Four-star CB Naijiel Hale commits to Montana State

Naijiel Hale needed a second chance. Because Jeff Choate and Gerald Alexander are willing to provide it, Montana State has itself a four-star recruit.

As a senior at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, California, Hale ascended to a ranking as one of the top 25 cornerbacks in the country. After initially verbally committing to Arizona, he signed with Washington in February of 2015, choosing Chris Petersen’s Huskies over Arizona State, Utah, Boise State, Cal, Nebraska, Washington State and Arizona.

The four-star cornerback played in all 14 games and started two as a true freshman for the Huskies in 2014. But in August of 2015, Petersen abruptly disciplined the talented young player, citing a violation of team rules. Petersen offered no more details.

“Unfortunately, that always happens. Naijiel’s been dismissed from our program,” Petersen told Adam Jude of the Seattle Times. “We need to move forward. Wish Naijiel the best.”

Hale declined comment but posted on his Instagram account: “I would like to announce that I will be taking my football career elsewhere and thank the university of Washington for everything they’ve taught me,” Hale wrote. “I Thank you coach Lake and Coach Petersen (sic) for being there for me and understanding everything that I go through. Nobody in this world will understand my life yet I’m still moving forward. I’m so thankful to play and start many games as a True Freshmen in the PAC-12 and those memories will stick with me forever. New chapter ahead…. Ride with me.”

In September of 2015, Hale told Greg Biggins of Scout.com that he would be eligible for the stretch run of the season at Santa Monica College. He said he hoped to earn more Pac 12 interest. But Hale did not record a stat at Santa Monica last fall. He said Thursday that he is currently attending Long Beach City College.

Choate, the defensive line coach and special teams coordinator on Petersen’s staff the last three seasons, took the head coaching job at Montana State in December. Alexander, a former Boise State standout who played five seasons in the NFL, was a graduate assistant at Washington during Hale’s freshman year. Earlier this month, Choate hired Alexander as his secondary coach.

The new coaching staff brought Hale on an official recruiting visit to MSU last weekend. He committed earlier this week first on Twitter, then confirming via text message to Skyline Sports.

“Coach Choate and Coach Alexander had probably the biggest role in me going there,” Hale said in a cell phone interview on Thursday afternoon. “There’s nothing I can hide from them. They know about me. They were there when I was going through what I was going through. Before practices, I was in the film room at Washington with Coach Alexander almost every day. We have a real good connection. For him to have this job and to give me an opportunity again, that’s him putting his trust into me and that just says lot for both of us. I appreciate both of them.

“From there, I felt like it was fate or something. How did I get back in touch with two coaches I already played for? I wanted to go.”

Hale will have three years to play three at Montana State. Hale is currently at Long Beach City College, a few minutes from his home, finishing his AA degree. He said recently became eligible, something that probably stifled his recruiting.

No arrest record exists in Seattle for Hale and Petersen did not disclose any details aside from a violation of team rules. Hale said he learned from his time in the Emerald City and does not want to make the same mistakes again.

“It was just a bunch of disciplinary issues,” Hale said. “I had a lot of internal ups and downs. I just wanted to get better and it didn’t work out. It means a lot to get a second chance. I learned a lot about listening to authority and the first downfall. I’ve been ready for this chance.”

As a junior at St. John Bosco, Hale burst onto the scene by snaring four interceptions, breaking up six more passes and piling up 48 solo tackles for one of California’s top high school programs. As a senior, Hale notched 70 tackles, including 47 solos, three tackles for loss and a sack. He had an interception that he returned for a touchdown as his team posted a 16-0 record to finish as California Division I state champions. Max Preps ranked the private Catholic school as the No. 1 high school team in the country.

Hale’s star shines just as brightly because of the legacy of his famous father, the late rapper Nate Dogg, as for Naijiel’s football skills. Considered one of the pioneers of gangster rap, Nate Dogg carved out a niche singing the hook on a slew of hit hip-hop songs during the 1990s and 2000s. Nate Dogg collaborated on hits with 2Pac, 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mariah Carey, Ludacris, Nelly and, most prevalently, his cousin, Snoop Dogg. Nate Dogg burst onto the national music scene with his duet with Warren G “Regulators”, a single that rose to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1994.

“It’s been on my back all through high school but that’s why I play football,” Hale said of his father, Nathaniel’s fame. “Me playing football is helping me build a brand and a name for myself. I always understand that I’m going to be Naijiel Hale, Nate Dogg’s son. I’ve gotten over that point. At one point in my life, I was trying to get that off me to where I was just Naijiel Hale, but that’s my dad. I want to get a pick-6 and say, that’s Naijiel Hale and have someone say, ‘do you know whose son that is’ at that moment and remember my dad.”

Nate Dogg died from complications from a stroke in 2011.

“It was kind of the best-worst thing that happened to me in a weird way because it brought more out of me in football,” Hale said. “When I was getting recruiting by a bunch of coaches in high school, they always told me there was something about me, that I played with a chip on my shoulder. I see that chip as when I’m out there, I’m picturing something my dad always told me: go make it happen on the field. It’s that extra strength to me because it’s like he’s a part of me now.”

Bozeman is certainly a world away from Los Angeles. But Hale said he enjoyed his visit. He said he came to Montana State with an open mind and although the facilities did not compare to those he saw during his recruitment to the Pac 12, he still felt at home in the Gallatin Valley.

“I like how you can just be yourself out there,” Hale said. “I like how all the mountains are everywhere and there aren’t too many people. That’s something that I need, a place where I can focus and play ball. There’s not too many big things or things to get into or to get into trouble with or to distract me.”

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Hale said he is comfortable as a Cover 2 cornerback or playing man coverage. He is intrigued by Montana State’s revered film school, although he’s been studying English in junior college. He has recorded raps in the studio and someday might pursue music. But before that, he’s hoping to take advantage of his second chance at Montana State.

“I just hope to bring a new era, a new generation, a new type of player to Montana State,” Hale said. “I want to bring a new dynamic to the team. It’s been a year so I’m just ready to let this dog out. I feel like Montana State and the dudes I was with are dudes that I could ride with and dudes who want to win. I feel like I can do my three years time with Montana State and get us to a national champion level in the Big Sky.

“Nothing that happened before this matters. I’m so ready to play. I missed a year. I’m ready to really let it out.”