How former high school football stars are faring at schools outside Nebraska
Kaden Helms will remember the Maine (game).
The nominees for the OrthoNebraska Athlete of the Week are here!
Saturday, the Oklahoma tight end from Bellevue West caught the first touchdown pass of his injury-slowed career against Maine, to the delight of the Sooners.
"Kaden Helms, what a great story," interim OU offensive coordinator Joe Jon Finley told reporters postgame. "He came back. What a hard injury. He fought back for over a year, year and a half, two years. Man, he put his head down and went to work and it was a great story."
A four-star prospect who was All-Nebraska in 2021, Helms played in three games in 2022, catching one pass for 4 yards, before redshirting. A preseason knee injury and surgery sidelined him all of last season. Then he dealt with a hamstring injury in spring drills that limited his summer availability.
"I've never had a major surgery like that," Helms said postgame. "I never missed a game all four years of high school, and then coming in my freshman year I was healthy the whole year and I kind of, it was just kind of a hard process getting back into things. I wouldn't say I was thinking about walking away, but I definitely had some days that were rougher than others and definitely questioned myself a little bit."
Oklahoma led the Black Bears 42-7 in the third quarter when sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold targeted Helms. A defensive lineman tipped the pass but Helms controlled it at the front of the end zone.
"Honestly, after I caught it, I hit the ground pretty hard," Helms said. "That's kind of why I fell down at the end because I was a little dizzy. I thought to myself either I've got to come down with it or nobody comes down with it. I'm just glad I came down with it and I'm glad to get the touchdown.
"It was a pretty surreal moment honestly. It's been a long time coming. The journey hasn't been easy, but it's been worth it for sure. I'm just happy to be out there with my guys and happy to score my first one for sure."
Many Oklahoma news outlets recounted Helms' story. Junior defensive back Robert Spears-Jennings encouraged it.
"Y'all need to go talk to Kaden Helms, first career touchdown," Spears-Jennings said. "That's my best friend ... All the hard work he puts in, he deserves it.
"That moment was very special for all of us."
Other highlights
Xavier Watts, Notre Dame: The graduate student from Omaha Burke, a consensus All-American and the Bronko Nagurski Award winner in 2023 as the best defensive player in the country, is a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist. The award recognizes the nation's top defensive back.
Watts is the 19th Notre Dame player to intercept 10 or more passes in a career and is tied for 12th on the all-time list for career interceptions in school history.
Benjamin Brahmer, Iowa State: The sophomore tight end from Pierce did not play in Saturday's 23-22 loss to Texas Tech. He sustained a lower-leg injury in the second quarter of the win over Central Florida in the Cyclones' previous start on oct. 19.
An update on the 102 Nebraskans in Division I football through last week's games:
Alabama-Birmingham (2-6): Patrick Foley (r-jr., Omaha Creighton Prep/transfer from Arkansas, punter) is averaging 43.0 yards on 23 punts. Saturday: Connecticut
Arkansas State (5-3): Mekhi Butler (r-sr., Omaha North, OL) has started every game. Saturday: at Louisiana
Auburn (3-6): Micah Riley (so., Bellevue West, TE) has one catch for a 3-yard touchdown while appearing in every game. Next game: Oct. 19 at Missouri
Colorado State (6-3): Jake Dennis (sr., Omaha Skutt, long snapper) has appeared in five of nine games. Friday: at Wyoming
Illinois (4-1): Tanner Hollinger (fr., Cross County, TE) has not played. Nov. 16: Michigan State
Iowa (6-3): Will Hubert (so, Papillion-La Vista, DL) has a fumble recovery, one solo and three assisted tackles in six games; Kade Pieper (r-fr., Norfolk Catholic, OL) has played in eight games; Michael Burt (fr., Creighton Prep, TE) has played in one game. Friday: at UCLA
Iowa State (7-1): Benjamin Brahmer (so. Pierce, TE) has 10 catches for 179 yards and a touchdown in seven games; Beni Ngoyi (r-fr., Lincoln High, WR) has two catches for 27 yards; Wyatt Archer (r-fr., Skutt, WR) and Alec Cook (r-so., Omaha Burke, LB) each has played in one game. Saturday: at Kansas
Kansas (2-6): Nolan Gorczyca (r-jr., Omaha Roncalli/Buffalo, OL) has played in eight games; Ezra Vedral (r-fr., Creighton Prep, LB) has not played. Saturday: Iowa State
