Palepoi turns heads at Rebel training camp

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2000 | 11:12 a.m.

Thanks to a snag in summer school paperwork, Anton Palepoi got a late start to his first UNLV fall practice.

But so far the explosive 6-4, 270 transfer from Dixie College in St. George, Utah, a first JC All-American defensive end last year, has been well worth the wait.

Although he has only taken part in two-a-day workouts for five days, Palepoi has been the talk of fall camp so far for the Rebels.

"He's awesome," senior offensive tackle John Greer said. "He's a pretty amazing guy. He's got great quickness. He's 270 pounds and you don't even notice it. He moves like he's 240 but he hits like he's 270."

"He's got a great motor," UNLV defensive line coach Craig Wederquist said. "He can really run. He has great speed and great change of direction. He brings great enthusiasm and a great element to our defense."

"He's physical and he's fast," UNLV head coach John Robinson said.

Greer, a preseason first-team all-Mountain West Conference pick by both Street & Smith's and Lindy's who has started 32 games for UNLV, says Palepoi compares with the best defensive ends he has faced during the last three seasons.

"I'd say (ex-Rebel and starting Minnesota Viking defensive end) Talance Sawyer was probably the No. 1 pass rusher I've ever gone against," Greer said. "But right now I'd say Anton is a close second."

Wederquist compared Palepoi to former Arizona All-American and current New England Patriot Tedy Bruschi.

"He has the same kind of ability to really run his motor, change direction and throw his body in there," Wederquist said. "He's shown some flashes of brilliance."

Palepoi takes all the compliments in stride.

"I've been doing all right," he said. "The last couple of practices my body has been taking a beating, though. It's just going to take a little more time before I catch up to speed with everyone else."

To those who have watched UNLV's workouts closely, it appears it's the other Rebels who need to do the catching up to Palepoi's speed.

"That's my thing I think," Palepoi said. "For my size, I think I can move pretty good. And I think my technique is pretty good, too."

Palepoi, who was heavily recruited by schools such as Kansas State, Oregon and strong favorite Utah, almost didn't even take a recruiting visit to UNLV.

"I really wasn't thinking about them," he said. "But my parents encouraged me to take a trip here, so I did. I liked what I saw. I liked what Coach Robinson had to offer. Everything seemed to fit just right."

The biggest plus for UNLV, Palepoi said, was Robinson.

"You meet a man like that and you're in awe," he said.

Palepoi moved from Samoa to Garden Grove, Calif., about a 10-minute drive from Anaheim Stadium, at the age of 6 and lived in the Orange County town for six years before moving again to Salt Lake City.

"The Rams were my team when I was growing up and Coach Robinson was their coach," Palepoi said. "I watched him coach guys like Eric Dickerson. Now I have a chance to play for him. That definitely had a big impact on my college decision."

And that decision figures to have a big impact on UNLV's defense this season.

Robinson said he didn't know how many plays the scrimmage would last.

"A lot depends on how healthy we are, things like that," he said.

The team will also scrimmage again on Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium at 7 p.m. in what is being called a "Fan Preview Night." Admission and parking will be free.

"That's my wish," he said. "It's in (UNLV's admissions office's) hands. Hopefully they'll get it done (today). It's been very hard sitting around and watching the last few days."

Meanwhile, Robinson said Scott Parkhurst, another first team JC All-American defensive end from Long Beach (Calif.) City College, probably won't return to practice until Thursday because of a strained hamstring.

"And even then it will probably be a while before he goes full speed," Robinson said.