RENO, Nev. - Nevada Football head coach Jeff Choate announced 17 additions to the program on Wednesday's opening day of the signing period.

The Wolf Pack's signees hail from six different states, with a strong local flair as five starred for Reno-Sparks-area schools. Three additional prep signings come from the Sacramento area and the two junior college signees come from nearby Butte and Plumas counties, as the Pack solidified its presence along the Sacramento-to-Reno I-80 corridor and across the border to the north.

"This class is characterized by the fact they they're all winners. Whether its the two junior college guys we signed or the fifteen high school players--including from Northern Nevada and from just over the hill in the Sacramento area and the Bay Area--many of them have won CIF titles, state and conference championships, so it's a really strong group.

It's a group that can stack on top of the one that we signed last year and provide depth to our roster. A handful of these guys are going to be expected to come in and contribute right away, especially (junior college signees) Benjamin Wheeler at tight end and Janerious Jackson at running back. It's a very high-character group with high academics and I think they'll fit our culture very well here," Choate said.

From the Reno area, three of the Wolf Pack signees come from Bishop Manogue in 5A-North All-Region selections defensive back Joey Thomas III, offensive lineman Max Zuro, and kicker/punter Kyle Nelson, while Reed High's all-time rushing leader and scorer Bronwyn Rios stays home with the Pack as does Damonte Ranch's two-time 5A-North All-Region wide receiver Amari Nash.

Additionally, linebacker Jaxon Cannida not only brings a decorated prep resume from Frisco Emerson High School in McKinney, Texas but also a strong Wolf Pack lineage as the son of Nevada Athletics Hall of Famers James Cannida (Football, Class of 2008) and Ieesha Donadelle Cannida (Women's Basketball, Class of 2015). James started all but four games and missed only one contest in his four-year Wolf Pack career (1994-97), and twice earned All-Big West honors before going on to a five-year NFL career (1998-2002), while Ieesha scored 1,095 points with 594 rebounds and a 51.4 field-goal percentage over her career while being named All-Big West in 1998.

2025-26 Nevada Football Signee Bios

Quarterback

Reeve Slone
Rocklin, Calif. • Rocklin HS

Three-star recruit as ranked by 247Sports … Three-year varsity starter at Rocklin High under head coach Jason Adams … Led Rocklin to two CIF San Joaquin Section Division II title games (2023-24), capturing the championship in 2023, and to a semifinal appearance in 2025 … Over his varsity career, threw for 6,468 yards and 63 touchdowns while completing 60.2 percent of his passes … Also ran for 766 yards and 13 touchdowns … Threw for at least 20 touchdowns in each of his three varsity seasons … As a sophomore, threw for 2,454 yards and 22 touchdowns while scoring seven times on the ground … Reached the Division II semifinals in 2025 … Older brother Cian played 2025 season at NC State after two years at Utah State (2023-24) … Parents are Tim and Susan.

Running Back

Janerious Jackson
Atlanta, Ga. • Feather River College • Pebblebrook HS

Named 2025 Pacific-7 Offensive Most Valuable Player and a two-time all-conference selection for Feather River College from 2024-25 … Ran for 2,484 yards and 27 touchdowns at a clip of 7.2 yards per carry over his Golden Eagles career … Helped lead Feather River to a 10-1 record, Pacific-7 title, and NCFC American Division Championship Bowl victory in 2025, a nine-win turnaround for the Golden Eagles … Was named Bowl Championship MVP after rushing for 187 yards and two scores in the 42-21 win over De Anza … In 2025, ran for 1,368 yards on the ground with 22 touchdowns, and at least 100 yards in eight of 10 games, with a season-high 223 yards and four touchdowns at Los Medanos … his debut season (2024) he rushed for 1,116 yards and five touchdowns … Was a three-star recruit by 247Sports out of Pebble Brook High School … Mother is Theresa Judon.

Bronwyn Rios
Sparks, Nev. • Reed HS

Three-star recruit as ranked by 247Sports … Played four years of varsity ball at Reed High School for head coach Garrett Hughes … Finished his career as Reed's all-time leader in points scored, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns … Final numbers of his career were 4,085 rushing yards and 54 rushing touchdowns, with seven receiving touchdowns on 58 receptions for 648 yards … Voted Nevada Sports Net's 2024-25 Boys High School Athlete of the Year … Three-time selection to Nevada 5A-North All-Region First Team at running back (2023-25), and was an all-region pick at defensive back in 2022 … Finished his senior season with 1,168 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns … Helped lead Reed to regional title game in 2024, rushing for 1,390 yards and 20 touchdowns while also hauling in three scoring grabs … Ran for 17 touchdowns and 1,389 yards as a sophomore in 2023 … Parents are Rudy and Nakia.

