Future Rebel running back turned out to be big recruiter

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Feb. 4, 1999 | 11:39 a.m.

When his football playing days are over, Jeremi Rudolph would figure to have a fine career as a salesman.

The 5-10, 180-pound running back from Orlando, Fla., who was the first recruit of the John Robinson era of UNLV football, played a key role in helping the Rebels secure a number of key junior college recruits in Mississippi.

Robinson's first recruiting class at UNLV included five Mississippi junior college products, topped by the Eric Metcalf-like Rudolph.

It was Rudolph's commitment just before Christmas that seemed to spark other top-notch Mississippi JC recruits, like defensive lineman Ahmad Miller, tight end Jermaine Curtis, defensive end Draper Redmond and defensive tackle Anthony Suggs, into giving UNLV a look.

"Jeremi's commitment was big," said UNLV defensive coordinator Jeff McInerney, who recruited Mississippi for the Rebels. "He's wickedly athletic and everybody in that area knows him. When you have a star player like Jeremi, people want to come. The only way you can get people to come here is to get good players. And Jeremi is definitely one of those."

How good?

Well, as a senior at Apopka High School in Orlando four years ago, Rudolph finished second to Daunte Culpepper for Florida's prestigious Mr. Football Award.

Still not convinced? Try these stats on for size.

Rudolph finished second in career TDs in state history behind a fellow named Emmitt Smith. He was one of only 14 players in state history to rush for more than 5,000 yards in his prep career.

He signed a letter of intent his senior year with Bobby Bowden and Florida State. But he missed passing the ACT by one point and failed to meet minimum NCAA eligibility requirements.

Rudolph then decided to sign a professional baseball contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, who drafted him as an outfielder in the seventh round of the 1995 June amateur baseball draft and gave him a $150,000 signing bonus. He spent most of that money to buy a house for his mother, Joann.

Rudolph lasted two years in baseball, advancing as high as Single-A ball in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. He decided to give football another try two years ago and enrolled at Southwest Mississippi Community College where he starred for the last two seasons.

Rudolph was ready to enroll at the University of Houston when Robinson and McInerney convinced him to give UNLV a visit in mid-December. He decided to take a gamble on the 0-11 Rebels in part because of Robinson's track record of developing standout running backs.

"What really impressed me is the success he's had with running backs in the past," Rudolph said. "Marcus Allen, he's going to be in the Hall of Fame and was a Heisman Trophy winner. Eric Dickerson is going to be in the Hall of Fame. Charles White won a Heisman Trophy. He's coached some terrific guys. I just want to be one of the guys on that list."

So four years after visiting perennial college football powerhouses like Florida, Tennessee and FSU, Rudolph will finally play Division I football in the most unlikely of places, Las Vegas.

"I'm excited," he said. "I'm ready to get down to business."

* RECRUITING NOTES: Two junior college players UNLV didn't get at the wire were defensive lineman Willie Sams (6-4, 285) and defensive back Alvin Lee (5-9, 180), both of Southwest Mississippi Community College. Sams, an impressive-looking defensive end who McInerney felt had NFL potential, picked South Carolina while Lee is expected to sign with Houston. The Rebels were also still hopeful of signing tight end Van Brown (6-5, 230) of Alhambra (Calif.) High School, the brother of Seattle Seahawks linebacker Chad Brown. Brown, who also was considering Utah and Oregon, was in Hawaii with his brother attending the Pro Bowl. ... Robinson has decided to sign punter Ryan McDonald (5-10, 175) of Putnam North High School in Oklahoma City. ... UNLV will begin spring drills March 20. There will not be a spring game, but all practices will be open to the public.