloyd, Millard North 6-0 230 2003

One of the key figures on that Mustang juggernaut team in 2003, Lloyd was also an outstanding fullback and linebacker.

Ath - Jim Ebke, Lincoln East 6-1 195 2006

One of my favorite players in the past decade, Ebke was a one-man gang for East, running and throwing his team into the playoffs. Nebraska's Gatorade player of the year as a senior, he later accepted a scholarship to South Dakota State before later becoming a member of the Huskers.

Defense

DL - Nick Leaders, Millard West 6-3 265 2001

In my mind, there was no more dominant lineman in the decade than Leaders, who was exceptionally quick and strong and a fierce competitor. He later became an all-Big 12 defensive tackle at Iowa State.

DL - Baker Steinkuhler, Lincoln SW 6-5 275 2007

Dominated the field almost from the moment he set foot on it as a freshman, becoming a two-time all-stater and later a Husker recruit.

DL - Zach Potter, Crieghton Prep 6-7 255 2004

Potter had a very good high school career but his senior year was one of the books; nobody could block him. He later started for the Huskers is currently a member of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars.

DL - Titus Adams, Creighton Prep 6-4 265 2000

Big Titus gave one of the great answers to any question I ever asked a player, when he told me his favorite thing to do outside of football was to play around the house with his younger siblings. Once the helmet went on, though, all the playing was done. He later played for the Huskers, starting at defensive tackle.

LB - Barrett Ruud, Lincoln SE 6-2 222 2000

Perhaps the most intense athlete I have ever interviewed, Ruud was also an outstanding running back in high school, though defense was his calling card. He left Nebraska with the career tackles record and now plays for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

LB - Ty Steinkuhler, Lincoln SW 6-3 225 2003

Another focused, intense competitor, Steinkuhler was a big hitter would could cover the entire field. He would later become a starting defensive tackle at Nebraska.

LB - Noah Keller, Kearney 6-2 225 2006

Keller helped lead Kearney to its first-ever football state football championship in 2006. He had the proverbial nose for the ball and was a big hitter, just like the Lama. Now a starter for Frank Solic at Ohio University.

LB - Paul Homer, Millard North 6-1 215 2005

Lots of great players at Millard North in the past decade but few exceeded Homer, a two-time all-stater and fearsome hitter. He would later play football at Washington University, where he made academic all-Pac 10.

DB - Jeff Souder, Bellevue West 6-2 215 2004

I'm sure Souder is a real nice guy, though he would lead my "don't want to meet him in a dark alley" list. A blow-up hitter, Souder started his college career at Nebraska before transferring and becoming an all-conference player at UN-Omaha.

DB - Sean Fisher, Millard North 6-6 220 2007

Fisher has become a regular at linebacker for Nebraska - when the Huskers play more than one - but my lasting image of Fisher will be the 44 carries in the state finals loss to Omaha Central. The consumate great high school football player.

DB - Adam Shada, Millard North 6-1 180 2003

As much as any one player could be, on a team as stacked as Millard North's 2003 team, Shada struck me as the team leader. A brilliant option QB - aren't they all at Millard North? - he was also an outstanding defensive back, earning a college scholarship to play at Iowa.

P - Alex Henery, Omaha Burke 6-1 155 2005

Henery wasn't exactly "thick" in high school, either, but he was deadly accurate, and we have all become huge Henery fans with his performance as punter and kicker for the Huskers.