MIAA Preview: Nebraska-Kearney
JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM
Nebraska-Kearney quarterback Abram Scholting draps back to pass on Oct. 25, 2025, in Maryville.
TOPEKA, Kan. — The Nebraska-Kearney Lopers are hoping 2026 marks the turning point of Ryan Held’s rebuild, coming off the program’s first winning season since 2021.
Held’s Lopers went 6-5 in 2025 after posting records of 3-8 and 5-6 in his first two seasons, and the head coach says he’s encouraged by what he’s seen from a roster that returns significant experience on both sides of the ball.
“I feel really good about our roster,” Held said. “I think we can be really good this year.”
Held believes this year’s defense will be the most athletic group he’s had in Kearney. The bigger uncertainty comes at tight end, receiver and quarterback — though Held says there’s talent to work with at each spot.
The quarterback race has been the most important battle this offseason. Redshirt junior Devin Tate has taken the early edge as the presumptive starter, but Held has stopped short of closing the competition, noting freshman Coulter Lang has stood out in practice.
Whoever wins the job will have running back Isaiah Harris to ease the load on the new quarterback. Harris rushed for 698 yards and six touchdowns over his first five games last fall before going down.
“He’s probably the most fun person I’ve ever blocked for,” Lineman Carter Klein said. “You could honestly bad block and he’d find a way to get around it and you’d just see his number running down the field.”
The passing game returns less firepower. Redshirt junior Abram Scholting, who split time under center in 2025, completed 40-of-76 passes for 448 yards, one touchdown and five interceptions while also rushing for 212 yards and three scores. Nebraska-Kearney’s top two pass-catchers from a season ago are gone, leaving wide receivers Ryker Evans (11 catches, 110 yards, one touchdown) and Alex Parks (seven catches, 43 yards) as the leading returners at the position.
Defensively, the Lopers return their leading tackler in linebacker Parker Wise, who racked up 70 tackles (37 solo), 10.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, an interception, four pass breakups and six quarterback hurries last season.
“Our defensive moto is chaos tempo and 1-800 go fast,” Wise said. “Coach (Tim) Schaffner does a great job of keeping the scheme simple and just letting us play and be athletes. That’s what we do — we go get the ball and get after the quarterback.”
Fellow linebacker Dylan Jordan added 35 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. Up front, Koren Conrad (12 tackles, 4.5 TFL, two sacks, two fumble recoveries), Kade Seip (11 tackles, two TFL) and Wayne Tei-Kirby (17 tackles, two TFL) all return experience to the defensive line.
The secondary also brings back production. Safety Kolten Tilford tallied 37 tackles and an interception, Tyson Boganowski had 24 tackles and two pass breakups.
The Lopers open the season at home against Wayne State on Aug. 27 before traveling to Chadron State on Sept. 3. UNK gets a bye in week three before opening conference play at Emporia State on Sept. 19.
