Video: Michael Jackson III highlights Watch the USC-bound wide receiver during junior season at Desert Pines.
The greatest NFL player to come out of Nevada is highly debatable.
Some believe it is former Rams running back Steven Jackson. Others have made cases for former Cowboys' running back DeMarco Murray or the first Super Bowl hero, Green Bay wide receiver Max McGee.
Free agent linebacker Brandon M. Marshall and Ravens' offensive lineman Ronnie Stanley are more current NFL players who some believe might be the best from Nevada.
A more definitive rating of current high school football players has been given by 247Sports, which ranked the top 10 from the Class of 2021.
Three of the 10 are linebackers, two are defensive linemen and the rest are scattered at five other positions. Six have committed to college, all different schools, including the state's top recruit, tight end Moliki Matavao to Oregon.
Interestingly the Top 10 players come from three high schools: Desert Pines (Las Vegas), Liberty (Henderson) and Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas).
See the complete Top 10 as compiled by 247Sports below.
The state's No. 1 recruit, Henderson tight end Moliki Matavao hauls in a touchdown pass at Bishop Gorman.
File photo by Jann Hendry
Had a breakout junior season with 46 catches for 718 yards and seven touchdowns. He was a MaxPreps first team All-State performer, leading Liberty to a state championship. Ranked the fourth best tight end in the country, Matavao had a whopping 34 scholarship offers, including Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, LSU, Georgia, Stanford and USC.
2. Tiaoalii Savea, Desert Pines (Las Vegas)
6-3 | 265 | DE | UndecidedRanked the No. 16 defensive end in the country, Savea earned 25 college offers but appears to be leaning toward USC. Other schools hot on his heels are Florida, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma and UCLA.
3. Michael Jackson III, Desert Pines (Las Vegas)
6-0 | 198 | WR | USCWith 29 offers, Jackson committed June 3 to the Trojans. Every team in the Pac-12 other than Stanford and Washington gave offers, but the talented receiver picked the Trojans over such schools as BYU, Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Ole Miss.
4. Braezhon Ross, Desert Pines (Las Vegas)
6-2 | 266 | DT | UndecidedRanked the 40th best senior defensive tackle in the nation, Ross currently has 17 college offers, including Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Florida, LSU and Tennessee.
5. Jaden Hicks, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
6-2 | 192 | S | Undecided Had seven interceptions and 10 pass deflections in 12 games for the perennial state and national power. Among his 10 offers are from Arizona, Arizona State, Boise State, Penn State and San Diego State.
6. Zephaniah Maea, Liberty (Henderson)
6-1 | 230 | LB | ColoradoPiled up 95 tackles as a junior to give him 208 tackles in his career. Physical, big hitter who can chase down ball carriers in the flat. Besides Colorado, Boise State, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, San Diego State and Washington State made him offers.
7. Zyrus Fiaseu, Liberty (Henderson)
6-1 | 200 | LB | San Diego StateAnother Liberty standout who helped his team to a state 4A championship in 2019. Flaseau picked San Diego State over such schools as Boise State, Hawaii, Nebraska, Oregon and Washington State.
8. Benjamin Roy, Liberty (Henderson)
6-3 | 275 | C | UCLARanked the No. 15 center in the country, Roy piled up 15 offers, but picked the Bruins over such schools as Georgetown, Princeton, Harvard, San Diego State and Yale.
9. DJ Herman, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
6-1 | 235 | LB | UndecidedHas 73 career tackles with two interceptions and three sacks for the Gaels. Has garnered eight college offers, including Arizona State, Hawaii, Fordham, Army and North Texas State.
10. Malik Brooks, Desert Pines (Las Vegas)
6-2 | 205 | RB | Fresno StateA fourth player from Desert Pines on the Top 10 list, Brooks committed to Fresno State on April 30. His other offers include North Texas, BYU, Colorado State and New Mexico.
