In-State Tour: Creighton Prep

Omaha, Neb. - The HuskerOnline team hit the road in February for our 17th annual In-State Tour where we scour the state of Nebraska in search of the best up-and-coming football talent.

In our next stop of the In-State Tour, we checked in at Omaha Creighton Prep, where the Junior Jays are led by 2021 tight end prospect A.J. Rollins, how currently holds Power Five offers from three different conferences.

In-State Tour: Elkhorn South | Omaha Westside | Omaha Roncalli | Omaha North | Lewis Central

Head coach: Tim Johnk

2019 Record: 6-4 (Lost in first round of Class A playoffs)

Season rewind: "We knew we had an extremely difficult schedule. Our district was the toughest district in Class A football, and we knew that going in. We returned a number of players from the year before, but we knew we were going to be deficient in some areas, especially in the offensive line. We had to really bank on some kids that didn't have a lot of playing experience, we had a new starter at quarterback. If you look at our year and how our year went, one thing that stood out is that we're a very resilient football team. We won a lot of really close football games. We beat North in overtime; we beat a couple of other teams in close games. We had to come back from a couple of end games, and we won in the last minute. Our culture and our togetherness, I think was very evident in winning those games because without that, I think we wouldn't have won those games. Where we were at with in terms of how that season went, the number of kids that we had coming back, I was fairly pleased with the way we played in a lot of those football games.

"Again, when you play an extremely tough schedule, there's some games that we were a little bit outmatched. Those are the things that we're going to focus on moving into 2020. I think we have a really talented group of young men that have bought into our culture, understand what we want to do. We played a lot of young kids last year at a lot of places, and so I'm excited for the outlook. I think we have a district that is a lot different with a lot of different teams in our district, which is really fun. I think our outlook is real positive, and I think we'll be able to compete very well in 2020."

Coach Johnk on TE A.J. Rollins: "(His recruiting) has gone pretty quickly. I think a lot faster than maybe he anticipated. I knew deep down in my gut that he was one of those kids that had that ability. When we went to Nebraska's Camp last year and they gave him the offer there at the end of that three days and that things just really picked up steam for him and everybody wanted to come in, everybody wanted to get their eyes on him. It's been really good. I think he's handled it very well. He's a really quiet kid. His demeanor is very calm. That's been good for him. I think it's all been very positive, guys have been great. I think he's just soaking it all in right now.

"I keep telling everyone his ceiling is off the chart in terms of size. He has the length, but in terms of weight, strength, those kinds of things that he needs to continue to get better at and improve at, those are the things that I think people see and they go, 'Man, what is he going to be like in two or three years in our program?' He catches the ball like a wide receiver, he has great ball skills. A lot of that has to do with his basketball background and his multi-sport background. Again, I think he's in a great spot. I think a lot of people like him, a lot of people are using tight ends a little bit more right now. Those are the people that have been in and have been talking to him.

"Nebraska said they liked him at either tight end or outside linebacker, that buck outside linebacker position that they play. They just like his length there. He hasn't scratched the surface in terms of what he's going to be able to do football-wise."

On being Prep's First Power Five guy since 2005: "That's a big deal. The people around the Prep community obviously have noticed that and that we have a young man like that that is getting that kind of attention, not only from Nebraska but from the Big Ten, SEC and Big 12. That drives some nice attention to our program for sure.

Rollins take: "I'm just staying focused on what the main goal is to get to the next level, and after into that level. I'm just staying focused continuing to stay active in school and doing what I need to at practice and just being a great teammate and everything, so that's really it.

"When I got the Nebraska offer it was crazy because that really changed my life, it really set things going for me. It gave me a lot of confidence by showing me that yes, I can really do this. It really gave me a lot of confidence in changing my personality, like I need to work harder and do everything more because I can really make it.

"I always thought of myself as a basketball player before that, because basketball was my sport. I really love basketball, I love the game, but I always knew I was good at football. I was always hearing if I play football, I can be really good at it. Before Nebraska came I was like, 'I'm going to take it seriously because I can see this as an opportunity.' It worked out for me."

Recruiting: Rollins currently holds offers from Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa State and Central Florida. He's also had a number of other Power Five schools come to Prep and see him, along with making a few different unofficial visits.

"Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa State, Central Florida, Minnesota, Kansas State has been in, I know he visited Oklahoma State and I know he visited Notre Dame as well. They haven't had as much traffic in here as those other four or five. The four that have offered have been the ones that have really been in here a lot. Again, Minnesota, this would be the first time that they've been in, Purdue has been in, I guess before Christmas as well. They've shown some interest in him as well."

Stat check: Rollins finished his junior season with 13 catches for 169 yards and two touchdowns.

Coach Johnk on DB Alex Bullock: "I think he's unbelievable. He started for us as a sophomore at corner two years ago. If you look at him in terms of an overall football player, he's probably our best overall football player from offense to defense, to everything that he brings to our program. He's super talented, has great length and great ball skills. I think he's going to have a tremendous senior year for us. Again, he'll open some eyes. I think he's a Division I scholarship kid at some level."

Bullock's take: "My sophomore year, I had a lot of playing time. Coming into my junior, I guess you could say I knew what to expect and I was prepared for the season. It just went the way I thought it would go.

"Going forward, I want to be more of a team leader since people are, I think, going to look at me as a leader and just overall improve my stats because I know that I can be better and that's not the best I can do."

Recruiting: Bullock is the younger brother of current Nebraska redshirt freshman linebacker John Bullock. Recruiting wise, he's heard from Nebraska, South Dakota State, North Dakota State, Iowa, Iowa State, Dartmouth, Miami (Ohio) and Ohio.

He plans to attend the Lindenwood and Chicago Mega Camps, as well as camps at NU, Iowa, ISU, Notre Dame and LSU.

Stat check: Bullock was an All-Metro selection in 2019, and honorable mention All-State.

He finished 2019 with 23 catches for 230 yards and one touchdown. He also had three interceptions on defense and was Prep's main kickoff return specialist.