Kearney, Neb. – Nebraska-Kearney head football coach Josh Lynn announced today the names of 24 seniors (19 Nebraskans and five from out-of-state) that will join the Loper program in the fall of 2021. 

 

Including the recent addition of three mid-year transfers, the class consists of 26 players. Nineteen hail from Nebraska, two are from Colorado with five other states presented. There are 12 defensive players, 11 on offense, two specialists and one athlete. Finally, by position the class breaks down to seven linebackers, five offensive linemen, four running backs and three defensive backs, two defensive linemen, and one cruiser (tight end), place kicker, long snapper, and quarterback. 
 
UNK mined its own backyard for five newcomers in running back Cale Conrad (Kearney Catholic H.S.) and Miko Maessner (Kearney H.S.), defensive back Samson David (Kearney Catholic H.S.), kicker Spencer Hogeland (Kearney Catholic H.S.), and linebacker Jack Johnson (Kearney H.S.). The Lopers also were successful in the Omaha metro area to the tune of eight newcomers with three Lincoln area natives coming aboard this August.
 
As always there are family ties within the class. Jackson Clausen (Norfolk Catholic H.S.) and Conrad are the sons of former Loper football players with Jesse Drahota (Ravenna H.S.) and Blake Vodicka (Lincoln Pius X H.S.) having older siblings that are current UNK student-athletes. Finally, Clausen and Maessner both will be members of the Loper track and field team.
 
The Lopers are scheduled to begin spring practice on Monday, March 15.
 

2021 Newcomers
Mid-Year Transfers (3)
Atoa Fox (OLB, Jr., 6-2, 200 lbs., San Diego, Calif./Idaho State U. and Southwestern College, Calif./Bonita Vista H.S.)
Miko Maessner (RB, Fr-R, 6-1, 180 lbs., Kearney, Neb./Princeton U./Kearney H.S.)
Javeer Peterson (CB, So., 6-2, 185 lbs., Levittown, Pa./Iowa Western C.C./Harry S. Truman H.S.)

Nebraska High School Seniors (19)
Mike Brands (ILB, 6-2, 210 lbs., Oakland/Oakland-Craig H.S.)
Kolten Cada (Cruiser/TE, 6-3, 185 lbs., Wahoo/Wahoo Bishop Neumann H.S.)
Josh Churchill (Long Snapper, 6-0, 190 lbs., Omaha/Millard West H.S.)
Zach Circle (ILB/Athlete, 6-2, 215 lbs., Papillion/Papillion-South H.S.)
Jackson Clausen (Athlete, 5-10, 175 lbs., Norfolk, Neb./Norfolk Catholic H.S.)
Cale Conrad (RB, 5-11, 195 lbs., Kearney, Neb./Kearney Catholic H.S.)
Samson David (DB, 6-0, 180 lbs., Kearney, Neb./Kearney Catholic H.S.)
Jesse Drahota (LB, 6-1, 190 lbs., Ravenna, Neb./Ravenna H.S.)
Spencer Hogeland (K, 6-0, 165 lbs., Kearney, Neb./Kearney Catholic H.S.)
Jack Johnson (ILB, 6-2, 210 lbs., Riverdale/Kearney H.S.)
Kier Kier (LB, 6-2, 200 lbs., Omaha/Bellevue West H.S.)
Wyatt Marr (OL, 6-5, 260 lbs., Lincoln/Lincoln Lutheran H.S.)
Jack Nickolisen (DL, 6-3, 280 lbs., Omaha/Millard South H.S.)
Nolan Olafson (OL, 6-2, 275 lbs., Omaha/Millard South H.S.)
Zane Schawang (RB, 5-11, 160 lbs., Waverly, Neb./Waverly H.S.)
Cooper Taylor (DL, 6-2, 280 lbs., Elkhorn/Elkhorn South H.S.)
Blake Vodicka (RB, 5-10, 185 lbs., Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Pius X H.S.)
Preston Welch (OL, 6-3, 270 lbs., Bellevue/Bellevue East H.S.)

Out of State High School Seniors (5)
Colin Chatman (OLB, 6-1, 190 lbs., Colorado Springs, Colo./Pine Creek H.S.)
Andrew Cole (OL, 6-3, 280 lbs., Johnstown, Colo./Roosevelt H.S.)
CJ Kuehl (DB, 6-1, 180 lbs., Indianola, Ia./Indianola H.S.)
Sean Johnson Jr. (QB, 6-2, 180 lbs., Orlando, Fla./The First Academy)
Darius Thomas (OL, 6-4, 295 lbs., Peoria, Ill./Peoria H.S.)