UNK Athletics
Peter Yazvac, Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations
KEARNEY – Nebraska-Kearney head football coach Josh Lynn today announced the names of 44 players (seven transfers and 37 high school seniors) who will play for the Lopers this fall.
UNK expects two more out-of-state high school seniors to sign later this week. The Lopers will likely add a transfer or two and some more prep stars over the spring and summer months.
“This is one of the biggest groups we’ve had since we’ve been here. Part of that is the large senior class that we lost,” UNK head coach Josh Lynn said. “One thing I can say about this new group is that it’s very multiple. We didn’t concentrate one particular area. From offensive linemen to defensive backs there’s a good mixture of players.”
The class to date breaks down to 19 Nebraska natives, 13 from Colorado, five from Illinois, two apiece from California, Missouri and Texas and one Kansas. Offense takes up 19 players (seven linemen, five backs, five receivers and two QB’s) with defense having 22 newcomers (nine linebackers, eight d-backs and five linemen/ends). Finally there is one athlete, one punter and one kicker.
“I really believe this is the most athletic group we’ve recruited since we’ve been here. I’m extremely happy the way our coaches worked and got some young men that can keep us moving forward,” Lynn said.
The mid-year transfers include linebackers D.J. Gross (McCook), Trenton Harbur (Gothenburg) and Heamasi Latu III (Anaheim, Calif.). Gross took a redshirt season at FCS-member South Dakota last fall after a record breaking career at MHS while Latu led the CCCAA (California Community College Athletic Association) in tackles in 2019 with 117. Next Harbur spent a redshirt season at rival Fort Hays State after starring in the 2019 Shrine Bowl at Cope Stadium. Among the Lopers 2019 graduation losses were linebackers Sal Silvio, Zach Sullivan, Alec Sovereign and Rakid Hill.
Finally UNK picked up two players apiece from Lincoln Southwest, Cherokee Trail (Colo.) and Cherry Creek (Colo.) High Schools as well as Northland Community & Technical College (Minn.).
“Our recruiting was done a little bit earlier this year just because the young men jumped on board quicker. We’re in a better state as a program than when we took this thing over,” Lynn said.
The Lopers are currently going through winter workouts with spring ball slated to begin in early March.
Mid-Year Transfers (5 of 5)
Raphael Bell (PDF) (So., RB, 6-0, 195 lbs., St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood Central H.S./ Northland College, Minn.)
Darrell “D.J.” Gross (PDF) (Fr-R, ILB, 6-2, 235 lbs., McCook, Neb./McCook H.S./U. of South Dakota)
Trenton Harbur (PDF) (Fr-R, OLB, 6-3, 245 lbs., Gothenburg, Neb./Gothenburg H.S./Fort Hays State U.) … will have to sit in 2019 due to MIAA rules
Heamasi Latu III (PDF) (Jr., ILB, 6-0, 220 lbs., Oakley, Calif./Clayton Valley H.S./Los Medanos College, Calif.)
Samuel Soto II (PDF) (Jr., OL, 6-4, 290 lbs., Anaheim, Calif./Anaheim H.S./Santa Ana College, Calif.)
Transfers (2 of 2)
Jaylen Perkins (PDF) (So., DB, 5-11, 180 lbs., Omaha, Neb./Omaha Northwest H.S./Iowa Western C.C.)
Keidre Taylor (PDF) (Jr., DB, 5-11, 185 lbs., Houston, Texas/Sharpstown H.S./Northland College, Minn.)
Nebraska High School Seniors (16 of 16)
Nik Erickson (PDF) (LB, 6-0, 200 lbs., Central City, Neb./Central City H.S.)
Traeton Harimon (PDF) (P, 5-11, 185 lbs., Bayard, Neb./Bayard H.S.)
Hunter Hoatson (PDF) (DB, 6-1, 180 lbs., Sutherland, Neb./Sutherland H.S.)
Jerome Houston Jr. (PDF) (DB, 6-0, 170 lbs., Bellevue, Neb./Bellevue West H.S.)
Grant McKinsey (PDF) (WR, 6-4, 200 lbs., Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southwest H.S.)
