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Prep coach on Niehaus: ‘It’s kind of scary to think what he’ll look like’ next year

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — At Cincinnati’s Colerain High School, football coach Tom Bolden has watched Nathan Niehaus sprout into a major-college prospect.

And sprout rapidly.

The rangy Neihaus, who recently became West Virginia’s 16th commitment for 2016, enters his senior season at Colerain still blossoming before Bolden’s eyes.

“Just two years ago he was a 6-foot-1, 190-pound tight end. Then last year all of a sudden he was a 6-6, 220-pound tight end. And now he’s almost 6-7 and 255 pounds.

“It’s kind of scary to think what he’ll look like in a year and a half.”

During a MetroNews “Sportsline” appearance Wednesday night, Bolden said he expects Niehaus to become “an exceptional left tackle” at WVU despite possessing the mobility to play tight end.

“He is athletic without a doubt,” Bolden said. “He’s a really, really good basketball player. He has got some fine motor skills.

“He has put on all the weight in all the right places. It’s a lot of good weight, a lot of lean muscle mass. He can run, he can move sideways, and he’s got great feet.”

On a team with at least four Division I prospects, Niehaus became the first to commit to a Power Five program. Colerain quarterback Deshaunte Jones, projected as a college receiver, also picked up a West Virginia offer.

Despite Niehaus generating interest from several Big Ten teams, Bolden said the player is focused on enjoying his senior season, not entertaining more recruiting attention.

“He’s done with it,” the coach said. “When my kids verbal somewhere, I look at it as your word is your bond. So I shut them down after they verbal somewhere. I’m old-school on that, but that’s how it should be.”

Nathan Niehaus of Colerain High in Cincinnati is a 6-6, 255-pound prospect who projects to play offensive tackle at West Virginia.