Nevada announces eight signees following early signing period

RENO, Nev. (Nevada Athletics) — Nevada Football announced seven signers Wednesday at the start of the February signing period, bringing the 2023 class to 25. Nev./California/McQueen HS), defensive end Henry Ikahihifo (Lancaster, Calif./California/College of the Canyons/Nevada/Paraclete HS), tight end Keleki Latu (Sacramento, Calif./California/Jesuit HS), defensive tackle Mackavelli Malotumau (Oceanside, Calif. / Utah Tech / El Camino HS), Defenseman Tory Mulkey (Ozark, Ala. / East Central CC / Carroll HS), Tight End Jayden O’Rourke (Tweed Heads, Australia / Gold Coast Stingrays / Lindisfarne Grammar School) and defense attorney Tre Weed (Sumner, Washington/Eastern Washington/Sumner HS).

The Wolf Pack announced 17 signers on Dec. 21, the start of the early signing period, and added Colorado transfer quarterback Brendon Lewis on New Year’s Day.

Wednesday’s group of signers includes six transfers and one international signer. Three of the transfers are from the FBS level, two are from the FCS level, and one is from the junior college ranks.

Ikahihifo returns to Nevada after previously spending the 2019-20 campaigns in Reno. Ikahihifo, who appeared in 20 games for the Wolf Pack and had seven catches for 47 yards, is returning as a defensive end after switching to the other side of the line at College of the Canyons in 2021 and spending the 2022 season in California.

Hayes is another transfer from California returning to Reno. Hayes was a two-time All-Nevada and Northern Nevada Player of the Year while at McQueen High and before that at Damonte Ranch High. He received the honors at both McQueen as a senior in 2021 and Damonte Ranch as a sophomore in 2019, combining the programs to a 37-6 record, three conference titles and a regional crown, in addition to reaching the state finals and the Finales in northern Nevada on two occasions.

Latu also joins California’s Wolf Pack, where he has caught 22 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns over the past two seasons.

Malotumau spent his freshman season at Utah Tech last year, playing in 10 games and recording 2.0 sacks and 3.0 tackles-for-loss.

Mulkey, a transfer from East Central CC, has fired three passes and made 87 tackles in the past two seasons

Weed, an East Washington defenseman, was an All-Big Sky pick and had six interceptions in his five seasons with the Eagles (2018-22).

O’Rourke joins Reno from New South Wales, Australia, where he played for the Gold Coast Stingrays, a Queensland-based American football club.

Overall, Nevada’s 25 signers are almost evenly distributed on both sides of the line, with 13 on offense and 12 on defense. The pack’s offensive signers are two quarterbacks (Lewis, Jax Leatherwood), four running backs (Hayes, Amine Amone, Sean Dollars, Conner Noah), two wide receivers (Brown, Nate Burleson II), two tight ends (Latu, O’Rourke) and three offensive linemen (John Bolles, RJ Esmon, Josiah Timoteo). On defense, the pack welcomes two defensive tackles (Malotumau, Sosefo Moeaki), a defensive end (Ikahihifo), a RUSH (D’Angelo Davis), two linebackers (LaDuke, Hezekiah Anahu-Ambrosio), and six defensive backs (Mulkey, Weed , Michael Coats Jr., Jonah Lewis, Journey McKoy, Bishop Turner).

For a full list, including bios and highlights, visit Nevada’s 2023 Signing Day Central page.

2023 Nevada Signing Class (until February 1st)

Player Pos. Ht Wt Hometown (Previous School)

Amine Amone RB 5-10 210 South Salt Lake City, Utah (East HS)

Hezekiah Anahu-Ambrosio LB 6-0 215 Kailua-Kona, Hawaii (Konawaena HS)

John Bolles OL 6-5 275 Daly City, California (College of San Mateo / Jefferson HS)

Marshaun Brown WR 6-4 195 Reno, Nev. (Bishop Manogue HS)

Nate Burleson II WR 6-3 160 Newcastle, Washington (Ramapo HS (NJ))

Michael Coats Jr. CB 5-10 170 Biloxi, Miss. (East Central CC / La Tech / Biloxi HS)

D’Angelo Davis RUSH 6-0 240 Carson, CA (St. Pius X – St. Matthias Academy)

Sean Dollars RB 5-10 195 Rancho Cucamonga, California (Oregon / Mater Dei HS)

RJ Esmon OL 6-6 280 Santa Margarita, California (Preparing for Mission College)

Ashton Hayes* RB 6-0 195 Reno, Nev. (California / McQueen HS)

Henry Ikahihifo* DE 6-3 260 Lancaster, Calif. (California / College of the Canyons / Nevada / Paraclete HS)

Jackson LaDuke LB 6-3 240 Sparks, Nev. (Oregon / Spanish Springs HS)

Keleki Latu* TE 6-7 230 Sacramento, Calif. (California / Jesuit HS)

Jax Leatherwood QB 6-8 235 San Diego, California (Scripps Ranch HS)

Brendon Lewis QB 6-2 215 Melissa, TX (Colorado / Melissa HS)

Jonah Lewis CB 5-11 180 Palmdale, California (Inglewood HS)

Mackavelli Malotumau* DT 6-1 290 Oceanside, California (Utah Tech / El Camino HS)

Journey McKoy S 5-9 170 Pittsburg, California (De La Salle HS)

Sosefo Moeaki DT 6-1 280 Portland, Oregon (De Anza College / Parkrose HS)

Tory Mulkey* DB 5-9 180 Ozark, Alabama (East Central CC / Carroll HS)

Conner Noah RB 5-10 200 Kelso, Washington (Kelso HS)

Jayden O’Rourke* TE 6-8 245 Tweed Heads, Australia (Gold Coast Stingrays / Lindisfarne Grammar School)

Josiah Timoteo OL 6-4 300 Waianae, Hawaii. (Waianae HS)

Bishop Turner S 5-11 170 Glendora, California (Charter Oak HS)

Tre Weed* DB 6-0 190 Sumner, Washington (Eastern Washington / Sumner HS)

* – Signed/announced February 1, 2023

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