FB Board ‘11

Bryan Lane – Freshman – 6-foot-4, 210-pound Linebacker

- Knight is the first player to really arrive at Nevada because of the Wolf Pack’s rising national profile, and he’ll have an opportunity to play very early in his career. He’s got plenty of size, speed and strength, and his attitude and dedication to Nevada is startling for a young man who grew up in the greater Boston area. A terrific rusher with power, size and strength, Knight is without a doubt a power back.

Sacramento (CA) – Christian Brothers High School

Bryson Keeton – Freshman – 6-foot-2, 188-pound Cornerback

- Once again Nevada dipped into the Sacramento area to pull a talented young prospect in Lane, who currently stands 6-foot-4, 210-pounds. A hard working young man who plans to live in the weight room over what is more than likely a redshirt year, Lane has a great frame to put on more weight. He’s also a terrific athlete and a very physical football player. Lane, who also played wide receiver for the Falcons, posted over 75 tackles and 4 sacks during his final season. He also tallied 15 catches and 3 touchdowns.

Bakersfield (CA) – Ridgeview High School

Burton De Koning – Freshman – 6-foot-2, 218-pound Linebacker

- Keeton has the potential to be a true difference maker in the Wolf Pack secondary over the next several years. His combination of size, speed and smarts really sets him apart as a prospect. He has an advanced understanding of technique, as was part of a defense that allowed an average of just 15 points per game over the entire 2010 season. You can also tell that Keeton, who projects initially as a cornerback, has been well drilled on the game. As a player, he is rarely out of position. His height gives him an advantage on smaller corners as well.

Folsom (CA) – Folsom High School

- Nevada picked up one of the top linebackers in Northern California when they landed the hard-working and impressive De Koning. A former quarterback, the 6-foot-2, 218-pound prospect is one of the most well-liked young players in the region due to how he plays the game and his ability to make tremendous plays game in and game out. De Koning led the Bulldogs defense to their best season ever in 2010, as Folsom avenged their only loss in the sectional finals to powerhouse Grant high, and then took down undefeated Serra high for the California state championship. De Koning is a hard-nosed player that thrives on contact and playing in an attacking defensive scheme. He’ll likely slot at outside linebacker, and it would no surprise to us if he mans the starting job in 2012 and beyond for Nevada.

Chase Tenpenny – Junior – 6-foot-4, 250-pound Punter

Oskaloosa (KS) – Oskaloosa High School via Fort Scott College

- Punting Competition Video

- A late addition to the Wolf Pack program, Tenpenny is arguably the most important prospect on this list. He is expected to be an immediate contributor on special teams and a player who can change a game with his left foot. Tenpenny, who spent the past two seasons at Fort Scott College in Kansas, is a rock solid 6-foot-4, 250-pounds. He originally developed as a defensive end originally.

Devin Combs – Sophomore – 6-foot-2, 235-pound Quarterback

Oakdale (CA) – Oakdale High School via Modesto Junior College

- Arguably the most surprising addition of the class, and the final prospect in Nevada’s 2011 recruiting class, is quarterback Devin Combs. A former Oakdale high school star, Combs was recruited out of high school but spent some time off the gridiron after his prep career ended. However, this past season at Modesto Junior College, Combs won the starting job as a freshman and never really looked back. An impressive 6-foot-2, 235-pound prospect, Combs commandeered one of the top offenses in JUCO football this past season. He threw for over 2,100 yards, tossed 17 touchdowns and added another 466 yards on the ground, plus 6 more scores. His video shows that he’s one competitive and skilled young man.

Dominic Coulter – Freshman – 6-foot-3, 220-pound Wide Receiver

Tustin (CA) – Tustin High School

Desman Carter – Freshman – 6-foot-1, 200-pound Defensive Back

- Coulter was another late recruiting find for the Pack who will suit up for Nevada in time for fall practice. A former two-sport standout in Orange County who was waiting for a spot to open up at Utah while greyshirting the 2010 season, Coulter tripped up to Reno and made a commitment shortly afterwards. The former Tustin high school product, who has incredible size and strength, is going to be one of the top players to watch in fall practice.

Fontana (CA) – Kaiser High School

Erik Stewart – Junior – 6-foot-3, 235-pound Tight End

- Carter is a quick, strong and physical player who loves to come up and play the run. He definitely loves to hit, as his video above clearly shows. Carter might have have been one of the most underrated prospects in Southern California’s 2011 prep class. He projects as Nevada’s potential strong safety of the future, with juniors Duke Williams and Dean Faddis manning the position right now. We believe he will rise quickly through the Nevada secondary into a starting role.

