Rebels add second juco CB this week with San Mateo’s Ziegler

By Ryan Greene

Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008 | 2:11 p.m.

The UNLV football program's efforts to beef up its secondary for the 2009 season continues to move right along, as Mike Sanford on Thursday received a commitment from College of San Mateo cornerback Warren Ziegler.

This comes three days after the Rebels drew a commitment from Mike Grant, a 5-foot-11 sophomore corner from Sierra (Calif.) College. Grant was being pursued by several west coast schools, including Washington, Washington State, Boise State and Oregon State.

Sanford said in recent weeks that combing the junior college ranks was one way in which the Rebels were looking to shore up their secondary, in an effort to bring in guys with college experience who could play right from go.

This season, the UNLV pass defense is allowing 211.5 yards per game and ranks eighth in the Mountain West.

Ziegler, a 6-foot-1 sophomore originally from San Leandro (Calif.) High in the Bay area, will be a mid-year transfer, meaning he'll be on campus at UNLV for the spring semester and will participate in the Rebels' spring program.

His commitment gives UNLV five verbals now for the '09 class. Aside from Grant, the Rebels already have pledges from Mesquite, Texas, receiver Mark Barefield, Perris, Calif., quarterback Caleb Herring and Peoria, Ariz., linebacker Reggie Umuolo.