MWC Recruiting Roundup 4-9-18

After some really light weeks recruiting-wise since the 2018 class wrapped up, this week was easily the biggest one thus far for 2019 in the Mountain West. This past week saw 22 documented offers handed out by 9 different teams, as well as 6 different schools hosting at least 20 players over the weekend. Expect just as many or possibly even more visitors next weekend as more spring games will be played then. This week however, New Mexico burst on the scene after being fairly quiet. They topped the MWC with 5 offers handed out this week and take mantle of lead photo for now.

Featured Recruit: OL Zac Welch

• 6’4.5”, 292lbs
• Oak Ridge HS
• MWC offers: Nevada and SJSU
• highlights

MWCConnection: As a player, what do you feel are your biggest strengths?

Welch: My strongest asset is that I can play all three positions on the offensive line. I have even started 6 games in my high school career at center. I am also a very aggressive player and I enjoy to dominating my opponents. I’m also an extremely hard working individual.

MWCConnection: On the flip side, what would you say are some areas of your game you are focusing on improving during this offseason?

Welch: Linemen can always improve their feet, flexibility, strength and technique, myself included. This summer I’m doing all of that and working a lot more on flexibility. Most of my training occurs at Linemen Win Games with Coach Osterhout at American River College and with the Minis House Of Pain training staff. I’m even incorporating yoga into my offseason training.

MWCConnection: Do you have plans to visit any schools this spring?

Welch: I was at The Fresno State Junior Day. It was an extremely organized Junior Day and we got complete overview of the Program. I was impressed with the facilities and the program overall. Coach Cain, and Coach Caine are really good guys.

San Jose State I have been to a practice and the Junior Day, I haven’t gotten a facilities tour yet but we spent the day running around the school. I really like the energy from the young coaching staff. Coach Bernardi and I text just about every day and he is a great guy and Coach.

I was at Washington State University for three days. The facilities were off the charts; everything is really new and updated. We spent a few days there to get a feel for a school far away. My overall impression can be described as: IMPRESSIVE TO SAY THE LEAST. Coach Miller was a great host and I felt as he appreciated me making the trip

Last week I finally got over to Nevada to meet Coach McClure. Overall Nevada was a great visit; the school, football facilities were very good, as with most of the MW schools they are all working on upgrades to their facilities. Coach Norvell and Coach McClure really personalized the experience for me. The common thing I’ve gotten from all my visits are that I really like all of these Line coaches; they are all very demanding and at the same time really good teachers.

As far as additional visits, we were hoping to take in Boise State during Spring Break but they were on Spring Break so, Coach Danielson will be down here at when quiet time and they wrap up spring ball.

MWCConnection: Is there a team you are hearing from the most right now or teams you think may be close to offering?

Welch: I text Coach McClure and Bernardi every day. Coach Brennan from SJSU does a check in once a week or so, as does Coach Norvell. Coach Miller a couple of times a week and Coach Danielson of Boise State once a week or so. As far as offers, there’s some stuff in the works, but at the end of the day the only offers you know about are the ones you got. The things I can control are my academics, Film, preparation for my senior season, my leadership skills and the type of person I am. I figure if I take care of those, the rest will take care of itself. Hopefully that will come earlier than later but if not, I’ll keep grinding.

Visit Recap

WR Caleb Nelson (Boise State)

“It was a great visit , and they treated me like family when I stepped on their campus. Also meeting the coaches was a blessing especially with the receiver coach, Coach Kiesau and also Coach Danielson, who hopefully I will be gaining a strong relationship with! Yes this weekend is the most I’ve talked to both coaches so far. Coach Kiesau said that he will keep in touch and Coach Danielson said he will be down for spring ball and come watch me practice. They let us watch there scrimmage and we were on the sideline during warmups, which was awesome. It was great experience to see the difference between high school and college scrimmages and how everything was controlled. So far I’ve visited San Jose State, Fresno State, and Washington and schools that have been talking to me the have been San Jose, Howard, Oregon State, Wyoming, Nevada, Northern Colorado, and Boise State.”

Commitment Spotlight

K Nino Alibegic (Hawaii, class of 2018)

“I’ve always talked to the staff and Coach Rolovich but it was more me that the process dragged out a bit. I wasn’t sure if i wanted to head back home to Hawaii or explore my options still. But the idea of living back home and playing football, nothing beats it. Coach Rolovich and coach Ghobrial are very invested in special teams and so it’s a perfect fit for me. Coach Ghobrial was recently hired and I clicked with him right away. We have the same idea on a lot of things when it comes to kicking, routine, and just all aspects of it. He’s got it down. He’s got NFL and PAC-12 experience, and he stays with the specialist the whole time which is something I really like. Coach Rolo is a cool guy, he’s a players coach and I got to see some of practice and I loved it. The plan is to come in July and just get to work. The spot is open right now and Coach Ghobrial didn’t promise anything and I’m glad he didn’t. I’ve always worked for my spot and I plan on doing that when I get there.”

Recruiting Tidbits

Offers:

• OL Layne Grantham was offered by Air Force
• CB/RB Corey Jones was offered by Colorado State and Hawaii
• WR Makia Polk was offered by Colorado State and SJSU
• S/RB Reggie Strong was offered by Fresno State
• OL Cole Thomas was offered Fresno State
• RB George Romero Robinson was offered by Fresno State
• OL Joey Capra was offered by Fresno State and Hawaii
• DB Jaxen Turner was offered by Hawaii
• WR Jacob “Asa” Turner was offered by Hawaii
• WR Melquan Stovall was offered by New Mexico
• DB Leonard Glass was offered by New Mexico
• LB Michael Jasney Jr was offered by New Mexico
• WR Jalen Johnson was offered by New Mexico
• ATH Caleb Roberson was offered by New Mexico
• DB Shamar Martin was offered by SDSU
• RB Micah Bernard was offered by SJSU
• DT Tre Williams was offered by SJSU
• OL Lokahi Pauole was offered by UNLV
• LB Michael Erhart was offered by Utah State

Visits:

• WR Matt Kaiser visited Air Force
• DE Ronald Nieto visited Boise State
• K Christopher Abbes visited Boise State
• DE Jayden Simon visited Boise State
• OL Alexander Frithiof visited Boise State
• WR Caleb Nelson visited Boise State
• DE AJ Vongphachanh visited Boise State
• LB Jesse Vasquez visited Boise State
• RB Michael Sondermann visited Boise State
• CB Dawaiian McNeely visited Boise State
• LS Koby Tryggestad visited Boise State
• RB Darrell Page visited Fresno State
• DE Felipe Izumi visited SJSU
• 2020 RB/LB Julian Gaona visited SJSU
• OL Carson Keltner visited UNLV
• TE Trey Anderson visited UNLV
• LB Braiden Manusina visited UNLV
• QB Devin Larsen visited UNLV
• Milton Rodgers visited UNLV
• TE DJ Heckard visited UNLV
• QB Griffin Paler visited UNLV
• 2020 QB Erik Barker visited Utah State