2011 NEBRASKA-OMAHA FOOTBALL RECRUITING CLASS ALPHABETICAL Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown High School/Junior College Nick Bandy DB 6-1 175 Lenexa, Kan. Olathe Northwest HS Tiras Bolton DB 5-10 175 Omaha, Neb. Omaha Westside HS Andrew Elliott LB 6-0 195 Joliet, Ill. Joliet Catholic Academy Joel Fickel PK 6-3 190 Omaha, Neb. Millard South HS Alex Knorr TE 6-3 235 Gardner, Kan. Gardner-Edgerton HS Jon Hays* QB 6-1 205 Paradise, Calif. Butte College David Hettiger* LB 6-3 240 Oak Lawn, Ill. Harper College Trevor LaPoint WR 6-3 220 Bellevue, Neb. Bellevue West HS Zach Leinbaugh^ DB 5-10 185 Omaha, Neb. Millard West HS Vincent Manus* DT 6-3 285 Denver, Colo. Glendale CC Devyn McPhaull DE 6-3 240 Leavenworth, Kan. Leavenworth HS Mitch Peppmuller OL 6-5 285 Lincoln, Neb. Lincoln Northeast HS Ben Poeschl LB 6-1 215 Lee’s Summit, Mo. Lee’s Summit West HS Taylor Ratzlaff LB 6-3 190 Wichita, Kan. Maize HS Matt Sawickis OL 6-5 300 Homer Glen, Ill. Lockport Township HS Kyle Starke OL 6-5 290 Liberty, Mo. Liberty HS Sean Strehl QB 6-3 205 Wildwood, Mo. Eureka HS Montrae’ Strickland LB 6-4 215 Lee’s Summit, Mo. Lee’s Summit HS Kyle Swartz LB 6-2 225 Olathe, Kan. Olathe North HS Elijah Tostenson WR 6-2 185 Omaha, Neb. Millard South HS * - Transfer ^ - Enrolled at UNO in January CLASS BREAKDOWN Total: 20; Freshmen: 17; Transfers: 3 (Hays, Hettiger, Manus) BY STATE Nebraska (6): Bolton, Fickel, LaPoint, Leinbaugh, Peppmuller, Tostenson; Kansas (5): Bandy, Knorr, McPhaull, Ratzlaff, Swartz; Missouri (4): Poeschl, Starke, Strehl, Strickland; Illinois (3): Elliott, Hettiger, Sawickis; Colorado (1): Manus; California (1): Hays BY POSITION OFFENSE - 8 DEFENSE - 11 SPECIAL TEAMS - 1 Quarterback - 2 (Hays, Strehl) Defensive Line - 2 (Manus, McPhaull) Kicker - 1 (Fickel) Offensive Line - 3 (Peppmuller, Sawickis, Starke) Linebackers - 6 (Elliott, Hettiger, Payshell, Ratzlaff, Strickland, Swartz) Tight End - 1 (Knorr) Defensive Backs - 3 (Bandy, Bolton, Leinbaugh) Wide Receiver - 2 (LaPoint, Tostenson) 2011 UNO Football Recruiting Class -- 1 NICK BANDY ALEX KNORR 6-1, 175, DB, Lenexa, Kan. (Olathe Northwest HS) 6-3, 235, TE, Gardner, Kan. (Gardner-Edgerton HS) Nick Bandy is a versatile athlete who will join the Mavericks’ secondary. Bandy Alex Knorr finished his high school career under Coach Marvin Diener with an was a first-team all-state receiver in Kansas 6A for Coach Todd Dain. Bandy outstanding varsity record of 33-3. Knorr helped lead the Blazers to the state set school records in punting yards and receiving touchdowns in his junior championship game in 2009 and a semifinal appearance in 2010. Following season. He has served as starting punter and receiver since his sophomore his senior season, Knorr was selected first-team all-Eastern Kansas League season. As a baseball player, Bandy set a school record for stolen bases in his and all-state honorable mention after leading his team with 17 receptions junior season and is a pre-season all-state baseball selection for this spring. for 330 yards and one touchdown. As a junior, Knorr also earned all-state Bandy also played basketball for the Ravens for three years. Bandy was a honorable mention, as well as first-team all-Frontier League after recording member of the National Honor Society and was Olathe Northwest’s Wendy’s 12 receptions for 240 yards and five touchdowns. Knorr played both tight end High School Heisman winner. Bandy is the son of Todd and Bridget Bandy and defensive end for the Blazers and also was selected as an all-Frontier and was born on Sept. 23, 1992. Bandy comes from an athletic background. League discus thrower for the track team in 2009. Knorr is the son of Jay and His grandfather played college basketball at Notre Dame, and his great uncle Lori Knorr and was born on March 26, 1993. played football for Iowa and the Miami Dolphins, where he won two Super Bowl rings (1973-74). JON HAYS 6-1, 205, QB, Paradise, Calif. (Butte College) TIRAS BOLTON Jon Hays comes from a tradition-rich junior college program in Butte College 5-10, 175, DB, Omaha, Neb. (Omaha Westside HS) in California. Under Coach Jeff Jordan, Hays led the Roadrunners to a 9-2 Tiras Bolton is a talented three-sport athlete who will put his athleticisim overall record and a victory in the ASBG Bowl over Delta College. A dual- to use in the Mavs’ secondary. Under Coach Brett Froendt, Bolton helped the threat quarterback with two years of eligibility left, Hays kept defenses off- Warriors turn a 1-7 record in his junior year to a 7-3 record and a state playoffs balance with both his arm and legs. Last season, Hays completed 110-of-197 appearance in his senior year. Bolton starred