The list is impressive to anyone familiar with quarterbacks in Nebraska.

Josh Lanik at Midland. Kyle Gerdes at Briar Cliff. Seth Turman at UNO. Zach Miller at UNO and now the NFL. Matt Turman at Nebraska.

All five started their quarterback careers at Wahoo Neumann under coach Tim Turman. Dylan McGill is the current Cavalier quarterback, and the senior could finish his career at the top of that impressive list.

“He ranks right up there with the best we've ever had,” Tim Turman said. “He might have the strongest arm of any of those guys. He wouldn't be the fastest, but he ranks with them with his ability to run the option.”

McGill quarterbacked Neumann to the 2007 Class C-1 state championship game, throwing for a school-record 1,337 yards and 10 touchdowns in the runner-up season. Last year, he added 1,093 passing yards in Neumann's option-based offense to rank behind the Turman brothers and Lanik on the school career chart.

“There's obviously been a lot of great quarterbacks,” McGill said. “It's cool to be compared and an honor to be compared with the Turmans and Zach Miller.”

Turman might give more freedom this fall to McGill and the passing game, but the longtime coach plans to remain loyal to the option game. Four players — senior Ryan Luetkenhaus, junior Ryan Swartz and sophomores Blake Jansa and Cole Chvatal — are candidates for the I-back spot to replace Neumann's all-time leading rusher and scorer, Tyler Benal.

The Cavs start the season No. 1 in the preseason Class C-1 ratings.

Leading receiver Ben Fisher returns from an 8-3 squad that reached the state quarterfinals, as do center Jesse Sladky and tackle Brian Sydik. Linebacker Toby Martin, nose guard Josh Petrzilka and end Jeremiah Steager will team with backs Fisher and Luetkenhaus to key the Cavalier defense.

“We lost some big people up front, but I really like our team speed,” Turman said. “We have some kids who can move pretty well.”

Turman expects 70 players on his roster, including 15 seniors and 22 juniors. He said all players will have met the minimum of 27 lifting sessions this summer.

“I like the effort,” he said. “I keep telling these guys there's something special about this group.”

Neumann's toughest challenge may come in its opener at Boys Town, a team the Neumann coach considers tough with its speed and talented fullback. Pierce, Norfolk Catholic and Hastings St. Cecilia also impress Turman, as does Chadron.

“It looks like it's predominantly the same,” Turman said. “They are programs that have kind of gotten established. When they have a bad year, a bad year is going 6-3.”

Contact the writer: 444-1201, sports@owh.com

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