Kansas State (7-2): Marques Sigle (sr., Omaha North/North Dakota State, DB) has three interceptions, one for a touchdown, 24 solo and 15assisted tackles (4.5 for losses); Keagan Johnson (jr., Bellevue West, WR) 27 catches for 340 yards and one rush for 8 yards; Brayden Loftin (so., Council Bluffs Lewis Central, TE) seven catches for 93 yards and two touchdowns in six games; Garrett Oakley (so., Columbus Scotus, TE) 13 catches for119 yards and three TDs; Simon McClannan (r-fr., Millard South, K/P) has a 41.6 average on 33 punts, 23 touchbacks on 35 kickoffs and one tackle; Will Swanson (sr., Papillion-La Vista South, TE) has played in every game; Andrew Johnson (r-fr., Lincoln Christian, long snapper) has played in one game; Will Granger (fr., Millard North, LB) has not played. Nov. 16: Arizona State
Louisiana-Monroe (5-3): Nate Sullivan (jr., Bellevue West/Iowa Western, TE) has nine catches for 48 yards. Saturday: Texas State
Michigan (5-4): Ernest Hausmann (jr., Columbus/NU, LB) leads the Wolverines with 40 solo and 26 assisted tackles (4.5 for losses, one sack) and one interception. Saturday: at Indiana
Missouri (6-2): Caleb Pyfrom (fr., Omaha Central, OL) has not played. Saturday: Oklahoma
North Carolina Charlotte (3-6): Bronson Long (r-so., Gothenburg, punter): Punted twice against Navy for a 33.5 average. Nov. 16: South Florida
Northern Illinois (4-4): Cade Haberman (sr., Omaha Westside, DT) has eight solo and 10 assisted tackles (4.5 for losses, 2.5 sacks) and two blocked kicks; Jake Gassaway (r-so., Millard South, LB) seven solo and six assisted tackles; Jake Appleget (r-so., Lincoln Southeast/NU, TE) two catches for 16 yards in six games; Ben Gustafson (fr., Elkhorn South, OL) and Joe Stein (fr., Grand Island Northwest, TE) have not played. Saturday: Akron
Notre Dame (7-1): Xavier Watts (gr., Omaha Burke, DB) has 18 solo and 12 assisted tackles, three interceptions for 34 yards, seven pass breakups and one forced fumble; Teddy Rezac (fr., Westside, LB) has played in three games; Anthony Rezac (fr., Westside, QB) has not played. Saturday: Florida State
Oklahoma (4-1): Kade McIntyre (r-fr., Fremont Bergan, TE) has played in five games; Kaden Helms (r-so., Bellevue West, TE) has one catch for a 9-yard touchdown in four games. Saturday: at Missouri
Oklahoma State (3-6): Zane Flores (r-fr., Gretna, QB) has not played. Saturday: at TCU
Oregon (9-0): Devon Jackson (so., Burke, ILB) has 14 solo and 15 assisted tackles (3 for losses, 1.5 sacks) with one forced fumble and one pass breakup. Saturday: Maryland
Sam Houston State (7-2): Jay Ducker (sr., Bellevue West/Northern Illinois/Memphis, RB) has rushed for460 yards and six touchdowns on 95 carries and caught 10 passes for 89 yards. Next game: Nov. 16 at Kennesaw State
UNLV (6-2): Jack Hasz (gr., Creighton Prep/Buffalo, OC) has started eight games. Saturday: at Hawaii
Utah State (2-6): Avante Dickerson (jr., Westside/Oregon, CB) has 10 solo and five assisted tackles (two for losses) with an interception and three pass breakups. Saturday: at Washington State
Vanderbilt (6-3): Dominic Rezac (jr., Westside, RB) has played in one game. Saturday: South Carolina
Wyoming (2-7): Sabastian Harsh (jr., Scottsbluff, DE) has 25 solo and 16 assisted tackles (nine for losses, two sacks) in eight games; Sam Scott (jr., Skutt, RB), has rushed for a team-best 424 yards and three touchdowns on 85 carries and 10 catches for 77 yards and a TD; Tyce Westland (jr., Pleasanton, DE) 14 solo and 12 assisted tackles (3.5 for losses, 2.5 sacks), one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Justin Erb (so., Wakefield/Iowa Western, TE) has five solo and two assisted tackles; Koa McIntyre (so., Fremont Bergan, SS) has played in nine games. Dash Bauman (fr., Lincoln East, LB) has not played. Caleb Robinson (sr., Burke, DT) had a season-ending injury in spring camp. Nov. 15: at Colorado State
Lindenwood (4-6): Nate Glantz (jr., Bellevue West/Iowa State/McNeese State) is 138 of 238 for 1,801 yards and 14 touchdowns against eight interceptions and has rushed for 218 yards and four TDs on 103 carries; Tony Failla (so., Millard West/Southeast Missouri, OL) has played in three games. Saturday: Southeast Missouri
Mercer (8-1): Caden Camese (r-so., Bellevue West, DL) has four solo and six assisted tackles (2.5 for losses, 1.5 sacks) in eight games, starting the past two. Saturday: at VMI
Montana (7-2): Garrett Hustedt (r-sr., Elkhorn Mount Michael, LB) has an interception and four solo and six assisted tackles in six games. Saturday: UC Davis
