Healthy Hogs

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2001 | 11:09 a.m.

A big key for UNLV in its 31-14 Las Vegas Bowl win over Arkansas last year was the fact the Rebels were able to hold the Razorbacks to just 115 yards rushing.

But that accomplishment, as impressive as it sounds against a solid SEC squad, may need an asterisk next to it.

The reason? The Hogs were without their two top tailbacks, Cedric Cobbs (shoulder) and Fred Talley (knee). Both have since recovered and will play in Thursday night's season opener at Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium.

The 6-1, 220-pound Cobbs, a sophomore from Fair High School in Little Rock, is a first-team all-SEC preseason pick despite playing just three games in 2000. He gained 291 yards on 70 carries and scored four touchdowns before separating his right shoulder against Alabama. He rushed for a freshman school record 668 yards as a true freshman in 1999.

So just how good is Cobbs anyway?

"He kind of looked like Bo Jackson to me," UNLV middle linebacker Ryan Claridge said. "He looks big on film. I saw one play where he cut outside and then just ran over a guy and took it in for a touchdown. Everybody was like, 'Whoa!' He looks like he's kind of running downhill."

"He's a big, strong running back," UNLV defensive coordinator Mike Bradeson said. "I think he's a (Luke) Staley type of runner."

That's not a good omen for Rebel fans. Staley, a junior at BYU, overpowered UNLV's defense last season, gaining 167 yards on 28 carries in the Cougars' 10-7 win in Provo.

"He's big. He's strong. He's got speed and moves," Bradeson continued. "It looks like he has great vision. I watched him on film against Boise State last year. He was powering over guys and also making them miss. It was a really impressive game."

Talley, a 5-9, 170-pound junior, had three consecutive 100-yard games last season, including 214 yards against Ole Miss. He won the finals of the 60-meter dash (6.96) at the Arkansas Invitational in 2000, but is coming off surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee sustained against Mississippi State.

"He's a real burner," Claridge said. "He can make a big play on you."

Sophomore Brandon Holmes (6-2, 218), who rushed for 99 yards on 26 carries in the Las Vegas Bowl, gives the Hogs a trio of top-notch running backs to rotate.

"All three of those backs are good ones," Claridge said. "I think they'll try and run it at us. That's what they did last year. And now they've got their studs back."

The flags are similar in size to the ones that Los Angeles Lakers fans took to strongly during the NBA playoffs last spring. Robinson said the school will sell them for $10 each.

"It's time for our athletic department, our school, to stand up and say, 'We're Rebels!' " Robinson said. "You go back to Michigan or Wisconsin or wherever and you see people with symbols of who they are. ... We need to step forward in little steps and bring about a resurgence of UNLV sports."

Robinson said he ordered 5,000 of the flags.

Former UNLV athletic director Jim Weaver tried a similar flag promotion but it failed miserably in the early 1990s.

The 6-1, 215-pound Perkins played quarterback in high school. Robinson said he would like to give him some more time to adapt to making the move to tailback.

Another true freshman, Dominique Dorsey, should see limited action on Thursday night. Senior Jabari Johnson will start at tailback and be backed up by junior Joe Haro.

Redshirt freshman Jimy Zoll is listed as Wagers' backup. The Rebels hope to redshirt highly touted JC transfer Matt Williams, who was listed No. 1 at the position following spring practice.

Meanwhile, the battle for Randy Black's strong safety spot ended in a tie with Cimarron's Ross Dalton and JC transfer Chameion Sutton listed as co-starters.