Brimmer, Seward stay put; Hagan commits to Cal

Spencer Patterson

Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2000 | 10:33 a.m.

Area football players who have given verbal commitments to colleges:

* Jamaal Brimmer, Durango, S/LB, 6-2, 205, UNLV

* Mario Hagan, Chaparral, WR, 6-3, 195, California

* Taylor Miller, Cimarron-Memorial, LB, 6-2, 215, Utah

* Jonathan Pollard, Las Vegas, LB, 6-2, 205, Oregon St.

* John Ream, Chaparral, OL, 6-4, 270, UCLA

* Adam Seward, Bonanza, LB, 6-3, 235, UNLV

Every college coach in America knows when it comes to prep recruiting, you win some and you lose some.

This week is certainly shaping up as a prime example of that axiom, with the UNLV football team receiving verbal commitments from two local standouts and losing one area star to the Pac-10.

Durango's Jamaal Brimmer and Bonanza's Adam Seward both said yes to the Rebels' scholarship offers, while Chaparral's Mario Hagan gave a verbal commitment to the University of California on Tuesday.

Brimmer, a two-way standout for the Trailblazers and USA Today's Nevada Player of the Year, chose UNLV over Colorado State, Weber State and Nevada-Reno. The 6-2, 205-pounder will play on defense for the Rebels, either at safety or outside linebacker.

"It's like home for me," Brimmer said. "It was a chance to play where my parents can watch me play, and the coaches made me feel like I belonged."

Last fall, Brimmer excelled as Durango's quarterback, passing for 1,714 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushing for 593 yards and 16 touchdowns, as well as on defense, where he amassed 58 tackles and intercepted four passes from his safety position.

Brimmer visited UNLV last month, rooming with Seward -- another member of the Sun's first-team all-state defense.

The 6-3, 235-pound Seward selected UNLV after making unofficial visits to Notre Dame, Michigan State, Northwestern and Illinois and official trips to Arizona State and Arizona last year. He also cancelled planned recruiting visits to Colorado State and UNR, giving Rebels coach John Robinson his commitment during a home visit Saturday night.

"When this whole thing started out, I really thought going away from home would be the best thing," Seward said. "But when I went to UNLV, I felt so comfortable.

"I'm excited I'm going to be a Rebel."

As an inside linebacker last fall, Seward racked up 138 tackles, including six for losses, along with six sacks and seven forced fumbles for the Bengals. He also rushed for 550 yards and six touchdowns as the team's starting fullback.

"I was real impressed with the way they've got their defense planned out," Seward said. "I felt I fit in with what they're trying to do."

Seward also had a family connection with UNLV. His father, Tom, served as a Rebels assistant coach from 1986-89, working under former head coaches Harvey Hyde and Wayne Nunnely.

"I've been a Rebel ever since I was a little kid," Seward said.

After securing commitments from Brimmer and Seward, the Rebels' good fortune came to and end on Tuesday, when Hagan -- the Sun's 1999 State Offensive Player of the Year -- chose Cal over Oregon State and UNLV.

"It was really close," Hagan said. "It came down to Cal's reputation as a school and how hard is to get into it academically. I also like how Berkeley isn't really crowded, but you have that city atmosphere in San Francisco less than 20 minutes away.

"UNLV was a big consideration, but I felt I needed to get away for a new experience."

After starring as a wide receiver for most of his prep career, the 6-3, 195-pound Hagan played running back for the Cowboys last fall and wound up leading the area in rushing with 1,645 yards and 17 touchdowns on 161 carries. He also caught 23 passes for 310 yards and four touchdowns.

Like most schools, California recruited Hagan as a wide receiver and, according to Chaparral coach Ben Johnson, the Bears coaches intend to get the talented athlete into the mix next season.

"They told him he'll probably play next year," Johnson said. "He'll have to get used to the speed of the game at the college level, but he's so big and strong for a receiver."

Hagan becomes the third area player in this year's senior class to commit to a Pac-10 school. Chaparral teammate John Ream, a 6-4, 270-pound offensive lineman, chose UCLA last spring, and Las Vegas High's Jonathan Pollard, a 6-3, 205-pound linebacker, selected Oregon State last month.

California has also received a verbal commitment from Wooster offensive lineman Eric O'Brien -- one of Northern Nevada's top prospects, and is reportedly hot on the trail of Bishop Manogue defensive end Michael Yenick.

Like Brimmer and Seward, Cimarron-Memorial linebacker Taylor Miller opted to play in the Mountain West Conference, committing to Utah last week.

One of Las Vegas' top prep players -- Cheyenne defensive lineman Lynn McGruder -- is still undecided about his college choice. The 6-2, 280-pound senior has taken official trips to Texas, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, and plans to visit Tennessee and UNLV later this month.

"I just hope after those visits I can see things more clearly," said McGruder, a member of the Sun's All-State first team and USA Today's All-USA second team.

Players can begin signing letters of intent on Feb. 2.