Wide Receiver

Amari Nash
Reno, Nev. • Damonte Ranch HS

Ranked a three-star recruit by 247Sports … Played varsity ball at Damonte Ranch for head coach JJ Milan, wrapping his career with 112 receptions for 1,628 yards and 16 touchdowns … Two-time selection to 5A-North All-Region Team at wide receiver, earning first-team honors in 2024 and Second Team in 2025 … Also named to All-5A North First Team at defensive back as a junior (2024) … Finished 2025 with 30 catches for 511 yards and four touchdowns despite missing time early due to injury … Made 41 catches for 643 yards and 10 touchdowns and intercepted three passes from his secondary spot in 2024 as Damonte Ranch reached the Northern 5A-Division III regional title game … Mother is LaCina Nash.

Isaiah Williams
Folsom, Calif. • Folsom HS

A three-star recruit as ranked by 247Sports … Played his varsity ball at Folsom High School for head coach Paul Doherty … Helped lead Folsom to CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I titles from 2022-25 … In his senior championship season, finished with 38 catches for 504 yards and five touchdowns … Caught 29 passes for 377 yards and three touchdowns as a junior in 2024 … Parents are Xavier and Alicia Williams.

Tight End

Benjamin Wheeler
Susanville, Calif. • Butte College • Lassen HS

Played two seasons (2024-25) at Butte College for head coach Robby Snelling … Caught 12 passes for 158 yards and five touchdowns over his career … Helped Butte go 8-3 in 2025 and reach the quarterfinals of the Northern California Regional Playoffs … As a sophomore, hauled in five scoring tosses and averaged 12.3 yards per catch … On the run-blocking end, played key role in Butte rushing for 166.2 yards per game and a total of 1,829 yards with 19 touchdowns in 2025 … As a prep at Lassen High School, was named to the All-State First Team and All-Northern Section First Team at linebacker … Also named Northern Athletic League Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, making 163 tackles … Mother is Anna Townsend.

Offensive Line

Colton Hogge
Lincoln, Calif. • Twelve Bridges HS

Three-star recruit as ranked by 247Sports … Played both sides of the line at Twelve Bridges High School for head coach Chris Bean … Earned spot on CIF All-Sac-Joaquin Section First Team … Also named to All-Foothill Valley First Team as an offensive lineman and to the Sacramento Bee's All-Metro Team in 2024 … Helped lead Twelve Bridges to four playoff appearances and three league titles, along with section and NorCal titles in 2024 and a section title game appearance in 2023 … In 2025 helped pave the way for the team to rush for 3,664 yards … Had 66 pancake blocks on the offensive line, and on defense made 47 tackles including 3.5 sacks and 13 tackles-for-loss … As a junior, did not allow a sack, while on defense he made 18 tackles including a sack and 2.0 tackles-for-loss while team captured Foothill Valley title with a 6-0 mark … Parents are Chris and Ashley Hogge.

Terrence Johnson
San Jose, Calif. • Valley Christian HS

Rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports … Played at Valley Christian High School for head coach Mike Machado … Named to All-WCAL First Team as a senior in 2025 … Helped lead the Warriors to a CCS Open Division playoff berth in 2024 … Named All-WCAL Honorable Mention as a junior … Also reached the CCS quarterfinals in 2023 … Parents are Jessica Lasek and Terry Johnson.

Max Zuro
Washoe Valley, Nev. • Bishop Manogue HS

Has played four seasons of varsity for Bishop Manogue High School and head coach Ernie Howren … Helped lead the Miners to back-to-back 5A-Division II state titles in 2023 and 2024, and to the 5A-North title game in 2025 … Named to 5A-North All-Region First Team at offensive line as a senior in 2025 … Had his junior season (2024) limited due to injury … Parents are Holly and Andy Zuro.

Defensive Line

Sam Davidson IV
Seattle, Wash. • Seattle Prep

Three-star recruit as rated by 247Sports … Played at Seattle Prep for head coach Aaron Maul … Named to All-Metro Team at defensive end as a senior … Made 38 tackles in 2025, among that total were 10 sacks and 23 tackles-for-loss … Intercepted a pass, forced two fumbles and recovered two more fumbles … Was recognized on Prep RedZone Washington's 2025 Midseason All-State defense … Limited to three games in 2024 due to injury … Also plays basketball at Seattle Prep … Parents are Megan and Sam Davidson.

