Sawyer making strides toward NFL

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 1998 | 10:56 a.m.

There haven't been a whole lot of positives about UNLV's football season this year.

After all, the Rebels are 0-9 and in the midst of a 14-game losing streak dating to October 1997.

But one bright spot for Jeff Horton's squad continues to be the play of defensive end Talance Sawyer.

The 6-2, 270-pound senior from Bastrop, La., who led the WAC in tackles for losses with 18 in 1997, is once again leading the conference in that category with 19 with two games to go.

Sawyer, who was recently invited to the prestigious Hula Bowl all-star game in January, is doing this despite almost constant double-teaming.

"I think he's just developed more as a player," Horton said. "I think he's made more plays. I think each game he plays, he has a better understanding or what he needs to do to be an impact player."

This is only Sawyer's third year playing on the defensive line. He played as a true freshman at tight end before being switched to the other side of the ball before his sophomore campaign.

"I think in some categories I've done better than a year ago, like tackles for loss," Sawyer said. "But I think my sacks (four) could have been better. But overall, I think I've had a pretty good year."

Sawyer said one of his big goals was to repeat as the WAC leaders in tackles for losses. He leads Fresno State's Tim Skipper and BYU linebacker Rob Morris, both of whom have 17 tackles for losses, by two with two games to go.

Horton compares Sawyer favorably with former UNLV defensive end Keith Washington, who is playing with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens.

"Talance is every bit as good as Keith was," Horton said. "Nothing is ever guarranteed, but I think he has the tools and the ability to play at the next level. ... All the (NFL) scouts who have come through here really like his abilities. It's just a matter of whether they stand him up (at linebacker) or put him down (at defensive end)."

Sawyer is looking forward to Saturday's game at Rice. About 25 friends and family will make the eight-hour drive from Bastrop to Houston to watch him play. Earlier this season, about 70 relatives and friends, including Sawyer's mom Shirley and four-year-old daughter, Talanciana, made the 6 1/2 hour drive to Dallas to watch Talance and the Rebels lose a 10-7 heartbreaker to SMU at the Cotton Bowl.

Still, it was a day to remember for Sawyer, who finished with 10 tackles and the first pass interception of his career.

"That was the first time my mom ever got to see me play in college," Sawyer said.

Early risers

With just four weeks of classes remaining in the semester, Horton decided to schedule early morning practices this week so his players could spend their afternoons tending to term papers, study tables and tutoring sessions.

We're talking real early practices. Tuesday's workout started at 6:30 a.m and ended at about 8:20.

"John Chaney does it at Temple, and George Raveling did it at USC," Horton said. "It gives the players time to concentrate on their studies the rest of the day."

Because of the Veterans Day holiday, the players got a break today. Practice didn't start until 10:30. However, Thursday's practice is scheduled for 6:30 again.

How did the players react to the news of the early start?

"I didn't give them time to react," Horton joked.

Tuesday wasn't exactly the ideal day to have an early morning workout. Temperatures were in the upper 30s at the start of practice.

Still, the players, many of whom could be seen munching on donuts after showering, didn't complain.

"It was kind of rough," defensive end Talance Sawyer said. "But it's pretty much like (fall) camp, really. You just have to set your mind to get up and do it. ... My alarm went off at 5:30. I admit I hit the snooze button a few times."

Horton felt similiar early practices at this time last year played a key roll in his team earning the athletic department's Most Improved GPA plaque that adorns a wall outside his office. The Rebels' team GPA was 2.7 and a remarkable eight players earned WAC All-Academic honors.