Receiver chooses Penn St. over UNLV

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, April 20, 1999 | 11:28 a.m.

There was some good news and some bad news for UNLV football coach John Robinson on Monday in his quest to land a couple blue-chip recruits who have decided to leave USC.

First the bad news.

Wide receiver Rod Perry, the former California state player of the year from Santa Ana's famed Mater Dei High School, announced he would transfer to Penn State.

The 5-10, 180-pound Perry had also visited Rose Bowl champion Wisconsin as well as UNLV.

"It came down to Penn State and UNLV," Perry said. "I felt real comfortable with both coaches, but Penn State ultimately had the best combination of things that I wanted."

Things like playing in the prestigious Big Ten Conference and perhaps even for a national championship next fall.

"I hear they're going to be ranked in the top three in most of the preseason magazines and maybe even No. 1 in one," Perry said. "The schedule would seem to be favorable for them. They play both Michigan and Ohio State at home and they don't play Wisconsin. Playing in the Big Ten was a big positive. I think it's the best conference in the country."

Still, Perry said he thought long and hard about joining his old USC coach, Robinson, at UNLV.

"It was a very difficult decision," he said. "The distance to Penn State was kind of tough. UNLV is closer and my family could come and see me play. And I have a lot of respect for Coach Robinson and his staff. They're kind of like family to me."

Now the good news.

Charles Thomas, the father of former USC quarterback Jason Thomas, said his son and family were "very pleased" with what they saw during their official recruiting trip to UNLV over the weekend. So much so, in fact, that Charles Thomas said he doubts that his son will even visit another school.

"I may be wrong, but I really don't think Jason will take another trip," Charles Thomas said. "I think he told the media there he 'may' take another trip to Miami or Syracuse. We talked today and he had no plans to visit anyplace else. I don't think Jason wanted to commit on his trip there while he was still on an emotional high."

Charles Thomas said his son is busy taking his final exams at USC this week and next and "I don't think he'd have any time to take another trip.

"Coach Robinson and (UNLV assistant) Joe Hubbard are going to come by for a home visit next week. I wouldn't be surprised if Jason gives them a commitment then. We're all kind of approaching this as when, not if, we're going to be moving to Las Vegas. We're all looking forward to when he makes it official. Personally, I think he's probably waiting until final exams are over to do that."

The Arizona Cardinals today are expected to announce the signing of UNLV wide receiver Damon Williams to a free-agent contract. Williams is the Rebels' all-time receiving leader with 187 receptions and 2,558 yards. The Cardinals drafted Ohio State wide receiver David Boston in the first round but did not take another pass catcher on Saturday or Sunday.