Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney football team announced the name of five mid-year transfers and 18 high school seniors who'll play for the Lopers this fall.

The class breaks down to 11 offensive, 10 defensive and two special team players. Thirteen are Nebraskans, three are from Colorado, two each from Arizona, Florida and New Mexico and likely the first Loper from American Samoa. By position, there are five linebackers, four offensive linemen, three running backs and defensive backs, two receivers, defensive linemen and long snappers and one tight end and quarterback. 

"We knew this was going to be a smaller class going in. We currently have 110 players on our roster. In a normal (non-COVID) year, we'd be around 85," said UNK head coach Josh Lynn. "Our retention rate has been outstanding and we have multiple guys using that are using their extra year of eligibility." 

Lynn, a New Mexico native who previously was head coach at New Mexico Military Institute, went to his old school to bring in transfers Josh Beaird (OLB), Esafe Fetu'u (o-line), Tre O'Guinn (d-back) and CJ Sunui (d-line). NMMI won the 2021 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Title with a 12-1 record. The other transfer is running back Justin Carrasco who played at Lynn's alma mater, Division II Eastern New Mexico.

"We've loved our NMMI kids over the years. They've gone to a military academy and having coached there, it's not easy," said Lynn.  "They won the National Championship and that's the first for any New Mexico college or university. Their skill-level this season was high so we're extremely happy to pull four guys out of there."

The small out-of-state prep class includes QB Tyler Perry (Trenton, Fla.), a cousin of Loper receiver/All-American high jumper Montrez Jackson. Perry joins a QB room that includes All-American TJ Davis (Colorado Springs), Shaun Ross (Raytown, Mo.), Jacob Green (Frederick, Colo.) and Sean Jonson Jr. (Orlando, Fla.).

"If you look at the last two quarterbacks we've signed (Tyler and Sean), they are tall rangy kids that can go," said Lynn. "They both have another gear when it comes to running the football and they've thrown it well enough to catch our eyes."

UNK went up the road to Grand Island to grab long snapper Cole Bauer (GISH) and receiver Isaac Herbek (GICC) with linebackers Koren Conrad (Kearney Catholic) and Parker Wise (Kearney) and linemen Carter Klein (Pleasanton) all staying at home. Finally, the Lopers ventured to the Capital City to snag linebacker Julian Castillo (Pius) and tight end Luke Blatchford (Southeast).

"Our number one focus is the Central and Western Nebraska kid. If you look at our program and what we've been able to do in the last couple of years, our nucleus and foundation has been players from those areas," said Lynn.

The Lopers are going through winter condition with "Spring Ball" set to begin on Wednesday, March 23rd, and the "Spring Game" slated for Saturday, April 23rd. A complete practice schedule will be announced closer to that date. The 2022 season kicks off Sept. 1st (Thurs.) at Missouri Southern.

2022 Newcomers (Click on a newcomers name for info & a video highlight link) .. go to @UNK_football for graphics/direct video
Mid-Year Transfers (5)
Josh Beaird (OLB, Jr., 6-2, 235 lbs., Lovington, N.M./New Mexico Military Institute & Lovington H.S.)
Justin Carrasco (RB, R-So., 5-9, 185 lbs., Roswell, N.M./Eastern New Mexico U. & Roswell H.S.)
Esafe Fetu'u (OL, 6-5, Jr., 310 lbs. Mesa, Ariz./New Mexico Military Institute & Mesa H.S.)
Tre O'Guinn (DB, 6-0, Jr., 185 lbs., Peoria, Ariz./New Mexico Military Institute, U. of Utah & North Canyon H.S.)
Christian "CJ" Sunui (DL, 6-3, Jr., 300 lbs., Pago Pago, American Samoa/New Mexico Military Institute & Tafuna H.S.)

Nebraska High School Seniors (11)
Cole Bauer (LS, 6-2, 200 lbs., Grand Island, Neb./Grand Island H.S.)
Luke Blatchford (TE/Cruiser, 6-4, 220 lbs., Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southeast H.S.)
Julian Castillo (LB, 5-11, 210 lbs., Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Pius X H.S.)
Koren Conrad (OLB, 6-4, 210 lbs., Kearney, Neb./Kearney Catholic H.S.)
Isaiah Daniell (DB, 5-11, 165 lbs., Yutan, Neb./Yutan H.S.)
Dawson Fox (OL, 6-5, 290 lbs., St. Paul, Neb./St. Paul H.S.)
Isaac Herbek (WR, 6-3, 170 lbs., Grand Island, Neb./G.I. Central Catholic H.S.)
Trae Hickman (RB, 5-9, 165 lbs., Dunning, Neb./Sandhills-Thedford H.S.)
Ryan Kaminski (WR, 6-2, 160 lbs., North Platte, Neb./North Platte H.S.)
Carter Klein (OL, 6-65, 290 lbs., Pleasanton, Neb./Pleasanton H.S.)
Trevor Ruth (LB, 6-0, 230 lbs., Seward, Neb./Seward H.S.)
Parker Wise (ILB, 6-0, 205 lbs., Kearney, Neb./Kearney H.S.)

Out-of-State High School Seniors (6)
Jayden Allen (DB, 6-0, 175 lbs., Fountain, Colo./Fountain-Fort-Carson H.S.)
Jamaal Joseph (RB, 6-0, 200 lbs., Miami, Fla./Barbara Goleman H.S.)
Franky McFadden (OL, 6-4, 280 lbs., Parker, Colo./Ponderosa H.S.)
Campbell Packebush (DL, 6-5, 230 lbs., Littleton, Colo./Chatfield H.S.)
Tyler Perry (QB, 6-1, 170 lbs., Trenton, Fla./Trenton H.S.)
Alex Taylor (LS, 6-1, 205 lbs., Parker, Colo./Ponderosa H.S.)

High School Seniors Signing Between Feb. 2-9 (1)
Octavius "Tay" Pender (DB, 5-11, 170 lbs., Miami, Fla./Palmetto H.S.)