North Dakota (5-4): Kason Kelley (sr., Millard North, LB) has 14 solo and 13 assisted tackles (one for loss) and a fumble recovery; Lance Rucker (so., Millard South, LB) has 10 solo and 16 assisted tackles (two sacks), three pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery; Hayden Stec (so., Elkhorn, LB) has four solo and one assisted tackle in seven games; Trace Thaden (so., Millard West, OL) has played in seven games; Gunnar Lyn (fr., Bennington, DB), Caden Cetak (fr., Lincoln East, DL) and Tyler Thaden (fr., Millard West, OL) have not played. Saturday: South Dakota State
North Dakota State (9-1): Jackson Williams (fr., Millard West, WR) has 13 kickoff returns for 352 yards (long 55), nine punt returns for 128 and a TD and six catches for 108 yards in nine games; CharMar Brown (r-fr., Omaha Creighton Prep, RB) leads the team with 798 yards and 11 touchdowns on 156 carries and has three catches for 36 yards; Cole Payton (jr., Westside, QB) is 10 of 16 for 123 yards and two TDs against one interception and has rushed for 176 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries in eight games; Victor Isele (r-fr., Grand Island Northwest, DE; has one solo and one assisted tackle in two games; Isaac Zatechka (jr., Elkhorn South/Missouri, OL) has not played. Saturday: Missouri State
Northern Iowa (2-7): Blake Anderson (r-jr., Skutt, OG) has one solo tackle; Brogan Ling (r-fr., Lincoln Southwest, LB) has played in six games; Sam Thomas (fr., Elkhorn North, OL) has played in one game; Aidan Miller (fr., Millard South, DL) has not played. Saturday: Illinois State
St. Thomas (5-4): Matthew Rink (jr., Lincoln Southwest, TE) has three catches for 16 yards and a TD; Gavin Nunnally (so., Millard South, DB) has four solo and six assisted tackles in seven games; Dylan Kingston (fr., Elkhorn South, DB) has one assisted tackle in one game; Ty Nielsen (fr., Elkhorn South, DB) has not played. Saturday: Drake
South Dakota (6-2): Jarrett Synek (r-jr., Hastings/NU, QB) has two carries for 20 yards and one incomplete pass in one game; Clayton Denker (r-jr., David City, DB) has one assisted tackle in three games; Mack Owens (r-so., Aurora, LB); Ford Hamilton (r-fr., Creighton Prep, K/P), Beau Ryan (fr. Westside, LB), JT Brands (fr., Oakland-Craig, DL), Jacob Arop (fr., Bellevue West, OL), Tommy Meckna (fr., Elkhorn North, WR) and Caden Frey (fr., Red Cloud, TE) have not played. Saturday: Indiana State
South Dakota State (7-2): Caleb Francl (sr., Grand Island, LB) is second in tackles with 25 solo and 31 assisted tackles (four for losses), and two pass breakups; Dalys Beanum (sr., Millard West, CB) 22 solo and 11 assisted tackles (1.5 for losses) with an interception and forced fumble; Kolten Tilford (r-fr., North Platte, DB) has eight solo and eight assisted tackles (one for loss); Abe Hoskins III (sr., Omaha Central, CB) has one assisted tackle in five games; Kytan Fyfe (so., Grand Island, LB) has one forced fumble and one tackle in three games; Fernando (JR) Lecuona (fr., Millard South, DE) has one solo tackle in three games; Isaac Kracl (so., Crete, RB), Dane Miller (so., Superior, WR); Joe Roll (r-fr., Gretna, WR) and Joey Vieth (fr., Gretna, LB) have not played. Saturday: at North Dakota
Southeast Missouri (8-1): Braden Thompson (jr., Nebraska City, TE) has played in two games. Saturday: at Lindenwood
Wofford (4-5): Benny Radicia (sr., Westside, LB) has 18 solo and 10 assisted tackles (one for loss) and one interception. Saturday: at Furman
FCS non-scholarship
Drake (6-1): Ethan Zager (gr., Lincoln Lutheran, DB) has 10 solo and four assisted tackles (1.5 for losses); Parker Borer (fr., Boone Central, RB) has played in one game. Saturday: St. Thomas
Fordham (1-8): James Conway (sr., Millard West, LB) has 11 solo and 27 assisted tackles (two for losses) in four games after missing the first five from a preseason injury. Saturday: at Bucknell
Harvard (6-1): Kaedyn Odermann (sr., Millard West, WR) has 10 catches for 148 yards and a TD; Jack Kirkwood, (jr., Creighton Prep, LB) one assisted tackle. Saturday: Columbia
Princeton (2-5): Mason Armstead (sr., Creighton Prep, DB) has 11 solo and seven assisted tackles and one interception; Rocco Marcelino (so., Creighton Prep, DL) four solo and 11 assisted tackles (2.5 for losses, 0.5 sacks) in six games. Friday: Dartmouth
Valparaiso (3-5): Max Kobs (r-jr., Creighton Prep, LB) has three assisted tackles in three games. Saturday: Butler
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