Rebels look to fill void on ‘D’

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, April 11, 2002 | 9:12 a.m.

One of the big questions for the UNLV Rebels in spring practice is who will emerge as the next Kevin Thomas at cornerback?

The answer? Nobody.

"Kevin was a guy who denied offense to the other team," head coach John Robinson said of the 2001 Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year. "I think it would be unfair to expect whoever takes his spot to just come in and snuff out somebody."

Senior Jamal Wynn, who started opposite of Thomas last season, more than likely will assume the role as the Rebels' top cover corner. Highly touted junior college transfer Daniel Jones, sophomore Ruschard Dodd-Masters and junior Mike Clancey, a transfer from Idaho State who has been one of the big surprises of spring drills, are battling for the other starting cornerback position.

Don't expect whoever joins Wynn in the starting lineup to be put out on an island in man-on-man coverage like the talented Thomas was able to do.

"It's not going to be the next Kevin Thomas out there," UNLV defensive coordinator Mike Bradeson said.

"Whoever starts (with Wynn) is going to be playing their first Division I college game (on Aug. 31 against Wisconsin). I don't expect them to be what Kevin was. They're different players. They may be able to do different things better than he did. We're still in the process of evaluating them."

"I think we'll see more coverages from us this year that are designed to help the corner," Robinson said. "I think we can get good play from that position. Jamal will be a good corner and if whoever gets the other starting corner position can be solid, I think we'll be OK."

The Rebels also must come up with a replacement for another key starter in the secondary, safety Sam Brandon, who led the team in tackles the last two years.

Senior Connie Brown, a transfer from Alabama, is the frontrunner for that spot. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder starred at national junior college champion City College of San Francisco before signing with the Crimson Tide and saw significant playing time in 2000 for the perennial SEC power.

"I think he potentially could be an outstanding safety," Robinson said. "I think he could be an all-conference or that type of player for us. He probably won't win those kinds of awards because he's somewhat of an unknown coming into the season. But he appears to have those kinds of strengths."

Senior Chameion Sutton returns at the other safety position, but is getting a strong push from two local products, sophomore Jamaal Brimmer of Durango and Ross Dalton of Cimarron-Memorial, as well as junior Sean Mackey.

"We've got four guys competing there," Bradeson said. "Now we have to see who is the one who steps up and makes the plays. I don't know if a final decision will be made in the spring."