As we inch closer to the start of the 2025 high school football season, three members of the Millikan football program have made their college commitments before they open their senior seasons.
Pass catcher Jude Nelson, defensive end Peyton McCutcheon, and linebacker Aisa Taeleifi have all recently made commitments to play at the next level, continuing Millikan’s recent run of churning out college football talent.
Nelson made his commitment to Colorado State, where he will be utilized as a dynamic receiver, playing either tight end or out at wide receiver. It’s easy to imagine how Nelson will be utilized by CSU, since those Rams run a similar Air Raid offense to what his current Rams run.
“I think it’s huge, you know, it’s good for him and his family, (Colorado State) runs a similar offense to us, and I think they’re going to use him the right way,” said Millikan head coach Romeo Pellum of Nelson’s commitment. “I think Jude’s best football is ahead of him. I think he’s going to be a guy this year and wow a lot of people. We’re just fortunate to have him on our team, he’s a guy on both sides of the ball, so look out for him this year.”
While Nelson has shown the ability to fill in and cause havoc on the defensive line, the plan is for him to play tight end at the next level. He was down to Boise State and Colorado State for his decision, but went with the Rams due to how compatible he felt with the coaching staff and the offensive system.
“It’s a dream come true, I’ve been working for it for my whole life, basically,” Nelson said of his commitment. “I think the difference was really how I fit in the offense. That was a really big thing for me. I love both places, both staffs were like family to me; it just felt right when I went up to Fort Collins. I loved the town more than I thought I was going to … I feel like I can get on the field early and make some plays there.”
On the defensive line, McCutcheon plans to continue his playing career at San Diego State, and is looking like a disruptive playmaker going into his senior season. After transferring in from Dominguez High last season, McCutcheon joined a solid defensive unit up front for the Rams, helping them win the Moore League title.
Coach Pellum said that McCutcheon’s physical development this offseason has been a big key in his development, and the attention from college recruiters was quick to follow. He missed a handful of games due to injury as a junior, but is hoping to be ready for a full slate of games in his 12th grade year.
“He looks like a grown man,” Pellum said of McCutcheon. “Colleges come by and they tell me he looks like what’s in their locker room right now, and looks better than a lot of their guys. I just feel for guys that have to block him, and I feel bad for quarterbacks, because he’s big, he’s strong, he’s fast, he’s athletic, and he hits really, really hard. He’s a mean son of a gun on the football field.”
McCutcheon will be reunited with former Millikan teammate JP Mialovski at San Diego State. The quarterback signed with the Aztecs after last season.
Finally, Taeleifi made his commitment to play college ball at Portland State. The hard-nosed linebacker was a key figure for the Rams’ stop unit in 2024, finishing second on the team with 58 tackles.
“He played almost every snap last season, I believe. So it’s huge for our defense to have a guy like him coming back–he knows our defense inside and out,” said Pellum of Taeleifi. “He’s a ball player. He was arguably up for Defensive Player of the Year last year, so look out for him. Portland State is getting an absolute steal. So I’m excited to see him this year.”
Taeleifi said he’s been working on his closing speed and reaction time in dissecting plays this offseason. His decision to head to the Pacific Northwest was all about the comfortability he felt with the coaching staff on his visit.
“They just made it feel like home for me,” Taeleifi explained. “Immediately, right when I met them, I just felt like they really wanted me to come there. And that’s what it’s all about for me. They really want me, then that’s where I want to go. I want to go where I’ll be treated well and be taken care of.”
Millikan had more than a dozen football players sign college scholarships by the end of last year’s recruiting cycle, and the Rams are already off to a strong start with the Class of 2026.
