Greer finding his way to the front of the class

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Oct. 19, 2000 | 10:02 a.m.

Right tackle John Greer has been UNLV's highest-graded offensive lineman this season -- on and off the field.

The 6-5, 290-pound senior from Apple Valley (Calif.) High School, a preseason all-Mountain West Conference choice, has not allowed a sack this year and anchors an offensive line that is responsible in large part for the nation's 16th-ranked rushing attack.

But Greer, a former walk-on who will be starting his 36th game as a Rebel in Saturday afternoon's homecoming contest against Wyoming at Sam Boyd Stadium, has been even more impressive in the classroom.

The finance major, who owns a 3.6 GPA, has already earned all-WAC and all-MWC academic honors in his career and seems a good bet to become the school's first football Academic All-American later this year.

And if that isn't enough, Greer just finished turning in his paperwork for the Super Bowl of college academic honors: the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.

Greer is one of only four UNLV students who applied for the honor.

"There's a set criteria and requirements for a candidate to meet," UNLV football academic advisor Janice Henry said. "John met all those requirements. I asked him if he would be interested in applying and he said he was."

For Greer, the chance to perhaps one day study at Oxford was, pardon the phrase, a no-brainer.

"I figured, 'Why not try? What have I got to lose?' " Greer said. "If you do get it, it's the chance of a lifetime.

"Oxford is one of the most prestigious schools in the world," Greer continued. "When somebody says they went to Oxford, you know they're pretty smart. Plus it would give me a chance to continue my education. Nowadays, just having a college degree isn't enough sometimes."

Greer turned in his lengthy Rhodes Scholarship application last Thursday.

"That application was one of the hardest I've ever done," he said. "You have to get eight different references. You turn in a resume. You do a 1,000-word essay on why Oxford is the school for you. There's a lot of different things you need to complete."

The fact he had to gather all that material during the heart of his senior football season made it even tougher.

"It's been harder to keep up my grades my senior year because I'm really concentrating on football," Greer said. "We're finally having a good season and a winning season, so I'm probably concentrating on football more than I should even."

UNLV coach John Robinson calls Greer "a standard setter."

"He's really a great student," Robinson said. "He's had internships every year here where he's accelerated his future."

Robinson also said he thinks Greer could make the NFL.

"He's a tough guy," Robinson said. "He's a man. I think he's got a chance in the NFL. He's a little undersized (at tackle), but as a guard or center he has a really good chance to play there."

"Ray didn't want to kick PATs anymore," Johns said. "He'll still do long field goals, though. Dillon is good and solid. He kicks them straight and high."

Pieffer is a walk-on from Colorado Springs.

Cheetany had converted just 13 of 18 PAT tries this season. He missed one and had another blocked in last week's narrow 20-19 loss at Colorado State.

Thomas, who sprained his right foot in Saturday night's loss at Colorado State, did some light running and cutting at practice on Wednesday with trainer Kyle Wilson looking on.

"It feels OK," Thomas said. "I didn't think I'd be able to jog on it, but I did. It still feels a little weak."

Thomas is expected to try to run a few plays in practice today.

"He'll practice some (today)," Robinson said. "If his foot feels good, he'll practice again on Friday. Then maybe he'll be ready for some part-time use in the game."

Senior Jason Vaughan will start in Thomas' place against the Cowboys.