at running back where he led the passes (55.8 percent) for 1,746 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also ran for 276 Warriors to an upset of No. 2 Creighton Prep with 215 rushing yards and two yards and five touchdowns with a long of 83 yards. Hays earned All-NorCal touchdowns on 25 carries. Bolton carried for more than 1,000 yards on the Conference honors after his sophomore season in 2010. Prior to junior college, ground as a senior, averaging just over 100 yards per game. Bolton earned all- Hays led the powerhouse Paradise High School to two Northern section titles. district honors as well. He was also a standout in basketball and track. Bolton Hays recorded a total of 70 touchdowns in his three years as a starter. Hays is the son of Ronita Bolton and was born on June 13, 1993. Bolton’s brother, is the son of Randolph and Anne Hays and was born on April 17, 1990. Hays’ Tyree, played at UNO from 1999-2000. father, Randolph, played football for Delta College. ANDREW ELLIOTT DAVID HETTIGER 6-0, 195, LB, Joliet, Ill. (Joliet Catholic Academy) 6-3, 240, LB, Oak Lawn, Ill. (Harper College) Andrew Elliott, playing under Coach Mark Mettille, led powerhouse Joliet David Hettiger joins the UNO football team after spending one year at Harper Catholic Academy to a 10-2 record and an appearance in the Illinois 4A state College in Palatine, Ill., where he played under Coach Eric Waldsein. Hettiger, quarterfinals last season. Along the way, Elliott piled up an astounding who has three years of eligibility remaining, led the Hawks in tackles from his 113 total tackles while returning two interceptions for touchdowns. Elliott middle linebacker position with 78 through eight games. He also added two was named first-team all-area and all-conference, as well as the Hillmen’s sacks and was named first-team all-region. Hettiger played his high school defensive and special teams captain. In his junior season, Elliott starred football at H.L. Richards in Oak Lawn where he was also a standout wrestler. at tight end, catching seven passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns. Hettiger recorded 106 tackles in his senior year of high school in 2007-08. He Elliott also was named the most valuable powerlifter this year on the Joliet was named the defensive MVP for his team as well as an athletic scholar and powerlifting team and is also a regional champion wrestler. Elliott, who was all-conference member. Hettiger is the son of Mike and Kathleen Hettiger and a four-year honor roll member, is the son of Stefanie Elliott and Joel West and was born on Oct. 7, 1989. was born on March 19, 1993. JOEL FICKEL TREVOR LAPOINT 6-3, 190, PK, Omaha, Neb. (Millard South HS) 6-3, 220, WR, Bellevue, Neb. (Bellevue West HS) Joel Fickel was a standout kicker and punter for the Patriots under Coach Andy Trevor LaPoint was a force for the Thunderbirds on both sides of the ball in Means. Fickel helped Millard South to a Class A state championship in 2009 his senior season, starting at both wide receiver and defensive end for Coach and a runner-up finish in 2010. As a senior, Fickel recorded 59 touchbacks in John Faiman. LaPoint showcased his skills all season including making eight 81 kickoff attempts. He was named to the all-district team and earned all- receptions for 154 yards and three touchdowns against Kearney. As a junior, metro Coach’s Association kicker of the year honors. Fickel was also named LaPoint recorded 12 tackles and four sacks in a single game against Millard the all-state runner-up place kicker and second-team all-metro. Fickel, who North. A big, physical wide receiver, LaPoint used his soft hands and physical also lettered in soccer, was an honor roll member all four years of high school. presence to dominate opponents. LaPoint is the son of Jim and Mary Baker Fickel is the son of Gerald and Theresa Fickel and was born on Aug. 25, 1993. and was born on Feb. 5, 1993. 2011 UNO Football Recruiting Class -- 2 ZACH LEINBAUGH MITCH PEPPMULLER 5-10, 185, DB, Omaha, Neb. (Millard West HS) 6-5, 285, OL, Lincoln, Neb. (Lincoln Northeast HS) Zach Leinbaugh had an outstanding career at Millard West under Coach Kirk Mitch Peppmuller paved the way for the Rockets to finish 7-4 and reach the Peterson, helping the Wildcats to a three-year record of 31-6 including a state state playoffs quarterfinals. Under Coach Justin Smith, Peppmuller was an championship in 2008 and a runner-up finish in 2009. As a senior, Leinbaugh integral part of a dominant rushing attack that finished with 2,957 rushing helped the Wildcats to an 8-3 record and a state playoffs quarterfinals yards and averaged more than 6.4 yards per carry as a team.