It was the first day of football practice in helmets at San Tan Charter and Uriah Neloms couldn’t be found in the receivers’ line.
That’s because he was throwing the football to receivers.
After catching 13 touchdown passes for the 2A school last season, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound athlete is making the move to quarterback.
“It’s what helps the team,” Neloms said during a break in Monday morning’s practice. “It’s great. I get to see the game from a different perspective. It’s cool.”
This change is for his senior season only. He is committed to Arizona State, where he’ll be playing wide receiver.
He was offered a scholarship by ASU after performing well at receiver during a 7-on-7 passing tournament in June. It didn’t take long for Neloms to jump on the offer.
It’s rare that a player from a small school, especially at the 2A level — the smallest 11-man competition in Arizona — gets a chance to play at a major college out of high school.
But Neloms is no ordinary athlete.
Quarterback Uriah Neloms throws a pass on July 29, 2024, during practice at San Tan Charter School in Gilbert.
Last season, he caught 53 passes for 1,118 yards and 13 TDs for the 10-3 Roadrunners, who reached the 2A semifinals before losing to Pima 52-49, a game in which Neloms caught six passes for 122 yards and two TDs.
Once at ASU, he’ll be learning the outside receiver position from former Pittsburgh Steelers great Hines Ward, who was hired by coach Kenny Dillingham in the offseason.
Arizona was the only other major college to offer Neloms.
“Coach Dillingham, he showed me real love,” Neloms said. “He went out of his way to show me how the campus was, how he would help me. UofA was a big school, too. I talked to the team last year.”
Neloms said most college coaches are surprised to learn he plays at the 2A level in high school.
“When they see me and I say I’m…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/san-tan-charters-uriah-neloms-204633387.html
Author : AZCentral | The Arizona Republic
Publish date : 2024-07-29 20:46:33
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