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

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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“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.

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“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

Desert state booms as workers flock from California amid game-changing discovery: ‘Remarkable’

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Desert state booms as workers flock from California amid game-changing discovery: ‘Remarkable’


A desert state known for its casinos and scorching temperatures is seeing a jobs boom as workers and businesses increasingly flock from neighboring California.

Nevada’s game-changing lithium reserves are fueling the surge, with the mineral becoming increasingly valuable as demand for artificial intelligence technology grows.

“Economically, Nevada is a relatively small state being mentioned in the same breath as California, Texas, Florida,” David Schmidt, chief economist for Nevada’s Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, told CNBC.

Nevada’s game-changing lithium reserves are fueling the surge of Californians fleeing to the desert state. rsgphoto – stock.adobe.com
Nevada’s roughly 110,000 square miles of open land have made it an attractive location for AI-related infrastructure. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The jobs market is posting “really remarkable numbers that we’re seeing,” he added.

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Nevada’s workforce grew 1.9% between April 2025 and April 2026, the fastest rate in the nation and well ahead of the 0.2% increase recorded nationally, the outlet reported, citing Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

The growth was so strong that roughly 12% of all new jobs created in the United States during that period were added in Nevada, despite the state accounting for only about 1% of the country’s population.

Economic leaders say the gains are the result of years of efforts to diversify Nevada’s economy beyond gambling and entertainment.

Professional and business services jobs led Nevada’s growth over the past year, followed by education and health services positions. Schmidt attributed some of that growth to Nevada’s favorable tax policies.

The Nevada hiring boom comes as the state’s gaming industry, centered in Las Vegas, has softened. USA TODAY Sports

Nevada has also become increasingly attractive to companies pursuing new or expanded mining projects because of its bountiful lithium supplies, he said.

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Lithium is a key component in batteries used to help run AI models, while Nevada’s roughly 110,000 square miles of open land have made it an attractive location for AI-related infrastructure, including data centers.

The hiring boom comes as the state’s gaming industry has softened — Nevada’s economy is becoming less dependent on gambling and tourism.

An analysis of federal data found that about 60% of new jobs added in the Las Vegas region between 2016 and 2025 came from industries outside hospitality, construction and government.

LV Petroleum CEO Kris Roach told CNBC he has hired hundreds of workers over the past year to staff the company’s restaurants and travel centers.

Roach said recruiting has been “very easy,” with some management openings drawing more than 100 applications.

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About 60% of jobs added in Las Vegas came from industries outside hospitality, construction and government. Joshua Resnick – stock.adobe.com

He also pointed to a strong pool of white-collar workers, including former casino employees, for positions in finance and human resources.

“It’s a great state to operate in,” Roach said. “There’s so much untapped talent.”

Nevada’s population growth has also helped fuel the hiring boom.

Economists have linked part of that growth to the state’s proximity to California, with federal data showing Nevada’s population increased more than 62% between 2000 and 2025, compared with roughly 21% nationwide.

The state also remains less expensive than neighboring California, Idaho and Arizona.

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Emma Keserich, who moved to Las Vegas from the Washington, DC area last year said many newcomers are surprised by what they find.

“People think Las Vegas is just the Strip,” Keserich told CNBC. “There’s just more than what meets the eye.”


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Nevada

The nation’s data center debate has reached Southern Nevada

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The nation’s data center debate has reached Southern Nevada












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National AI data center backlash reaches Southern Nevada as Henderson weighs moratorium | Environment | News





















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