Nevada Football Coach Jeff Choate Revives NFL Draft Tradition
RENO, NV—In just his inaugural season, Nevada football coach Jeff Choate has already proven his prowess in player development, successfully ending a brief drought of NFL draft picks for the Wolf Pack. Last year, safety Kitan Crawford was selected in the seventh round by the Arizona Cardinals, while wide receiver Jaden Smith joined the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent.
Choate, who has a history of nurturing talent at various colleges, is leveraging his experience to cultivate NFL-caliber players at Nevada. This aligns with the university’s longstanding reputation as a development school, seen prominently during the successful tenures of former coach Chris Ault, who produced over 50 NFL players. However, post-Ault, Nevada faced challenges, producing only three draft picks between 2015 and 2024.
Choate’s recruitment strategy targets under-the-radar talents, and his track record includes notable NFL draft selections from his previous roles at Montana State, Texas, and other programs. As Nevada continues to navigate the competitive college landscape, Choate’s focus on developing next-level talent could usher in a new era of success, both in recruiting and on the field. The Wolf Pack aims to challenge for conference titles again as it builds a robust pipeline to the NFL.
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