Jonathan Ortner (PDF) (OLB, 6-1, 200 lbs., Ainsworth, Neb./Ainsworth H.S.)
Nathan Pesek (PDF) (OLB, 6-0, 200 lbs., Millard, Neb./Millard West H.S.)
Braden Peterworth (PDF) (OL, 6-4, 290 lbs., Sutton, Neb./Sutton H.S.)
Travis Pollard (PDF) (WR, 6-4, 200 lbs., Omaha, Neb./Millard North H.S.)
Kade Richardson (PDF) (OL, 6-4, 285 lbs., Fremont, Neb./Fremont H.S.)
Drake Sherman (PDF) (OL, 6-1, 275 lbs., Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southwest H.S.)
Dietrick Stolz (PDF) (K, 5-9, 160 lbs., Grand Island, Neb./G.I. Central Catholic H.S.)
Michael Terrano (PDF) (DL, 6-4, 225 lbs., Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln H.S.)
Landon Thompson (PDF) (WR, 6-4, 185 lbs., Columbus, Neb./Columbus H.S.)
Keaton Van Housen (PDF) (RB, 5-11, 180 lbs., Polk, Neb./Osceola-High Plains H.S.)
Josh Warner (PDF) (OL, 6-1, 270 lbs., Kearney, Neb./Kearney H.S.)
Out of State High School Seniors (21 of 23)
Justin Anetone (PDF) (OL, 6-3, 295 lbs., Colorado Springs, Colo./Doherty H.S.)
Matty Bartels (PDF) (DB, 5-11, 175 lbs., Aurora, Colo./Cherokee Trail H.S.)
Deontay Bell (PDF) (QB, 6-0, 185 lbs., Bellwood, Ill./Montini Catholic H.S.)
Ovahdyah Ben-Israel (PDF)(DL, 6-4, 325 lbs., Morris, Ill./Morris Community H.S.)
Brandon Bennett (PDF) (DL, 6-2, 2805 lbs., Denver, Colo./Denver North H.S.)
Grayson Blackmon (PDF) (DL, 5-11, 270 lbs., Greenwood Village, Colo./Cherry Creek H.S.)
Damien Cearns (PDF) (RB, 5-10, 175 lbs., Denver, Colo./Mullen H.S.)
JerQon Conners (PDF) (WR, 5-11, 175 lbs., St. Louis, Mo./Webster Groves H.S.)
Delonte Dickey (PDF) (OLB, 6-3, 210 lbs., Greenwood Village, Colo./Cherry Creek H.S.)
Noah Ellens (PDF) (RB, 6-0, 175 lbs., Minooka, Ill./Minooka Community H.S.)
Jacob Green (PDF) (QB, 6-0, 175 lbs., Frederick, Colo./Frederick H.S.)
Jordan Jackson (PDF) (ILB, 6-0, 220 lbs., Castle Rock, Colo./Castle View H.S.)
Keondre Jackson (PDF) (CB, 6-2, 180 lbs., Freeport, Ill./Freeport H.S.)
James McMahon-Carter (PDF) (DL, 6-4, 240 lbs., Parker, Colo./Ponderosa H.S.)
Trevor Munson (PDF) (WR, 6-2, 170 lbs., Rockwall, Texas/Rockwall H.S.)
Tywan Muturi (PDF) (CB, 5-11, 180 lbs., Kansas City, Kan./Washington H.S.)
Mussa Pene (PDF) (Athlete, 6-0, 180 lbs., Colorado Springs, Colo./Liberty H.S.)
Dimitrius Powell (PDF) (OL, 6-5, 260 lbs., Highlands Ranch, Colo./Highlands Ranch H.S.)
Matt Robinson (PDF) (DB, 5-11, 160 lbs., Colorado Springs, Colo./Harrison H.S.)
Dayven Shinhoster (PDF) (ILB, 6-0, 215 lbs., Hoffman Estates, Ill./Barrington H.S.)
Donovan Swift (PDF) (DB, 5-11, 175 lbs., Aurora, Colo./Cherokee Trail H.S.)