Colony grads to continue as teammates at College of Idaho

PALMER — College of Idaho assistant coach Adam Byrne made a surprise trip to Colony High School, and it turned out to be one-stop shopping for the Yotes football program.

The visit led to the Yotes landing two of the top players in Alaska.

Jordan Nero and Steven Bilafer, both graduates of Colony High School’s class of 2016, will play for the NAIA program in the fall.

Byrne, a Soldotna native and former player at now closed Skyview High School, made a stop at Colony High on an afternoon during the offseason, Colony head football coach Rhett Magner said.

“He came to the school, which I thought was really cool. A lot of coaches don’t have time to make personal visits. I thought it was a cool thing to do,” Magner said.

Magner said they talked about his senior class.

“They heard of Bilafer. Their coaching staff liked him. I said they should really take a look at Nero too,” Magner said. “Jordan happened to be in the wrestling room, and Steven was in the weight room. I kind of corralled them up, and said come in here and talk to the coach. It kind of took off from there.”

Nero said he was completely surprised by the opportunity.

“I didn’t think I’d ever play college football,” Nero said.

Nero said he didn’t know much about College of Idaho before Byrne’s visit to CHS. But once he was presented with the option to play defensive back for the Yotes, he was thrilled with the opportunity.

Like Nero, Bilafer was also surprised by the visit and opportunity.

“Both of us were looking at college to play ball, and all the sudden (Coach Byrne) came to visit us,” Bilafer said.

Both said they are also excited to continue as classmates and teammates.

“It’s going to be amazing. Steven’s been my best friend for four years. It’s a perfect opportunity,” Nero said.

By landing the former Colony standouts, College of Idaho gets two of the top players from Alaska’s 2015 prep football season. Nero was named the Alaska Large Schools Defensive Player of the Year and the Railbelt Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Bilafer earned Railbelt Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Magner projects a high ceiling for both players at the next level.

Based on the improvement he saw in just a year, Magner said Nero has vast potential.

“I can’t help but think he’s going to get bigger, faster and stronger,” Magner said. “Watching film the previous year, (Nero) was 130 pounds his junior year. He played this year at 175, 180. He added 40 pounds of muscle. If a kid can do that, once he goes to a college program where he’s living, eating, breathing football, he’s only going to get better.”

Magner projects Nero as a safety in college.

“Kind of a hybrid kid, comes up to play in the box,” Magner said. “It’s certainly what I would do if I had him at the college level.”

Magner sees the same type of potential in Bilafer.

Bilafer did just about everything for the Knights. He was a two-year starter at quarterback, a starter in the defensive backfield, and a standout punter and return man on special teams. Bilafer is tabbed as an athlete by college recruiters, and is expected to play in the slot receiver position at College of Idaho.

“He’s a smart kid, works his butt off,” Magner said. “He’s got a great work ethic.”

Bilafer said his experience as a quarterback will help his transition to the position at the college level.

“It definitely helps. As quarterback, you’ve got to be completely aware of everything that’s going on around you,” Bilafer said.

As seniors at Colony, Nero and Bilafer helped the Knights win the Railbelt Conference title during Magner’s first season as head coach.

College of Idaho finished tied for fourth in the NAIA Frontier Conference last season.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.