Rebels’ recruiting class earns praise

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2000 | 10 a.m.

Give UNLV the nod for the top football recruiting class in the Mountain West Conference.

So says respected talent scout Tom Lemming of ESPN.com, whose Prep Football Report publication is generally regarded by college football coaches as the best in the business.

"I give UNLV a slight lean in the Mountain West Conference," Lemming said from his South Barrington, Ill., home. "There are three teams --- UNLV, San Diego State and Brigham Young --- that are all pretty equal. But I favor UNLV slightly for the top spot."

It's the second year in a row that Lemming has given UNLV the top recruiting grade in the MWC.

Lemming was particularly impressed the Rebels wooed offensive lineman Marcus Johnson (6-3, 290) away from Big Ten champ Wisconsin.

"I know the Wisconsin coaches were really high on him," he said.

He also was impressed with the signings of Tustin (Calif.) safety Zach Bell, La Mirada (Calif.) running back Mike Lemon as well as JC defensive line recruits Scott Parkhurst of Long Beach (Calif.) City College and Adrian Watson of Glendale (Ariz.) JC.

Lemming said the Rebels would likely wind up somewhere "in the top 60" of his national ratings.

Lemming and ESPN college football analyst Gary Danielson filmed a one-hour recruiting special featuring the nation's top 25 prep prospects over the weekend in Chicago. That show is scheduled to be broadcast on Monday at noon on ESPN's Scholastic Sports America.