Nevada

Nevada football adds 25 new players, including 24 in high school and five with ties to Northern Nevada

Published

1 year ago

December 5, 2024

Nevada football adds 25 new players, including 24 in high school and five with ties to Northern Nevada

The Nevada football team is looking to the high school ranks to try to improve and build the program in coming seasons.

Nevada coach Jeff Choate announced the signing of 26 football players on Wednesday, the start of national signing day for college football. Of the signing day class, 25 are high school seniors and one is at Cerritos Junior College. Choate was hired at Nevada on Dec. 4, 20-23, Last year, his signing class had five high school players.

He said players in this year’s class come for winning programs, including four who are still playing for state championships, two who already won state championships, and seven others who were in state finals.

“If you’re going to build a winning program, it starts by having that understand what a winning program looks like,” Choate said.

There are five players with ties to Northern Nevada in the class: Joe Birnbaum, Truckee; Mataio Aiono, Reed; Colin Banning, Spring Creek; Jackson Ramsey, Bishop Manogue; and Cian Stack, Bishop Manogue.

Choate said Aiono is the best lineman in Northern Nevada and Stack is one of the top long snappers in the country.

The members of the class are from nine different states covering four time zones — while five states are represented by one member, states with multiple members of the Nevada class are California (12), Nevada (four), Texas (three) and Arizona (two).

“It’s a group that I’m really excited about — we met a lot of needs. Top to bottom, every phase — offense, defense, and special teams — we were able to get guys that I think can have an immediate impact in our program, and a long-lasting impact on our program,” Choate said. “I mentioned that I think this is the most important class that we’ll sign, and I think we can build a strong foundation for the future. Now what we’ve got to do is stack classes on top of one another so that we can be competing for championships.”

Choate has said in the past that keeping local players with the Wolf Pack is critical.

“One of the hallmarks of the class is obviously that we were able to tap into Northern Nevada. I think between Colin, Mataio, Jackson, Joe and Cian, there are a lot of guys that are familiar names to football fans in Northern Nevada. We’re excited about having those guys join the program, and continuing to make our Northern Nevada athletes the heart and soul of our program,” Choate said.

Choate said the Pack’s class is ranked No. 4 in the Mountain signing day classes, behind Boise State, UNLV and San Diego State.

Choate raved about quarterback Carter Jones (6-foot-4, 190 pounds), currently at Lancaster High School in Texas.

“I look forward to our fans getting a chance to meet this young man. He is a first-class human being. He was raised the right way,” Choate said. “He’s a winner. He’s a tough kid. He fits exactly what we want to do on offense.”

Choate said Jones played in the toughest football district in the country.

Choate said running back Carter Jackson is also an outstanding football player. Jackson (5-9, 180) is at Folsom High School in California.

Jackson, a three-star recruit, had multiple Power Four offers. Choate said he could play immediately.

Birnbaum will walk-on and become the second player from Truckee on the Wolf Pack, following Marcus Bellon. Birnbaum, one of the fastest sprinters in the state, will be at running back.

“He exudes enthusiasm and energy,” Choate said. “A kid from a winning program that is all about what we’re trying to build here at Nevada. Toughness, grit.”

He said more players could be added from high school and that he will be active when the transfer portal opens Dec. 8.

December 2024 Nevada Football National Signing Day Roster

Player, position, height, weight, previous school(s)

Carter Jones, QB, 6-4, 190, Lancaster (Texas)
Joe Birnbaum, RB, 5-11, 185, Truckee (Calif.)
Carter Jackson, RB, 5-9, 180, Folsom (Calif.)
Zedekiah Anahu-Ambrosio, WR, 5-10, 170, Timpview (Utah)
Daylin Caamano, WR, 6-3, 175, Crean Lutheran (Calif.)
Mack Kump, WR, 5-10, 175, Sunnyslope (Ariz.)
Mason Johnson, WR, 6-2, 180, West Park (Calif.)
DJ Asiasi, TE, 6-3, 240, De La Salle (Calif.)
Mataio Aiono, OL, 6-3, 280, Reed
Colin Banning, OL, 6-4, 285, Spring Creek
Joseph James, OL, 6-2, 265, Oak Hills (Calif.)
Jackson Ramsey, OL, 6-4, 285, Bishop Manogue
Kameron Brown, edge, 6-3, 245, Norco (Calif.)
Keegan Perea, edge, 6-3, 250, Cherry Creek (Colo.)
Isaiah Reed, LB, 6-2, 210, Rocky Mountain (Idaho)
Jake Silverman, LB, 6-0, 210, Torrance (Calif.)
EJ Smith, LB, 6-1, 230, Cerritos College (Calif.) / Warren
Cody Wells, LB, 6-2, 210, Notre Dame Prep (Ariz.)
Mykel Ford, DB, 6-0, 160, Putnam City (Okla.)
Isaiah Jordan, DB, 6-1, 190, Christian Brothers (Calif.)
Tajean Stallworth, DB, 6-1, 165, Edison (Stockton, Calif.)
Yusuf Thomas, DB, 6-1, 170, Cedar Hills (Texas)
Aiden Walker, DB, 5-11, 180, Round Rock (Texas)
Justin Wyatt Jr., DB, 6-3, 170, Highland (Calif.)
Cian Stack, LS, 6-2, 245, Bishop Manogue

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Nevada

Gas prices climb in northern Nevada amid tensions in the Middle East

Published

10 hours ago

March 6, 2026

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Gas prices climb in northern Nevada amid tensions in the Middle East

$3.99 on Sunday, $4.09 just days later.

