Linebacker from No. 1 team headed to UNLV

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2001 | 10:10 a.m.

UNLV has landed a verbal commitment from a starting linebacker on the nation's mythical national championship high school team.

Joe Micklos (6-1, 205) of De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif., committed to the Rebels during a weekend recruiting trip. He also had taken an unofficial trip to San Diego State and cancelled a planned recruiting visit to Utah.

Micklos, who had 85 tackles and seven sacks for the CIF North Coast Section champion Spartans, also had been recruited by Kansas State.

"My trip was great," Micklos said. "It exceeded all my expectations. It was great to see all the Rebel fever that is going around Las Vegas. And John Robinson is a stellar man. He's truly one of a kind. You could just see it in his eyes how it's going to be a big-time, winning program down there."

Micklos, who has been electronically timed at 4.49 in the 40, will likely play outside linebacker for the Rebels.

In his four years at De La Salle, he lost just one game, a 23-14 freshman level contest to Pittsburg.

He played two years on the varsity for the Spartans, who have the longest prep winning streak in history, 113 games, and have won 12 straight NCS titles. Concord De La Salle was recently rated No. 1 in the nation by USA Today.

The national letter of intent signing period begins on Feb. 7.