Illinois has landed its second 2024 prospect out of the state of Nebraska.
Cross County tight end Tanner Hollinger committed to the Illini on Wednesday. Hollinger visited Champaign on June 23. Illinois was his lone Power Five Conference offer.
Committed. #ILL #HTTO #famILLy pic.twitter.com/L3PqimKm84
— Tanner Hollinger (@HollingerTanner) July 5, 2023
A two-sport star at Cross County, the 6-foot-5, 235-pounder had 13 catches for 141 yards and three touchdowns in eight games last season, according to MaxPreps. He had 50 tackles — including nine for loss — as well. In basketball, Hollinger averaged 14.8 points and seven rebounds for the Cougars.
He joins Central offensive lineman Caleb Pyfrom as an Illinois commit in the 2024 class. The Illini’s offensive line coach, Bart Miller lived in Omaha and continues to have ties to the community.
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Hollinger is a three-star recruit according to 247Sports and the 12th in-state prospect to commit to a Power Five school in this cycle. He’s the fourth tight end, joining Ainsworth’s Carter Nelson (Nebraska), Creighton Prep’s Michael Burt (Iowa) and Papillion-La Vista’s Eric Ingwerson (Pittsburgh).
How each member of the 2022 Super-State first-team offense earned their spot
𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩-𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧-𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚
Offense football Super-State. Front row from left, Isaiah McMorris (Bellevue West), Te’Shaun Porter (Omaha North), Jaylen Lloyd (Omaha Westside), Marty Brown (Creighton Prep), Cole Ballard (Elkhorn South). Back row from left, Zane Flores (Gretna), Tristan Alvano (Omaha Westside), Mason Goldman (Gretna), Sam Sledge (Creighton Prep), Gunnar Gottula (Lincoln Southeast) and Anthony Rezac Omaha Westside). Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, in Omaha.
𝙌𝘽 𝙕𝙖𝙣𝙚 𝙁𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨
Gretna | 6-3 | 195 | Sr. | College: Oklahoma State
A four-year starter, Flores was thrown into the fire as a freshman before developing into one of the top quarterback prospects the state has ever seen. He threw for a state-record 9,163 career yards, and wowed nearly everyone who watched him with his arm strength and accuracy. And despite a loss in his final game, Flores went out with a flourish — he threw for 414 yards, a state championship game record, in Gretna's 43-41 loss to Omaha Westside.
𝙍𝘽 𝙏𝙚’𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙪𝙣 𝙋𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙧
Omaha North | 5-11 | 200 | Sr. | College: Northwest Missouri State
Porter's 1,532 yards and 22 touchdowns were second in Class A, while his 153.2-yards per game average led Nebraska's largest class. He also threw a 45-yard touchdown pass against Millard West for good measure. The latest in a long line of great Omaha North running backs.
𝙍𝘽 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝘽𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙙
Elkhorn South | 6-0 | 190 | Sr. | College: Nebraska
The touchdown machine scored 38 times in 2022, with his 32 rushing scores far and away the most in Class A. Ballard averaged nearly 10 yards per carry while leading the Storm to the state quarterfinals, and he showed his versatility by catching 14 passes for 275 yards and four more scores. Tied with teammate Maverick Noonan for the most all-state nominations from Class A coaches in the Journal Star's balloting.
𝙍𝘽 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙮 𝘽𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙣
Creighton Prep | 6-1 | 210 | Sr. | College: North Dakota State
If Creighton Prep's offensive line was the best in the state, then Brown was perhaps the most punishing back. Despite missing a game due to injury, Brown ran for 1,408 yards and 15 touchdowns while powering the Junior Jays to the state semifinals against the toughest schedule in the state. Brown will play at the top FCS program in the nation at North Dakota State alongside his brother Ahmar, who will be a linebacker for the Bison.
𝙒𝙍 𝙄𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙖𝙝 𝙈𝙘𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙨
Bellevue West | 6-0 | 170 | Jr. | College: Undecided
McMorris' 90 catches shattered the Class A record by 11, while his 1,297 yards were 67 shy of the Class A mark. In a program rich with talented pass catchers in its history, McMorris stands out. The junior holds offers from six Power 5 programs, including Nebraska.
𝙒𝙍 𝙅𝙖𝙮𝙡𝙚𝙣 𝙇𝙡𝙤𝙮𝙙
Omaha Westside | 5-11 | 160 | Sr. | College: Nebraska
Unmatched speed made Lloyd one of the top deep threats in the state, with 44 catches for 784 yards and five touchdowns, and turned him into a top-end football recruit in addition to one of the top high school sprinters in the country.
𝙊𝙇 𝙎𝙖𝙢 𝙎𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚
Creighton Prep | 6-4 | 280 | Sr. | College: Nebraska
A two-time Super-State pick, Sledge was the anchor on a road-grading Creighton Prep line considered among the best in the state. He'll follow his father, Bob, a Nebraska Football Hall of Fame inductee, and play at Nebraska.
𝙊𝙇 𝙂𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙖𝙧 𝙂𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙪𝙡𝙖
Lincoln Southeast | 6-6 | 290 | Sr. | College: Nebraska
A recent photo on social media tells the story: In it, Gottula is standing between new Nebraska football coach Matt Rhule and assistant Ed Foley. Behind Gottula you can see, just barely, a full-sized Christmas tree. Gottula's frame makes him a tantalizing college prospect, and he put it to good use during Southeast's playoff season.
𝙊𝙇 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙂𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙢𝙖𝙣
Gretna | 6-6 | 255 | Sr. | College: Undecided
Another repeat selection to the Super-State team, Goldman holds offers from six Power 5 programs and a host of others. He added an offer from Nebraska in October.
𝙊𝙇 𝘽𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙠 𝙆𝙣𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙤𝙣
Scottsbluff | 6-7 | 295 | Sr. | College: Nebraska
The massive (6-foot-7, 295-pound) Knutson paved the way for a Scottsbluff offense that rushed for 314 yards per game on the way to a Class B state semifinal appearance. Nebraska's new coaching staff considered him an important enough addition that Matt Rhule recently flew to Scottsbluff to meet Knutson in his home.
𝙊𝙇 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙗 𝙋𝙮𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢
Omaha Central | 6-6 | 290 | Jr. | College: Undecided
Yet another in-state lineman with a host of Power 5 offers, Pyfrom saw his recruitment explode in 2022. The junior also plays basketball for the Eagles.
𝘼𝙏𝙃 𝘼𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙮 𝙍𝙚𝙯𝙖𝙘
Omaha Westside | 6-3 | 190 | Jr. | College: Undecided
While Zane Flores and Bellevue West's Daniel Kaelin got most of the headlines when it came to high school quarterbacks in Nebraska, it was Rezac who went a combined 3-0 against those two while leading Westside to the Class A title. He threw for 2,239 yards and 19 touchdowns, ran for 1,118 yards and 19 more scores, and led the game-winning drive in the final seconds of the state championship game.
𝙆 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙡𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙤
Omaha Westside | 6-2 | 185 | Sr. | College: Nebraska
Alvano's performance in the state championship game will live forever — five field goals, one from 50 yards, and the game-winning 45-yarder at the final gun. His 16 field goals in 2022 are a state record. And his ability to put nearly every kickoff into the end zone meant Westside's defense almost always started with a field position advantage.
Alvano's performance in the state championship game will live forever — five field goals, one from 50 yards, and the game-winning 45-yarder at the final gun. His 16 field goals in 2022 are a state record. And his ability to put nearly every kickoff into the end zone meant Westside's defense almost always started with a field position advantage.
