Arizona State adds commitment from 4-star QB Weston Nielsen

Arizona State loves to recruit talent from the state of Texas and added another quarterback to the mix from the Lone Star State.

The Sun Devils bolstered their 2027 recruiting class with a commitment from 4-star QB Weston Nielsen.

Nielsen is the Industry Ranking No. 20 passer in the country and has been head coach Kenny Dillingham and offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo’s top target at the position from the jump.

“I’m ready make my decision mainly because of my relationship with Coach Arroyo and Coach Dillingham. They fit me as a person and understand me for who I am,” Nielsen told Rivals of his decision. “The environment there, the fact that Arizona State is really pulling — and it’s not like any other school, so it makes me fell like it could be a good fit.”

The Sun Devils are getting a very productive passer and a staunch competitor.

Nielsen has passes for 3,1118 yards and 45 touchdowns as a junior for Bastrop (Texas) High School. He’s added another 375 yards rushing with 6 more scores on the ground.

Arizona State has been setting the pace in this recruitment leading into Nielsen’s junior season. They moved into pole position after Nielsen and double-digit members of his extended family returned to Tempe in-season for the contest vs. TCU.

“I love Coach Dillingham. He’s awesome — and so is Coach Arroyo and the rest of the staff,” Nielsen told Rivals. “They have been amazing to me this past year. They have repeatedly told me that I am their No. 1 QB. They also took their time to individually talk to me about their program.”

“They are recruiting me the hardest,” he continued. “They were able to tell me about their program and why they are a good place to be. I definitely felt more connected with them when I left … Really just spending one-on-one time with Dillingham and Arroyo on Saturday and getting to know them better … It meant a lot. Coach Arroyo saw my ability to take shots and make clutch plays, so he envisioned me fitting well in their offense and they like to take shots as well.”

Nielsen has ice in his veins, is the ‘ultimate competitor’

Nielsen has been the face of the Bastrop (Texas) High program over the past three years.

Thrust into action as a freshman, Nielsen stepped up and never looked back.

In 28 career games, Nielsen has amassed nearly 7,500 passing yards and 95 TD. He has more than 100 total trips to the end zone.

Bears head coach Jake Griedl has relished watching the journey.

“Weston’s getting everything that he deserves. He’s got amazing arm talent and he’s been continually working on it over the last few years. The really fun part about coaching him is that he’s taken nothing for granted,” Griedl told Rivals. “He’s got some God given ability that he’s continuing to craft and continuing to improve and he’s always looking for the next right thing to do to continue to get better — whether that’s the mental side of the game, his footwork, his throwing, his leadership attributes. Seeing his growth over the last few years has been a lot of fun. He is the definition of an ultimate competitor.”

Oregon extended the first college scholarship to Nielsen as a freshman after making his first few starts.

SMU, TCU, Baylor and Houston also stepped up as contenders over time. No team made a bigger splash than the Sun Devils, who believed Nielsen’s skill-set and personality were both fits in the Valley.

“They realized that he’s a calm, cool, and collected kid,” Griedl continued. “You don’t have to be the loudest one in the locker room. You don’t even have to be the loudest one on the sidelines. But I can tell you this — when Weston Nielsen steps in at QB, he demands your attention. Whether you’re on the offensive side of the ball or you’re trying to stop him. He’s a competitor. To see some of the things that he’s overcome, to see some of the bumps and bruises and injuries that he’s played through that no one has known about — it’s inspiring to his teammates, inspiring to coaches. This kid is going to make it. This kid’s going to be a really good talent at the next level and we’re really excited for him.”

Over the last three years, Nielsen has orchestrated four game-winning drives in as many opportunities.

Griedl believes he’ll continue to pile up victories for Arizona State.

“I firmly believe this … When he’s 20 years old or 21 years old and he’s leading a team in the FBS playoffs, I’m gonna bet on that kid,” he asserted.

“Weston’s going to be successful — not because he wants to make cool hype videos and have cameramen and all this stuff. He doesn’t care about followers on social media; he cares about followers in the locker room. Arizona State fans are going to be fired up because they’re getting a certified baller.”