Los Angeles (CA) – Dorsey High School via El Camino College

Jake Peppard – Junior – 6-foot-3, 250-pound Defensive End

- A powerful 6-foot-3, 235-pound tight end prospect who appears even bigger in person, Stewart could be an outstanding find if he picks up the Nevada offense up quickly. He’s got a head start on things by enrolling at the mid-year break and participating this past spring. Stewart, who played in a heavy ground attack at El Camino Community College in Los Angeles, totaled 13 catches for 183 yards and one score during the 2009 season. He sat out the 2010 season while finishing up his academics.

La Habra (CA) – La Habra High School via Cerritos College

Jon McNeal – Sophomore – 6-foot-1, 230-pound Linebacker

- While he did not arrive in time for spring ball, Peppard could be the man to beat this fall for the strongside D-End along the Nevada D-Line. A terrific run-stopper who loves the game and has a terrific, blue-collar attitude to go along with good instincts, Peppard projects as a steady DE who will look to shut down strong side runs. After recording 32 tackles and 4 sacks as a freshman at Cerritos, Peppard stepped it up during his sophomore season and had 45 tackles and 6 sacks. He was a rock on one of the best defenses in junior college football the past two seasons, posting a record of 18-4.

Venice (CA) – Venice High School via Santa Monica College

Kendall Brock – Freshman – 5-foot-9, 193-pound Running Back

- A year after landing junior college players like Rishard Matthews, Dean Faddis and DeAndre Boughton at the mid-year signing period, the Wolf Pack snared one of the more versatile players we’ve ever seen in McNeal. This future Wolf Pack linebacker, who arrived in time for Spring ball, played multiple positions this past season at Santa Monica College. Despite being a freshman at SMCC, McNeal led the team in tackles with close to 70 stops and added 6 sacks from his outside linebacker position. On offense, he had 12 carries and caught 12 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns. McNeal also threw a touchdown pass, and started the second to last game of the season for the Corsairs.

Fresno (CA) – Clovis West High School

Lenny Jones – Freshman – 6-foot-3, 239-pound Defensive End

- First-Team All-State, 3rd team All-American, Fresno Bee Player of the Year, TRAC Player of the Year with over 2,400 yards rushing and 40 Touchdowns, All-League and All-Section. What more do you need to say about Mr. Brock? The kid is an exciting, speed back who knows how to get tough yards and make big plays.

Oakland (CA) – San Leandro High School

Lorenzo Devers – Freshman – 6-foot, 234-pound Linebacker

- One of the biggest surprises in Nevada’s 2011 recruiting class was the addition of Clifton “Lenny” Jones. A large 6-foot-3, 239-pound D-End prospect, Jones had a long, intriguing path to college football. Thankfully for Nevada, Jones landed in Reno. The former Bay Area standout arrived in the Spring and immediately began his career with his hand down. Jones showed his ability to get to the quarterback and make great adjustments during his initial practices.

Orange (CA) – Orange Lutheran High School

- Devers is a powerfully built defensive prospect with an outstanding nose for the ball. He projects as a potential speed rushing defensive end or an inside linebacker depending upon his growth. He can definitely attack a defensive line, and he has the speed around the edge you look for in a player. He played in one of the toughest leagues in the country, the Trinity League, and led a very young Lancers club in 2010.

Marcus McIlwain – Junior – 6-foot-3, 225-pound Linebacker

Waterford (CA) – Waterford High School via Modesto Junior College

Paul Dancy – Junior – 6-foot-3, 258-pound Defensive End

- McIlwain spent the past year as a heavy recruiting target for the Western Athletic Conference schools, originally landing at Hawaii. However, the former Modesto JC star, who totaled 54 tackles and 7 sacks in ‘09 during his sophomore season, left Honolulu to finish up his academics and likely found an even better destination in Reno. McIlwain has the ability to step right in and play a major role for the Pack defense. He has two years left to play two seasons.

Los Angeles (CA) – Dorsey High School via Mt. San Antonio College

Randy Horton – Sophomore – 6-foot-4, 260-pound Tight End

- A solid 6-foot-3, 258-pound speed rushing defensive end, Dancy, who is a junior transfer, could be a tremendous weapon on the Wolf Pack’s defensive line in 2011. He’s got outstanding speed and turns the corner about as well as anyone we saw on film in 2009. Although he sat out the entire 2010 season, Dancy should be plenty fired up for his junior year.

