25 Nevada high school football players to watch in 2025, included Thaddeus Thatcher

The new high school football season begins Friday. A handful of teams will be in action this week, but the following week features a full slate of games.

Even with a light schedule, several of Southern Nevada’s top players will be in action.

There is a huge amount of talent spread across all the teams in the valley.

Here are 25 high school football players to watch this season (listed in alphabetical order):

Kieran Daniel, Losee

■ Position: Running back

■ Class: Senior

■ Measurables: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds

■ Bio: Daniel, one of the top running backs in Las Vegas, is coming off back-to-back seasons with at least 1,000 rushing yards. He averaged 173.4 all-purpose yards per game last year while also playing safety.

Gavin Day, Faith Lutheran

■ Position: Safety

■ Class: Senior

■ Measurables: 6-foot-3, 190 pounds

■ College: Committed to Washington

■ Bio: Day is a four-star recruit and is ranked as Nevada’s second-best prospect in the class of 2026 by 247Sports. He chose Washington over Iowa, USC and Utah. He was a first-team All-Southern Nevada selection last season after making 110 tackles.

Maika Eugenio, Bishop Gorman

■ Position: Quarterback

■ Class: Senior

Measureables: 6 foot, 180 pounds

■ College: Committed to Hawaii

■ Bio: Eugenio threw for 2,043 yards and 31 touchdowns last season to lead the Gaels to the 5A Division I state title. He was also a first-team All-Southern Nevada selection. The Hawaii commit’s other notable Division I offers included Arizona State and UNLV.

Zac Fares, Arbor View

■ Position: Tight end

■ Class: Junior

■ Measurables: 6-foot-5, 220 pounds

■ College: Four-star recruit with more than 35 offers

■ Bio: Fares is ranked as Nevada’s third-best prospect in the class of 2027 by 247Sports. He broke out last season with 35 catches for 614 yards and three touchdowns to help Arbor View reach the 5A Division I state title game. His notable Division I offers include Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and Texas.

Terrance Grant Jr., Bishop Gorman

■ Position: Running back

■ Class: Junior

■ Measurables: 6 foot, 200 pounds

■ College: Three-star recruit with more than 20 offers

■ Bio: Grant, the state’s fourth-ranked recruit in the class of 2027, will be Gorman’s main running back this season. He rushed for 472 yards and four touchdowns last year on 53 carries. His notable Division I offers include Georgia, Miami (Florida), Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State and Texas A&M.

Dominic Harris, Clark

■ Position: Offensive line

■ Class: Senior

■ Measurables: 6-foot-8, 335 pounds

■ College: Committed to Washington

■ Bio: Harris, a three-star recruit and Nevada’s No. 5 prospect in the class of 2026, held more than 30 Division I offers when he committed to Washington. He also had interest from Arizona, Auburn, LSU and Oregon.

Matthew Mason, Faith Lutheran

■ Position: Safety

■ Class: Senior

■ Measurables: 6-foot-3, 190 pounds

■ College: Committed to BYU

■ Bio: Mason made 102 tackles last season and helped the Crusaders reach the 5A Division II state title game for the second straight year. He had 23 Division I offers when he committed to BYU, including ones from Boise State, Northwestern, Oregon, San Diego State, UNLV and Washington State.

Massiah Mingo, Bishop Gorman

■ Position: Wide receiver

■ Class: Senior

■ Measurables: 5-foot-10, 160 pounds

■ College: Committed to New Mexico

■ Bio: Mingo starred at Desert Pines his freshman and sophomore seasons, totaling 1,369 all-purpose yards over two years. He transferred to Sierra Canyon (California) last year and put up 614 receiving yards and four touchdowns. The New Mexico commit is now at Gorman. His other notable Division I offers included Arizona, Colorado and Washington.

Isaiah Nickels, Bishop Gorman

■ Position: Cornerback

■ Class: Senior

■ Measurables: 5-foot-10, 155 pounds

■ College: Committed to Hawaii

■ Bio: Nickels, a three-star recruit, was a first-team All-Southern Nevada selection last season after making 21 tackles, recording two interceptions and catching two touchdowns. The Hawaii commit also had Division I offers from Boise State and Utah State.

Andres Pollard, Clark

■ Position: Wide receiver/defensive back

■ Class: Senior

■ Measurables: 6 foot, 175 pounds

■ College: Committed to Washington

■ Bio: Pollard had 1,847 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns last year to help Clark reach the 5A Division III Southern League semifinals. He also won three 4A state track titles in the 100, 200 and 400 meters. The Washington commit’s other notable Division I offers included Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, BYU, Minnesota and Stanford.

Phoenix Pollard, Coronado

■ Position: Offensive line

■ Class: Junior

■ Measurables: 6-foot-6, 348 pounds

■ College: Three-star recruit with multiple offers

■ Bio: Pollard had a breakout season at Foothill last year and will now lead Coronado’s offensive line. His notable Division I offers include Cal, UNLV and Utah.

Major Pride, Canyon Springs

■ Position: Wide receiver

■ Class: Senior

■ Measurables: 6-foot-3, 180 pounds

■ College: Committed to San Diego State

■ Bio: Pride shined as a junior with 572 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He also had 15 tackles and two interceptions on defense. The three-star recruit and San Diego State commit’s other Division I offers included Boise State, Colorado State, UNLV and Utah State.

