Wayne State College football team has 50 players from the state of Nebraska. However, sophomore wide receiver Alex Phelps is the only Wildcat football player from Wayne. 

“I wanted to stay at home, and the coaching staff made it easy to do that.” Phelps said. “Staying close to family and friends was important to me.” 

Phelps redshirted during the 2023 season and appeared in one game during the 2024 season. So far in 2025 Phelps has appeared in every game and has recorded 10 catches for 122 yards, his longest reception of the season being 31 yards against University of Nebraska-Kearney in the season opener. 

Phelps attended Wayne High School and was a starter for the football, basketball and track and field teams.  

During his senior season for the Wayne Blue Devils, Phelps had 40 catches for 671 yards and eight touchdowns. Alex also played the defensive side of the ball and recorded 54 tackles his senior year, while also having 19 kick returns for 399 yards and one kick return touchdown.  

Phelps qualified for the 2022 River Battle Bowl in which top football players from Nebraska and Iowa compete against each other. 

As a multi-sport athlete, Phelps started his final three years for the Blue Devils basketball team, helping Wayne qualify for the state tournament all three years he started. During Phelps’ junior year in track and field he made it to Burke Stadium as a Class B state qualifier in 300-meter hurdles. 

He wrapped up his high school career in the Northeast Nebraska All-Star game in June of 2023.