Simi Valley (CA) – Simi Valley High School via College of the Canyons

Reggie Coates – Freshman – 6-foot-1, 232-pound Defensive End

- An offense that prides itself on being able to be physical, move defensive players around and block relentlessly for 4 quarters throughout an entire season picked up the perfect addition in Horton. Standing a solid 6-foot-4, 260-pounds, Horton, who only played one year of JUCO ball, is a monster blocker. He also has a passion to do the job. As his video shows, Horton played a number of positions for the Cougars. He lines up at tight end and fullback. Horton also lined up as COC’s H-Back at times, and even played some on the O-Line. He also continues to get bigger and stronger.

Encino (CA) – Crespi High School

Ryan Goforth – Freshman – 6-foot-1, 202-pound Defensive Back

- Nevada picked up one of the top defensive playmakers in Southern California’s 2011 class when they signed Coates. A standout at Crespi high school in Southern California, Coates has terrific athleticism and work ethic. He could develop on either the Wolf Pack D-Line or LB core. Coates, who doubled as one of Crespi’s best basketball players, racked up 61 tackles and 4 sacks during his senior year for the Celts.

Long Beach (CA) – Long Beach Poly High School

Rykeem Yates – Freshman – 6-foot-2, 271-pound Defensive Lineman

- A former first team all-league defensive back standout at outstanding Long Beach Poly high school, Goforth was a mid-year addition to the Nevada roster who already participated in spring drills. Due to his length and athleticism, plus his ability to wreak havoc in the secondary, we expect Goforth to rise quickly in the Wolf Pack depth chart.

Fresno (CA) – Edison High School

Tanner Roderick – Freshman – 6-foot-2, 190-pound Quarterback

- A monster 6-foot-2, 271-pound physical defensive end prospect who spent the 2010 season as a greyshirt after committing to UCLA last January. However, Yates never signed with the Bruins and decided this fall to head to Nevada. He’s a potential immediate contributor to the Wolf Pack program. Yates was a finalist for Player of the Year honors by the Fresno Bee, and earned the Defensive Player of the Year in the County, plus the Metro Athletic Conference. He was also a MaxPreps first team all-State honoree, and finished the season with a superb 81 tackles and nearly double-digits in sacks.

Bozeman (MT) – Bozeman High School anta Monica (CA)

Teondray Caldwell – Freshman – 5-foot-9, 196-pound Athlete

- Nevada landed something special in Roderick, a Montana native who posted one of the greatest seasons in Montana high school football history in 2010. He passed for 2,457 yards (140-of-229) and 28 touchdowns and rushed for another 1,913 yards and 23 scores. He was simply a man amongst boys. Roderick also booted 63 extra points, pushing his Bozeman program to a perfect 13-0 season after a 28-7 victory in the championship game over Helena High. For his efforts, Roderick has earned numerous honors, including the Gatorade High School Player of the Year in Montana. The state championship was Bozeman’s first in 93 years.

Venice (CA) – Venice High School

Ty Thompson – Junior – 6-foot-2, 203-pound Defensive Back

- Caldwell is a dynamite athlete that gives Nevada a tremendous and explosive weapon, especially on special teams during the first part of his career. Caldwell, who played at Venice high school with Jon McNeal (another Wolf Pack signee) is an extremely versatile prospect who played numerous positions at the prep level. He began his junior year as a wide receiver, yet moved to running back mid way through the season. In one of his first games as the Gondos starting tailback, he scored 7 touchdowns. He’s projected as a running back at Nevada, but could also develop as a slot receiver.

Shafter (CA) – Shafter High School via Bakersfield College

Tyler Houk – Sophomore – 6-foot-4, 251-pound Defensive Lineman

- Remember this recruit. Reminding Wolf Pack coaches of current starting defensive tackle Zack Madonick, Hanson is one of the best kids you’ll ever meet off the field. He’s a Wolf Pack fan through and through, and you’d be hard pressed to meet a young man who loves Nevada football more than him. Hanson played on both sides of the ball during his prep career at prestigious Loyola high school, but he has always preferred defense. That’s where he’ll start his Wolf Pack career.

Exeter (CA) – Exeter Rancho High School via College of Sequoias