Ezra Sanelivi, Liberty

■ Position: Running back

■ Class: Junior

Measureables: 5-foot-11, 190 pounds

■ College: Three-star recruit with 10 offers

■ Bio: Sanelivi was a first-team All-Southern Nevada selection last year after rushing for 861 yards and 12 touchdowns. His notable Division I offers include Arkansas, Iowa State, Michigan State, Washington and Wisconsin.

Hayden Stepp, Bishop Gorman

■ Position: Cornerback

■ Class: Junior

■ Measurables: 6-foot-4, 175 pounds

■ College: Five-star recruit with more than 30 offers

■ Bio: Stepp is the top-ranked prospect in Nevada and the 30th-ranked recruit in the country in the class of 2027, according to 247Sports. He had 20 tackles and an interception last year. His notable Division I offers include Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Oregon.

Michael Taylor, Desert Pines

■ Position: Tight end/defensive end

■ Class: Sophomore

■ Measurables: 6-foot-3, 225 pounds

■ College: Has seven Division I offers

■ Bio: Taylor earned a UNLV offer before appearing in his first high school game. He played on both offense and defense for the Jaguars last season. His other Division I offers include Arizona State, Oregon and Washington.

Thaddeus Thatcher, Arbor View

■ Position: Quarterback

■ Class: Junior

■ Measurables: 6-foot-2, 178 pounds

■ College: Committed to Utah

■ Bio: Thatcher threw for 3,271 yards and 34 touchdowns last season to help the Aggies reach the 5A Division I state title game. He was also a first-team All-Southern Nevada selection. He is a three-star recruit and Nevada’s fourth-ranked prospect in the class of 2027 by 247Sports. The Utah commit’s other notable offers included Colorado, Purdue, UNLV and Washington State.

Jayden Thomas, Centennial

■ Position: Wide receiver

■ Class: Junior

■ Measurables: 6 foot, 160 pounds

■ College: Three-star recruit with multiple Division I offers

■ Bio: Thomas played a key role in Centennial’s 4A state title in 2023 and 5A Division III state title last year. He was the Bulldogs’ leading receiver last season with 814 yards and nine touchdowns. His notable Division I offers include Colorado State, UNR and UTEP.

Simote Tupou, Sloan Canyon

■ Position: Defensive lineman

■ Class: Sophomore

■ Measurables: 6-foot-1, 235 pounds

■ College: Committed to Arizona

■ Bio: Tupou had 16 sacks and 64 tackles as a freshman last year and was a second-team All-Southern Nevada selection. His notable Division I offers include Cal, Colorado State, SMU and UNLV.

Tanner Vibabul, Las Vegas

■ Position: Quarterback

■ Class: Senior

■ Measurables: 6-foot-1, 175 pounds

■ College: Three-star recruit with multiple offers

■ Bio: Vibabul was a second-team All-Southern Nevada selection last year after throwing for 1,827 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,295 yards and 11 scores. His notable Division I offers include Army, Air Force, Arkansas State and Temple.

Damani Warren, Arbor View

■ Position: Wide receiver

■ Class: Junior

■ Measurables: 6-foot-4, 210 pounds

■ College: Four-star recruit with more than 35 offers

■ Bio: Warren is one of the fastest-rising recruits in the state. He had 584 receiving yards and five touchdowns in nine games last season to help Arbor View reach the 5A Division I state title game. He was also a first-team All-Southern Nevada selection. His notable Division I offers include Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon and USC.

Jett Washington, Bishop Gorman

■ Position: Safety

■ Class: Senior

■ Measurables: 6-foot-5, 210 pounds

■ College: Committed to Oregon

■ Bio: Washington is a five-star recruit and Nevada’s top-ranked prospect in the class of 2026, according to 247Sports. He’s also considered the 18th-best recruit in the country. Washington, the nephew of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, was a first-team All-Southern Nevada selection last year after recording 38 tackles and five interceptions. He chose Oregon over Alabama and USC.

Kaina Watson, Bishop Gorman

■ Position: Wide receiver

■ Class: Senior

■ Measurables: 6-foot-2, 175 pounds

■ College: Three-star recruit

■ Bio: Watson had 26 catches for 467 yards and three touchdowns with the Gaels last season. He has a Division I offer from Hawaii.

Evan Williams, Green Valley

■ Position: Wide receiver

■ Class: Senior

■ Measurables: 6-foot-1, 200 pounds

■ College: Three-star recruit with multiple offers

■ Bio: Williams had 27 catches for 385 yards last season and could be poised for a big year with the Gators. His notable Division I offers include Cal, Fresno State, Oregon State, UNLV and San Diego State.

Jayden Williams, Arbor View

■ Position: Wide receiver

■ Class: Senior

■ Measurables: 5-foot-9, 165 pounds

■ College: Committed to Sacramento State

■ Bio: Williams had 55 catches for 835 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. He chose Sacramento State over Division I programs such as UNLV and Washington State.

Prince Williams, Bishop Gorman

■ Position: Defensive lineman

■ Class: Senior

■ Measurables: 6-foot-3, 255 pounds

■ College: Committed to Arizona

■ Bio: Williams is one of the best defensive players in the state. He had 74 tackles and 11 sacks last season and was named the 5A Division I defensive MVP. The Arizona commit’s other notable Division I offers included BYU, Florida, Miami (Florida), Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin.

Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.