UNLV now at top of McGruder’s short list

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Feb. 3, 2000 | 10:38 a.m.

UNLV coach John Robinson was discussing his 23-man recruiting class Tuesday afternoon in his Lied Athletic Complex office when he was asked his biggest disappointment about it.

"Not getting an interior defensive lineman," Robinson answered quickly. "A Warren Sapp ... if you could give me a bonus, it would be a 6-3, 290-pound defensive tackle."

Hmmm, he couldn't be referring to Cheyenne High School's Lynn McGruder, could he?

Robinson just might get that bonus as early as today.

McGruder, a first-team pick on the Sun's Super 11 squad of top West Coast prospects and arguably the most touted prospect to come out of the state of Nevada, said Wednesday afternoon that he was leaning heavily toward signing with UNLV.

"I know it's probably going to shock a lot of people, but right now that's where I'm leaning very strongly," McGruder said. "I'm going to go to church tonight to pray about my decision with my pastor. Then I'm going to sleep on it. If I wake up (today) and it feels right, I might just call (UNLV) up and tell them I'm coming."

The 6-2, 290-pound McGruder had previously narrowed his college choices to UNLV and Tennessee, where he briefly committed over the weekend before having second thoughts. He also visited Texas, Wisconsin and Oklahoma.

If McGruder does sign with the Rebels today, it would be the icing on what has turned out to be an impressive recruiting cake.

The Rebels accomplished their No. 1 goal of upgrading their defensive front seven and improving team speed.

UNLV signed two JC All-America defensive ends, including Scott Parkhurst (6-3, 240) of Long Beach (Calif.) City College, generally regarded as the West Coast's best.

"Kevin Greene," Robinson said when asked about Parkhurst. "He gives us that kind of quick off-the-corner pass rusher that we really needed."

The Rebels also landed Adrian Watson (6-3, 240) of Glendale (Ariz.) Community College, a second-team JC All-American who had 16 sacks last year. And there's still a possibility UNLV could land yet another top-notch JC defensive end, Anton Palepoi (6-4, 275) of Dixie College in St. George, Utah.

* WAITING GAME: McGruder wasn't the only high-profile national recruit to put off signing on Wednesday.

Two other Super 11 picks, including top vote-getter D.J. Williams of Concord (Calif.) De La Salle and San Diego (Calif.) Mira Mesa linebacker Amon Gordon, elected to wait at least another day before making a decision.

One Super 11 player who did make a decision on Wednesday was Sherman Oaks (Calif.) Notre Dame defensive line star Travis Johnson, who picked Florida State over Michigan.

Other Super 11 signees: Marcus Houston, RB, Denver (Colo.) Jefferson, Colorado; Tab Perry, WR, Milpitas (Calif.), UCLA; Matt Grootegoed, SS, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei, USC; John Rattay, QB, Phoenix Desert Vista, Tennessee; Alex Holmes, TE, Studio City (Calif.) Harvard-Westlake, USC; Paul Molicer, OL, Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco, UCLA; Michael Williams, RB/DB, Lakewood (Calif.) Mayfair, Arizona State; Joe McGuire, OL, Anaheim (Calif.) Servite, USC.