9  Tavarius Bender Class: Sophomore Hometown: Lincoln, Neb. High School: Southwest Height / Weight: 6-3 / 210 Position: QB Birthdate: 04/01/1994 Experience: HS

An athletic quarterback who graduated high school early to participate in spring practice.

HIGH SCHOOL: Rated the No. 20 dual-threat quarterback in the country by Rivals and the No. 1 overall player in the state of Nebraska... Threw for 1,025 yards, rushed for 699 yards and accounted for 20 total touchdowns as a senior... 2011 Super State First Team pick and First Team All-City selection... Ran for 793 yards and five scores in 2010 while throwing for 970 yards and six touchdowns as a junior... Selected to the All-City Class A team and all-state team as a sophomore... No. 55-ranked QB in Class of 2012 as rated by ESPNU... A 2010 Class A All-State selection... Accumulated a 3.5 GPA in high school.

PERSONAL: Tavarius Bender was born April 1, 1994... Son of Jeremy Bender.