Eagen’s eager

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Aug. 8, 2002 | 9:32 a.m.

Opposing offenses have had to account for No. 47 on UNLV's defense the last two years. That was the number worn by all-Mountain West defensive end Anton Palepoi, a second- round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks.

Chris Eagen, like Palepoi a former junior college All-American, hopes to live up to the standard that Palepoi set. Despite playing in just six games because of a knee injury, Palepoi led UNLV with 4.5 sacks.

"It's kind of a coincidence that I'm wearing the same number Anton wore," said Eagen, who is battling senior Trevan Sorensen for Palepoi's vacated left end spot. "Hopefully I can keep the legend alive."

The 6-foot-4, 272-pound Eagen, who also was recruited by Oregon State, Colorado State and Alabama, said he didn't seek out Palepoi's old number.

"Actually, I wanted No. 45," he said. "But I didn't fill the papers out for it. So I took this number. It's the same one I wore in high school."

Like Palepoi, Eagen is expected to provide a strong pass rush for the Rebels. He set a Cerritos (Calif.) College record with 15 sacks last year and once had five sacks in a game for Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, Calif.

"They're both very powerful," Rebels defensive coordinator Mike Bradeson said, comparing Eagen to Palepoi. "I think that's the main similiarity you see right now. Chris is coming from junior college and there is going to be an adjustment period for him, just like there was for Anton. Anton got better each game his first year here and then continued to improve his second year to where he ended up being drafted high.

"We expect good things out of Chris this year. He's a good, hard-nosed player. He was here all summer, which I think helped him out tremendously as far as camaraderie with his teammates and stuff. He's a smart, powerful kid and he's got some speed."

Whether he starts or not, Eagen should see plenty of action for the Rebels.

"You know how we are, we play them all," Bradeson said of his defensive line rotation.

Senior Ahmad Briggs, a preseason all-conference pick, returns at right end with JC transfer Shaun Siaki and sophomore Leon Moore also expected to get their share of snaps.

Butler, an excellent student (3.8 GPA,. 1,200 SAT) who was courted by Stanford and Michigan before deciding to attend Penn of the Ivy League, must sit out this season but still has two years of eligibility remaining. He has been timed at 4.5 in the 40-yard dash.

"I just thought (UNLV) would be the best place for me athletically," Butler said. "Academically, it doesn't matter what school you go to as an undergrad, but I still think UNLV has a great school. I can go here and then go to any graduate school in the country after I get my degree. If the NFL doesn't come to fruition, I could always go back to the Ivy League for grad school."