BEATRICE, Neb. - Long before Cam Jurgens took on the role of the premier center job in the NFL, his football career began at the House of Orange in Beatrice.

But Jurgens' athletic ability spread far and wide, to the basketball court, and to track and field. As Jurgens get set to represent southeast Nebraska in Super Bowl LIX, former teammates, and coaches, are reflecting on his days as an Orangemen.

“His strength and power is unmatched”

“Just a freak, he’s big, he’s strong, he’s fast and explosive.”

“Just a huge target”

To summarize, dominance… That’s what Cam Jurgens brought to Beatrice Athletics, long before his days in the NFL. Cam’s high school quarterback, and long time friend Alec Cromer, said he had his first glimmer into Cam’s future, in the weight room when Cam was in eight grade.

“Just a scrawny, tall, red headed looking dude with buzz cut is just ripping out 225 on the squat,” Cromer said. “It was just some crazy farm kid strength.. I’d never seen anything like it. Then, he puts three plates on… As an eighth grader.”

But Cam’s strength and skill stretched beyond the gridiron or the weight room… Jurgens was a four-time state champion in shot put, and a three-time state champ in discus throw. And on the basketball floor, he gave his JV basketball coach Ben Essam his own “Oh wow” moment.

“At Norris one night, Dalton Hartig had a breakaway layup, I see Dalton look back, he throws it off the glass, Cam just goes up and hammers it home for a dunk,” Essam said. “That’s probably never happened in Nebraska JV history, a dunk off the backboard like that.”

Jurgens is in his first season as the Eagles starting center, filling the big shoes of sure-to-be hall of famer, Jason Kelce… He’s helped running back Saquan Barkley lead the league in rushing yards. On January 2nd, Jurgens was named to his first pro bowl… In his first year as starting center. While at Beatrice, Jurgens shined as a tight end, but made the transition to center during college at Nebraska. Former Orangemen football coach Bob Sexton says he envisioned Cam playing on the defensive side, but the same skills translate to his role on the o-line.

“I saw him moving over more to the defensive side and becoming an outstanding rush end,” Sexton said. “He maybe didn’t have the flat out speed you need at tight end, but you saw the explosiveness. The other thing is he had those long arms, he could keep people off of him at the rush end position, but that also helps him on the O-Line.”

Less than 200 call Pickrell, NE. home, but Cam’s one… Being represented in the Super Bowl, means the world to the southeast Nebraska community.

“It gives everyone a little inspiration and hope, that it doesn’t matter where you’re from, you can still do special things,” Essam said.

“He’s a a role model to so many kids around and he promotes Pickerel,” Cromer said. “He loves Beatrice, he loves Pickrell, it just means so much to the community."