Escambia County Blue Devil Tyler Nero received some preseason recognition last weekend with the release of the “Press-Register” Elite 18.

The Elite 18 are the Top 18 seniors in the state as listed by the “Press-Register” before the high school football season begins.

Nero came in on the list at No. 17 just ahead of Oxford defensive back Trae Elston.

The accomplishment is one that Blue Devils head coach Mark Heaton said he is excited to see.

“All of the large papers, try and put out a list of players who they think are the top prospects in the state,” he said. “It’s an accomplishment and honor. Tyler has just been blessed. The Lord has done some great things in his career. We are excited for him and excited for what it does for our team. Just another honor.”

Even with the honor, Nero is said to have kept a cool head.

His team is the most important thing on his mind, Heaton said.

“More importantly, the focus is on how well our team will be,” he said. “If you talk to Tyler, he is always appreciative of his teammates helping him to get where he is.”

At No. 17, Nero’s rating is one that Heaton is not looking to deep into.

Players who fly “under the radar” often get overlooked, but Nero being on the list is still big, he said.

“Numbers are numbers,” he said. “Those things are based upon opinion and votes. It’s just like rankings. We don’t care where we are at as long as at the end of the day, we are successful. Tyler is one of those guys who is under the radar just like Dalvin Craft. Dalvin is a guy who could be on the Elite 18 depending on who you talk to. We are just happy that our kids are getting some recognition.”

Becoming a noticed prospect by colleges is a tough thing to do for a player.

Putting out the production necessary is where it starts, but grades and exposure from film is how scouts notice, Heaton said.

“The first thing they have to do is be able to produce on the field,” he said. “Then getting film and transcripts out are important. We just have to get their name out there and get some exposure. It all starts on the field.”