Rebels fill need on offensive line

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2001 | 10:40 a.m.

UNLV coach John Robinson filled one of his biggest recruiting needs on Tuesday when he received a verbal commitment from offensive tackle Keith Kincaid.

Kincaid (6-foot-3, 295), who started 34 consecutive games at Cal State Northridge and earned all-Big Sky honors in 2000 before redshirting this past season due to shoulder surgery, is expected to vie for a starting tackle spot in spring practice. He has just one year of eligibility remaining and is immediately eligible because the Matadores disbanded their program just before Thanskgiving.

"It's close to home (Riverside, Calif.), it's a great place with great coaches and great facilities," Kincaid, who also took trips to Tulsa and New Mexico State, said. "It was hands down the best place for me."

Kincaid and Fresno City College cornerback Danny Jones will be the only mid-year signees for UNLV, but the Rebels also will have a third new face transferring in this January.

Defensive end Shaun Siaki (6-foot-3, 240) of Mesa (Ariz.) Community College, a former prep teammate of Rebel tight end DeJhown Mandley at Mesa High School, has decided to pay his own way for spring semester before going on scholarship in the fall.

"I get the scholarship in the fall but my dad felt it would be worth paying my way for a semester so that I can take part in spring practice," Siaki said. "We were both very impressed by Coach Robinson and also the weight program they have there."

Siaki, who actually played safety in high school in the same secondary with Mandley, said it would cost between $6,000 and $7,000 for his out-of-state tuition. A defensive tackle at MCC, he will be moved outside to take advantage of his 4.8 speed in the 40.

Two other junior college defensive linemen, defensive end Chris Eagen (6-foot-3, 250) and defensive tackle Joseph Oniwar (6-foot-1, 270) of Cerritos (Calif.) Junior College, have given non-binding verbal commitments to UNLV and are expected to sign national letters of intent with the Rebels in February. Both will enroll next fall.

Eagen, who benches 405 pounds and runs 4.78 in the 40, also visited San Jose State and still plans to visit Oregon State. He was a second-team J.C. Grid-Wire All-American after breaking the school record with 15 sacks in one season, including three in the Falcons' 39-31 Strawberry Bowl victory over Alan Hancock JC of Santa Maria, Calif.

The Rebels also landed a verbal commitment from one of the top high school quarterback prospects in Southern California this year.

Odell Howard (6-foot-4, 235) of Pomona, a first-team all-Miramonte League pick at quarterback and a second team all-league selection as a defensive back, picked the Rebels over Oregon State, Minnesota, Boise State and UTEP.

A talented athlete in the Jason Thomas mold, Howard was recruited as a tight end by most schools but picked UNLV when Robinson promised him a shot at quarterback. He completed 95 of 184 passes (52 percent) for 1,465 yards and 14 touchdowns and six interceptions as a senior while rushing for another 450 yards and eight touchdowns. He led the Red Devils to their first CIF Southern Section playoff victory since 1981 last season.

Howard said he will redshirt next year. He said he is willing to give tight end a try if things don't work out at quarterback.

"I could see myself playing tight end if I had to," he said. "If I needed to do it for the team, I'd be more than happy to. But I want to try quarterback first."