Kincaid expected to provide boost to Rebels’ offensive line

Steve Guiremand

Monday, April 15, 2002 | 9:49 a.m.

Keith Kincaid started 34 consecutive games during his career at Cal State Northridge.

However, that I-AA program folded after the 2001 season due to financial problems. So now the 6-foot-3, 300-pound offensive tackle is trying to start a new streak his senior year at UNLV.

Kincaid, who as a high school sophomore started on a CIF Southern Section championship team with ex-Rebel Sam Brandon and current Detroit Lions star Chris Claiborne at J.W. North High School in Riverside, Calif., is expected to take over Shane Wagers' vacant strongside tackle position on UNLV's rebuilt offensive line when the Rebels open the 2002 season on Aug. 31 against Wisconsin at Sam Boyd Stadium.

It's a step up from the Big Sky Conference for Kincaid, who redshirted last year for the Matadors after having surgery for a torn labrum in his shoulder. But it's one that UNLV head coach John Robinson and former Cal State Northridge coach Jeff Kearin both believe he'll be able to handle.

"I've always thought Keith was good enough to play at a higher level," Kearin, a former UNLV assistant, said. "He's a very smart, hard-nosed, blue collar type of player who will give you everything he has. It was devastating for us when we lost him after one game last year because he meant a lot to our team. But I think it ultimately worked out for the best because now he gets to play a year at UNLV for a coach like John Robinson."

"He's proven to be what you're looking for in a player," Robinson said. "He reminds me of some of our past players like a John Greer. He's mature and smart. He's not a dominate player physically, but he's solid in that regard."

Although a lot of schools shied away from taking a player who has just one year of eligibility left, Robinson compared it to his NFL days.

"It's kind of like trading in the NFL for another veteran player," Robinson said. "Keith has stepped right in. He's a good fit on our line. And he's a veteran college player."

After Northridge decided to drop football, Kincaid and his teammates were eligible to play immediately at the school of their choice.

"I wanted to come in here in time for spring practice so that I could get acclimated with everybody and also have more time to get used to the system," Kincaid said. "It think it's going pretty well. I'm doing pretty much the same things we did at Northridge except that they flip-flop their tackles here."

Another Cal State Northridge offensive lineman, center Carlos Acosta, will enroll in the fall and is expected to compete for the starting center job. So it's very possible that the Rebels could have two former Matadors in the starting lineup against the Badgers.

"We had good players at Northridge who could play at this level," Kincaid said. "The main difference is there are so many more of them here. There's a lot more depth and the competition is a lot more intense."