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By Ray Hamill — Nathaniel Stiles is getting a head start on the next chapter in his playing career.

This week, the Arcata senior signed his letter of intent to play football for College of the Redwoods after graduation next month, but he’s not waiting until the fall to get started.

Stiles, who brings an impressive resume of success to CR, has been working out with some of new teammates this spring as he prepares to make the sizable jump from high school to the California JC level.

And thus far, he likes what he’s seen from his new team.

“It’s been good. It’s been really fun,” he said. “But it’s kind of an adjustment going from high school to college.”

CR head coach Jason White and his staff have been helping with that adjustment.

“The coaches, they all know the game and they can teach me a lot of new stuff,” Stiles said.

Stiles should fit in nicely at the next level.

The 6-foot-3, 320-pound left tackle is a four-year varsity player and enjoyed plenty of success with the Tigers.

He was a part of the school’s memorable state championship team of 2024 and also won two league titles during his time at Arcata.

Winning a first-ever state championship for the high school and getting the chance to celebrate with his teammates was a definite highlight.

Asked what he’ll remember the most from his time as a Tiger, Stiles didn’t hesitate.

“The bus ride back from winning the state title,” he answered. “It was a big party. We were blasting music and having a lot of fun.”

Photo by Michelle Conley – The Arcata players, coaches and cheerleaders celebrate their state championship win in December 2024.

Stiles, who also wrestled for two years at Arcata before shifting his focus full-time to football as a junior and senior, feels he has found a good fit at CR and is excited about beginning the next chapter in his playing career.

He received some interest from other college programs, including a partial scholarship offer from a Division-III school in Wisconsin, but the opportunity to stay close to family and play for the CR coaches convinced him to commit to the local JC program.

“Coach White, he came to our game against Del Norte, and after the game he asked if I had any interest in playing college football and told me they’d love to have me over there,” Stiles recalled. “And I watched one of their workouts, and they had a good team morale and they seemed to get along and be close to each other.

“And it enables me to stay close to my home and family.”

Family is clearly important to the Arcata senior and has been a big part of his football journey, ever since he began playing football with the McKinleyville youth program as a fourth grader.

And one family member in particular has been in his corner since day one.

“I’d just like to thank my mom (Jennifer Woody) for driving me to all my practices and coming to every game to support me and allowing me to play the sport I love,” Stiles said. 

Woody was on hand this week with other family members, coaches, teammates and friends when Stiles signed his letter of intent at Arcata High School.

Two of his coaches — former Arcata head coach Matt Mager and assistant coach Matt Jioras — have played a particularly key role in helping the young player hone his talents on the football field.

Stiles described Jioras as “one of my favorite coaches” and expressed his gratitude for everything he did to help him.

Stiles says he wants to major in Residential Wiring and become an electrician, but whether he will play at a four-year school after this time at CR remains to be seen.

He said that it is something he would consider if the right offer came his way.

For now, however, he’s focused on enjoying his time at CR and doing everything he can to help the team win a conference title after coming close in each of the past three seasons.

And if everything goes well, who knows, he may yet win another state title.