Former Los Altos coach Ziola sounds off about Tyler Nevens’ lack of big-time offers

Although most minds are made up and decisions already announced, there’s still a couple place in the area where mystery still exists entering Signing Day on Wednesday.

Los Altos High School is one of them. Conquerors running back Tyler Nevens has narrowed his top-two choices to Portland St. and San Jose St., and is hoping for a late offer from Boise St. Whether that comes or not, Nevens is expected to sign on the dotted line with somebody on Wednesday.

“Like every kid, he would like to get a big-time offer, so if something comes in here late, that might change his mind,” departed Los Altos football coach Dale Ziola said. “He’s really enjoyed the recruiting process with Portland St. and San Jose St. and those guys have done a really good job with him.

“He’s had some conversations with Boise St. over the weekend, but they haven’t offered him. They have one scholarship left and they’re trying to decide whether to use it for offense or defense.”

Ziola, like many others in the area, is perplexed by how Nevens doesn’t have more offers from big-name schools. Nevens’ other offers included UC Davis, Montana, Montana St., Idaho, Northern Arizona and University of San Diego. Grades are not an issue, nor are test scores.

“What it is that these guys are looking for, God only knows because I’m just a dumb-ass high school football coach,” Ziola said. “It doesn’t make sense to me how Stephen Carr can be a national recruit. And Zion Echols can be a national recruit. But Tyler Nevens can only get offers from the Big Sky and San Jose St.

“How that happens? The heck if I know. He certainly did on the field the same things those guys have done whereas the biggest kicker is that Zion Echols and Stephen Carr were surrounded four or five other D-1 guys and they got to run against five and six-man boxes.”

Echols played for Charter Oak last season and is now at Cal. Carr played at Summitt and is deciding between UCLA, USC and Oregon to name a few.

There’s also some drama at Muir where top defensive back Elijah Blades appears headed to Nebraska, but has denied such reports despite a school official speaking to the contrary. Blades was a Florida commit for a long while then last week opened things back up and said his top five are Florida, USC, Oregon, Georgia and Nebraska. His official choice will be made known on Wednesday.

Also at Muir, wide receiver/defensive back Ahmir Davis is expected to ink with Dixie St. Davis had previously given commits to San Jose St. and more recently New Mexico.

St. Francis receiver/defensive back Daniel Scott, a Pasadena native, appeared headed to Fresno St., but over the weekend Scott announced that he will sign with Cal. Scott will be joined at the signing table Wednesday by linebacker Maxx Jakeway, who is headed to Union College in New York.

Charter Oak receiver/defensive back hasn’t really wavered in his verbal commit to Arizona and is expected to make it official with the Wildcats on Wednesday. Casteel, a versatile player, is expected to be a receiver at Arizona.

Going down elsewhere in Covina on Wednesday will be Northview receiver/defensive back Antwaun Ayers likely signing with San Jose St., who he recently gave a verbal commit to.

The recruit factory that is La Mirada should send off another bumper crop to the next level. The headliner is defensive back Elijah Hicks, who is already enrolled at Cal. Quarterback Tristan Meyer is expected to sign with Sacramento St. while linebacker Chase Newman looks headed to Colorado.

Matadores defensive end Sire Woods is likely off to Penn while receiver Jeremy Clark saw some late steam pick up and appears headed to UNLV. Defensive lineman Trevor Hallock is on his way to Army.

Maranatha standout Terrance Lang has a standing verbal commit to USC, but the defensive end took a trip to Colorado last weekend, so stay tuned.

La Salle defensive end Myles Cecil announced over the weekend he has picked Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Now the question is whether his Lancers teammate running back Amon Milliner will sign anywhere on Wednesday.

Drake Beasley never actually played a down for a local team after his transfer to La Canada from Loyola cost him his senior year eligibility. Nonetheless, the talented running back will sign with Boise St.

Pasadena resident Jamire Calvin, who left Muir after his sophomore season for Cathedral, announced last week he will sign with Nebraska. Elijah Gates, also from Pasadena, but played at Buena Park, will sign with UCLA.