Jim Krajewski and Duke Ritenhouse

Reno Gazette-Journal

The Nevada football program signed a large class of 21 players Wednesday, getting all of their expected signees and even adding a couple of late surprises.

The 21 newcomers — 17 signees, plus four grayshirts from the 2018 recruiting period — were formally announced at an afternoon news conference on campus. Wednesday was the first day of the NCAA’s early signing period for football.

The Wolf Pack’s class of 2019 is heavy on linemen and defensive backs. Here’s how it breaks down by position:

Defensive back (6): Avery Carrington, Kieran Clark, Jayce Godley, Cam Stephens, Patrick Willis, Kacee Williams

Offensive line (4): Blake Baughman, Trey Price, Cole Watts, Zac Welsh

Defensive line (4): Logan Arnold, Javasia Brunson, Breylon Garcia, Tristan Nichols

Linebacker (2): JaVanz Dornners, Jalen Williams

Receiver (2): Justin Lockhart, Melquan Stovall

Tight end (2): Henry Ikahihifo, Ryan Smith

Quarterback (1): Austin Kirksey

Nevada head coach Jay Norvell, finishing his second season with the program, said Wednesday that this signing period was different from his previous efforts.

“We wanted to find guys to continue the foundation we’ve set, and we fell like we’ve set a really good foundation,” Norvell said. “I went out to specifically make sure that we had difference-makers in this class. To us, a difference-maker is a kid with all-conference talent and high, high character.

“Those were the two qualities that we really leaned on when identifying these players. This class is different than our first two classes … we really want to build our program on great high school kids that are good students; that are outstanding athletes.”

Eleven of the Wolf Pack’s newcomers are from California. Surprisingly, the next-biggest group is from Texas, which supplied four players (Brunson, Garcia, Godley, Kacee Williams). Three of the recruits are from Arizona (Carrington, Clark, Jalen Williams), Nichols is from Hawaii, and Watts is from Utah. The lone quarterback, Kirksey, is from Georgia.

Smith, Nichols, Watts and Willis were all grayshirts from Nevada’s 2018 recruiting class.

Price, from American River (Calif.), is the lone junior college transfer of the group.

Nevada landed two sets of teammates. Early commits Lockhart and Stovall both played receiver for Serra (Gardena, Calif.), and late signees Brunson and Garcia were teammates at Lufkin (Texas). They were listed as uncommitted on most recruiting sites as late as Tuesday evening.

Norvell raved about Brunson (6-3, 240) and Garcia, (6-3, 235) from east Texas.

He said both could play on offense also, but he needs them on defense.

He said linebacker Jalen Williams (6-3, 195) was recruited as a receiver by Notre Dame and Arizona State.

Norvell said three recruits are on high school state champion teams: Clark, Carrington, and Dornners.

Norvell said building the offensive line is a priority, not just getting size there, but athleticism also.

Price (6-5, 285) is the lone junior college athlete to sign. He will play tackle.

Norvell also raved about tight end Henry Ikahihifo (6-2, 255) from Lancaster, Calif. who is also an eagle scout.

"Really a super versatile, physical player. The kind of guy that can do dirty work. The kind of guy that's athletic enough to get open as a pass receiver," Norvell said. "The kind of guy you win a lot of football games with."

Norvell said he many players like Ikahihifo when he was at Oklahoma -- versatile and athletic.

Norvell said Kirksey is a smart, accurate quarterback who will join the Pack in January.

He expects there to be a quarterback battle once Kirksey gets to Northern Nevada.

"We put a high priority on intelligence and accuracy at quarterback," Norvell said.

Norvel said recruiting started with about 500 potential athletes.

"It's easy to find athletes. It's hard to find special athletes that have great character." Norvell said. "This was probably the lowest drama signing class I've ever had."

He said most of the incoming recruits should be able to play right away.

Norvell said there should be more Wolf Pack signings in February.

He said the Pack coaches are scouring Nevada for players and brought in several for trips.

He said that although there are not any Nevada high school athletes in the Pack's recruiting class, the players he signed are players who to be here.

"We got kids that want to come to Nevada," Norvell said. "We want to recruit kids that want to come to Nevada. That's as simple as I can say it. That's what Nevada should want. There weren't that many kids locally to recruit. We recruited Cade (McNamara), and we've got a good relationship with Cade and we've got a good relationship with Peyton (Dixon)."