Jeremiah Nonu
Renton, Wash. • O'Dea HS

Three-star rated recruit by 247Sports … Plays on both sides of the line at O'Dea High School for head coach Monte Kohler … Took home All-Metro Lineman of the Year as a senior in addition to being named to the All-Metro First Team on both offense and defense … Named to Metro League Mountain Division First Team in 2024, as he helped lead O'Dea to 3A state title … Recorded 3.0 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 sacks among his 16 tackles with a fumble recovery that season … Mother is Diana Amone.

EDGE

Tanner Gray
Wellington, Colo. • Wellington HS

Three-star recruit as ranked by 247Sports … Played defensive end and quarterback at Wellington High School for head coach Travis Peeples … Helped lead Wellington to 13-0 record and 2A state title as a senior … Earned Most Outstanding Player in the state title game … Named a 2025 preseason Impact Player by Denver Post … Earned All-State Honorable Mention and spot on All-Area First Team in 2023 … Over his varsity career, passed for 2,315 yards and 33 touchdowns while rushing for 3,123 yards and 53 touchdowns, and on defense made 170 tackles with 15 sacks and 48 tackles-for-loss … Also wrestled at Wellington, twice qualifying for the state tournament … Parents are Mary and Aaron Gray.

Matt Perez
Port Hueneme, Calif. • St. Bonaventure HS

Rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports … Played defensive end at St. Bonaventure High School for head coach Troy Hill … Over his St. Bonaventure varsity career he has made 207 tackles, 34.5 sacks, 70.5 tackles-for-loss, and blocked 10 kicks … Named the Ventura Country Defensive Player of the Year and All-CIF Southern Section Division 4 First Team as a junior, making 90 tackles with 10 sacks and 26 tackles-for-loss, also intercepting a pass and forcing three fumbles … Parents are Veronica and Mike Perez.

Linebacker

Jaxon Cannida
McKinney, Texas • Frisco Emerson HS

Son of a pair Nevada Athletics Hall of Famers James Cannida (Football, 2008) and Ieesha Donadelle Cannida (Women's Basketball, 2015) … Played linebacker at Emerson High School for head coach Billy Ellis … Finished his varsity career with 119 tackles including 8.5 sacks … Named Dallas News Defensive Player of the Week after a 14-tackle performance with four sacks and an interception against Frisco Liberty in 2025 … Made 79 tackles, including 6.5 sacks and 11 tackles-for-loss with an interception as a senior … Earned first-team all-district honors in 2024, making 77 tackles with 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles … Recorded 42 tackles with two sacks as a sophomore, being named to District 3-5A Division II Second Team … His dad, James, played five seasons in the NFL (1998-2002) appearing in 50 games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1998-2001) and Indianapolis Colts (2002).

CJ Mooring
Houston, Texas • Conroe HS

Three-star ranked recruit by 247Sports … Played linebacker at Conroe High School for head coach Cedric Hardeman in 2025 … Selected to the final ballot for the 2025 Whataburger Super Team … Prior to 2025, played at Vandegrift High School where he made 181 tackles with four sacks and 14.0 tackles-for-loss from 2023-24 … Helped lead Vandegrift to 6A-DII state title and conference title in 2024, making 77 tackles including six TFLs while intercepting four passes and recovering a fumble … In his first varsity season, racked up 104 tackles with four sacks and 8.0 TFLs … Parents are Quanza and Isaac Mooring II.

Defensive Back

Joey Thomas III
Seattle, Wash. • Bishop Manogue HS (Nev.)

Ranked a three-star recruit by 247Sports and the No. 8 recruit in Nevada … Played past two seasons (2024-25) at Bishop Manogue for head coach Ernie Howren … Earned two 5A-North All-Region selections as a senior, being named to the Second Team in the "Athlete" category and Honorable Mention at defensive back … Helped lead the Miners to Nevada 5A state title in 2024 … Also twice named to 5A-North All-Region Second Teams as a junior, earning defensive back honor after posting six takeaways (four interceptions, two fumble recoveries) and 34 tackles, and as return specialist … Also played receiver for Bishop Manogue, catching 12 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns over his two seasons … Runs track for the Miners … Son of current Nevada Passing Game Coordinator/Secondary coach Joey Thomas and Nicole Thomas.

Kicker/Punter

Kyle Nelson
Reno, Nev. • Bishop Manogue HS

A 4.5-star recruit as ranked by Chris Sailer Kicking … Handles kicking and punting duties for Bishop Manogue under head coach Ernie Howren … Voted to 5A-North All-Region First Team as a senior in 2025 … Named 5A-North All-Region Honorable Mention in 2024 … As a senior, went 8-for-10 on field-goal attempts with a long of 48 and 44-for-44 on PATs … Had 16 of 21 kickoffs go for touchbacks and averaged 44 yards over 11 punts … Parents are Traci and Chad Nelson.