Leading up to the Nebraska high school football season, NEPrepZone.com will be looking at the top teams in each class, based on last year’s rankings. This week, Class B will be in the spotlight with a new post each day. Let us know in the comments how you think each team will finish, as well as players you’ll be watching.

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No. 10 OMAHA SKUTT
District 1

COACH: Matt Turman, ninth season

RETURNING STARTERS: Ryan McKeever, senior, RB/DB; Jake Sievers, senior, WR/DB; Jack Micek, senior, OT; Jack Moylan, senior, OG/LB; Alex Kenkel, senior, OL; Alex Gould, senior, OG; Evan Ramsey, senior, OT/DT; Nick Jensen, senior, OG; Austin Hauptman, senior, LB; Zach Matukewicz, senior, DE; Creighton Koley, junior, LB: Phillip Rasmussen, senior, LB; Peter Vankat, senior, LB

PLAYERS TO WATCH: McKeever returns after serving as the leading tackler and rushing for 1,102 yards in 2011.

COACH’S QUOTE: “The biggest thing we need is a quarterback to step up and take control. The backs, the linemen, we are good to go both offensively and defensively, but if we can get a strong quarterback, we should be a strong team this year.”

— Emily Gregor

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No. 9 ELKHORN SOUTH
District 3

COACH: Guy Rosenberg, first season

RETURNING STARTERS: Joe Nelson, junior, OT; David Aldridge, senior, OG; Travis Newgard, senior, OL; Caleb Work, senior, OG; Ben Green, senior, QB; Mike Blazek, senior, RB/LB; Blake Johnson, senior, TE/DE; Zach Reeg, junior, QB; Cal Griencewic, senior, DT; Luke Drazic, senior, DE; Jay Landholm, senior, CB; Jake Nelson, senior, CB

PLAYER TO WATCH: Drazic returns after an all-state season to lead the Storm pass rush alongside seniors Griencewic and Green. Reeg will also return after missing 2011 due to an injury. The junior has been starting since his freshman season.

COACH’S QUOTE: “I’d say the biggest thing I’m excited about is that we have a really large group of seniors. If the seniors continue to produce and invest what they have been up to this point, we should have a good season.”

— Emily Gregor

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No. 8 ADAMS CENTRAL

NOTE: Adams Central has moved to Class C-1 this season and will be playing in District 7.

COACH: Bill Carlin, 22nd season

RETURNING STARTERS: Jake Fowler, senior, RB/DB; Jesse Ackerman, senior, TE/LB; Nathan Hinrichs, senior, OT/DE; Blake Overmiller, senior, WR/DB; Creighton Reed, senior, QB; Lathan Smidt, junior, OG; Cole Rostvet, senior, LB; Anthony Niederklein, junior, LB; Jack Barry, junior, LB; Derek Lonowski, junior, DB

PLAYER TO WATCH: Fowler rushed for 1,764 yards last season to lead the Patriots. He could be in the makings for an all-state season as Adams Central drops down a class.

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No. 7 RALSTON
District 1

COACH: Tyler Zahn, 15th season

RETURNING STARTERS: Isaac Wallace, junior, RB; Ryan Huff, senior, OL/DL; Zach Flott, junior, OL/DL; Andy Chleborad, senior, WR/DB; Alex Weckert, junior, DL; Jacob Quint, senior, DB

PLAYER TO WATCH: Wallace. The junior running back totaled 615 rushing yards and five touchdowns in 2011.

COACH’S QUOTE: The Rams “should be competitive despite heavy graduation losses. A good nucleus of returning players should ease the transition.”

— Brandon Behrens

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No. 6 AURORA
District 6

COACH: Randy Huebert, 14th season

RETURNING STARTERS: Cole Ashby, senior, WR/DB; Alex Breckbill, senior, LB; Alex Hunt, senior, OT/LB; Ben McQuiston, senior, WR/DB; Ehren Schwartz, senior, OG/DT; Blake Williams, senior, WR; Eli Bricker, junior, LB; Brock Reichardt, junior, RB/DB

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Hunt and Schwartz. The seniors are each two-way starters. Hunt totaled 124 tackles last season while Schwartz added 65.

COACH’S QUOTE: “The summer months will play a huge role in what kind of season we will have. We should have a team that will compete well.”

— Brandon Behrens

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For more prep football previews, go to NEPrepZone.com/preppreviews