Nevada
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