Enemies will have bull’s-eye on Wynn

Steve Guiremand

Monday, Aug. 20, 2001 | 11:33 a.m.

Jamal Wynn knows he'll be something of a marked man when UNLV opens its 2001 football season next week at Arkansas.

With All-American and Jim Thorpe Award candidate Kevin Thomas back for his senior year at one cornerback spot, it only figures that opposing teams will test the 6-0, 180-pound junior from National City, Calif., on the other side.

"You know he will be (tested)," Rebels defensive coordinator Mike Bradeson said. "But it's not like it will be Jamal's first game out there. He played pretty much all of three games for us last year and parts of others. And he's had excellent spring and fall practices for us."

Wynn, a junior who had 13 tackles and one pass deflection last season, replaces Amar Brisco, who made arguably the biggest play of the season for UNLV in 2000. It was Brisco who came up with a game and bowl bid-saving 72-yard interception return for a touchdown with 52 seconds left in UNLV's 31-24 win at San Diego State, just when it appeared the Aztecs had moved into game-winning field goal range.

Wynn becomes a key starter in a UNLV secondary that features two NFL prospects in Thomas and senior safety Sam Brandon. But to hear Thomas tell it, Wynn might be as talented as any player in the unit.

"Jamal is going to be something special," Thomas said. "He has great feet. I think he probably has the best break on the ball of anybody on the team. I think he might be better than I am. I hope so. I try and teach him everything I know."

Thomas and Wynn are roommates.

"We talk all the time," said Thomas, a two-time preseason Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year. "He's ready. I know he keeps saying he's going to get 10 picks (interceptions). If he does, that means I'm going to get some more because teams are going to get tired of throwing his way."

"I've picked up a lot from Kevin the last couple of years," Wynn said. "He has a lot of knowledge. He's been playing since his freshman year here, so he has picked up a lot of stuff."

Wynn thought he had a chance to earn the starting job last fall when Andre Hilliard graduated. But an injury in fall camp set him behind.

"I suffered a hip pointer in a scrimmage," he said. "I had to miss about two weeks of practice. I couldn't run. By the time I got back, Brisco had the job.

"This year I'm still healthy and I'm pretty confident out there. My feet are starting to come alive. We're out there making good plays on the defensive side of the ball. And I'm expecting us to have a good year this year."

If so, the play of Jamal Wynn figures to be key.

Sun football writer Steve Guiremand profiles 10 potential impact players who could make -- or break -- UNLV's 2001 football season. This is sixth in a 10-part series.