An extra dime for the same gallon of gas, but why?

Conflict in the Middle East has impacted prices at the pump for drivers here in northern Nevada and across the country.

According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of gas has jumped nearly 27 cents since last week, coming in at $3.25. In Reno, the average price is roughly $4.26.

Experts say for every $5 to $10 increase in oil prices, drivers could pay 15 to 25 cents more per gallon.

The increase primarily comes down to the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, which controls roughly 20% of the world’s oil supplies. Amid the tensions, traffic through the area has recently ground to a halt.

Michael Goldman, General Manager of Caru Containers North America, said many of the shippers who typically go through the Strait have changed course.

“We’re seeing the routes ships need to take be much longer, much more costly. Going around the Horn of Africa instead of going through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. And we’re definitely seeing cost increases to those carriers to make those journeys,” said Goldman.

Jayce Robinson from Sparks said he’s always looking for the best deal in town on gas.

“I mostly fill up here for work, so it’s not my money, but when I do fill up, I definitely look for the cheapest place because money’s tight and gas is expensive,” Robinson said.

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Nevada

10-month-old found safe, North Las Vegas police cancel AMBER Alert

Published

22 hours ago

March 5, 2026

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10-month-old found safe, North Las Vegas police cancel AMBER Alert

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Authorities have canceled an AMBER Alert after they say a 10-month-old child taken by a non-custodial parent was found safe.

North Las Vegas Police said Thursday that Leilani Williams (aka Leilani Duke) was taken by her father, Roderick Duke.

Duke and Leilani were last seen at an apartment complex in the area of Martin L. King Boulevard and Cheyenne Avenue at 1:40 a.m.

“An AMBER Alert has been activated due to Roderick being in emotional crisis and making threats to harm himself and 10-month-old Leilani,” NLVPD said in a statement.

By 10:05 a.m., NLVPD said that Leilani was located unharmed.

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Officers took Duke into custody without further incident, and the AMBER Alert has been canceled.

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Nevada

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks to Nevada Democrats in Las Vegas

Published

1 day ago

March 5, 2026

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks to Nevada Democrats in Las Vegas

California Gov. Gavin Newsom addressed Nevada Democrats who packed a Las Vegas brewery Wednesday evening for a discussion about his upbringing, his political life and efforts his state has taken to combat the Trump administration agenda.

Newsom, who has been floated as a possible White House contender for 2028, sidestepped a quip from former Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak who introduced him as the next U.S. president amid cheers from the crowd.

“I’m very grateful for your friendship, and a friendship that’s only strengthened over the course of the last year or so,” Newsom told Sisolak.

Book tour stop

The event, which served as a book tour stop for the California governor, was organized by the Nevada Democratic Party. It took place at Nevada Brew Works near Summerlin.

Nevada Assemblymember Daniele Monroe-Moreno, the state party chair running for North Las Vegas mayor, moderated the discussion.

It was part of the party’s Local Brews + National Views series that’s been bringing Democrats for similar discussions at intimate venues. Past speakers have included former President Joe Biden, Arizona U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.

Criticizing President Donald Trump, Newsom spoke about the immediate aftermath of the 2024 general election.

“We were handwringing, a lot of finger pointing, and a sense of weakness,” Newsom said. “And just incapable of dealing with this moment, this existential moment.”

He said he is taking account for what he described as his own complicity.

“This happened on my watch. This is all happening on our watch,” Newsom said. “And so I realized that I needed to be better.”

That included his advocacy to redraw California’s Congressional map after Trump called for the same in Texas, he said.

“They’re not screwing around, nor are we,” he said about Trump and his administration. “All of us.”

‘You’re giving us a voice’

Newsom spoke out against the surge of federal immigration enforcement operations in California and later Minnesota, calls from the Trump administration to nationalize elections, and cuts to government funding due to the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act.

He said that pushback against Trump’s policies, including dozens of lawsuits filed by California, were making the president retreat on some of his proposals and policies.

“You’re filling the void, you’re giving us a voice, you’re giving us courage,” he told the crowd. “For things to change, we have to change. And it’s changing.”

The Republican National Committee reacted to Newsom’s Las Vegas visit. Earlier in the day, Newsom attended a private Boulder City event.

“Democrats are selling out to the spoiled, phony rich kid governor from California for years,” RNC spokesperson Nick Poche wrote in a statement. “President Donald Trump and Republicans are delivering major tax cuts and keeping Nevadans safe, unlike Democrats.”

The national Republican Party also criticized California’s policies, and tied them back to Nevada Democrats.

Most of Newsom’s remarks weren’t specific to Nevada. He didn’t take any questions from media.

Polling shows Newsom and Vice President JD Vance leading in hypothetical races for their parties’ nomination. That includes a survey of likely Nevada voters conducted one by Emerson College Polling in November.

Contact Ricardo Torres-Cortez at rtorres@reviewjournal.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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