Promising quarterback likely to choose UNLV

Steve Guiremand

Monday, April 12, 1999 | 10:07 a.m.

Former USC quarterback recruit Jason Thomas will make an official recruiting trip to UNLV this weekend and the odds are very strong that the 6-5, 230-pound left-hander will commit to the Rebels.

"I'd say the odds are better than 90 percent that Jason will go to UNLV," his father, Charles Thomas, said Sunday. "The whole family intends to go up there and look around. I think the fact that someone he trusts like Coach (John) Robinson is there is a huge plus for UNLV."

USC finally got around to faxing Thomas' release form to UNLV on Friday, three days after the school issued a press release stating it had granted Thomas' request to leave the Trojans.

Five other schools -- Nebraska, Kansas State, Miami, Tennessee and Syracuse -- also were given permission to contact Thomas.

"Nebraska wants him to come down for a visit," Charles Thomas said. "So does Kansas State. (Miami coach) Butch Davis called him from the practice field."

Still, it looks like UNLV is the front-runner for the former Parade All-American.

"I hate to come out right now and say he's definitely going to UNLV only to have Jason change his mind," Charles Thomas said. "But I think that's probably where he'll end up."

Thomas and his brother, Charles, visited friends in Las Vegas over the weekend but did not attend Saturday's spring practice.

"They didn't even get into town until Saturday night," Charles Thomas said.