Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2001 | 9:51 a.m.
Larry Croom figures to be a popular man with UNLV's defensive coaches this week.
That's because the 5-foot-10, 209-pound running back, who is redshirting this season per NCAA transfer rules, came to UNLV this summer from the University of Arizona, the team the Rebels play on Saturday night in Tucson.
A part-time starter in each of his first two seasons with the Wildcats after earning prep All-America honors at Long Beach (Calif.) Poly High School, Croom went through all of spring practice learning the new offensive system employed by first-year Arizona head coach John Mackovic. So it's fair to say he could provide a pretty decent scouting report about the Wildcats to the Rebel staff.
"Yeah, I know it like the back of my hand," Croom said of Arizona's offense. "I went through spring practice with them, so I have a good idea of what they want to do. I'm sure they've changed a few things in the summer, though."
UNLV head coach John Robinson said he hadn't talked with Croom about the Wildcats ... yet.
"I think Larry has talked to some of our coaches, but mainly about guys," Robinson said.
However, as he drove past Croom in his cart following Sunday night's short practice at Rebel Park, Robinson made a point to tell the running back to drop by his office in the next day or two.
"I know most of the players there except for the incoming freshmen," Croom said. "I keep in touch with some of them by phone. I talked to Bobby Wade and Lance Briggs. They told me they would be ready and that they were going to bring their 'A' game, stuff like that. They seemed pretty pumped up for the game."
Croom, who decided to leave Arizona because of a change to a passing offense under Mackovic, said he may drive down to Tucson for the game this weekend.
"This is a real exciting game for me even though I can't play in it," he said. "This is going to be the toughest game of the season for me to sit out and watch. I wish I could be out there playing."
The 6-3, 190-pound Johnson has caught just one pass in the first two games. But Robinson blamed an injury as one of the reasons Johnson has struggled.
"His first six or seven days in fall practice we thought, 'Oh, boy, we have something here,' " Robinson said. "But then he got a high ankle sprain. It didn't seem like a bad sprain at the time, but he still can't cut on it. And that's fairly important for a wide receiver."
Robinson believes the addition of junior Toby Smeltzer, who has been slowed by a sprained ankle himself the first two games, should give the receiving corps a boost.
"He can help us," Robinson said of the former Cimarron star. "He's got good speed and is a great competitor. ... Getting that position smoothed out is crucial for us."
Sunia, a good run stopper, will mainly see action on first down and on special teams.
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