Coates was sold on coaching staff
Another Encino (Calif.) Crespi standout is off the board.
Outside linebacker Reggie Coates decided to commit to Nevada after visiting this past weekend and coming home to discuss his decision with his family. Colorado State, Iowa State, Tulsa and others were involved but Nevada - and its coaching staff - stood out the most.
Advertisement
In recent weeks, defensive end Ronald Ussery and defensive back Charles Washington have committed to Fresno State. Four-star wide receiver Devin Lucien is still considering many options.
"After my visit I wanted to come back and talk to my family and get their input but overall the visit was fantastic," said Coates, who had 50 tackles including 11 sacks in his junior season. "I love the coaches, I love the players up there and I can see myself in that program."
Nevada upset Boise State this season which was a big boost for the program but what stood out most to Coates, a 6-foot, 229-pound prospect, was the coaching staff.
He connected with coachChris Ault, wide receivers coach Scott Baumgartner, who's also Coates' recruiting coach, and many other staff members. That's what mainly sold Coates on his commitment - that he got along with the coaching staff and felt like he'd be respected if he played there.
"The biggest thing for me was the coaching staff," Coates said. "I know overall they beat Boise State which was fantastic but the coaching staff was No. 1.
"I was up there last year and it wasn't just for show, I saw the whole thing and how the coaches are. They treat their players with great respect and they don't treat them like a number up there. That made my visit and that's why I committed.
"Even my recruiting coach who is the wide receivers coach, I connected with him. The running backs coach, the head coach, I connected with all of them and that was the great thing about it."