Special section: Rebels face litmus test in ‘02

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Aug. 29, 2002 | 9:03 a.m.

JT by the numbers

Jason Thomas' UNLV statistics:

Passing

Rushing

Two years ago John Robinson and Jason Thomas help put UNLV's foundering football program on the map with an 8-5 record, capped by a stunning 31-14 victory over Arkansas in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Then came a big pothole in the Rebels' road to national Top 25 prominence -- a disappointing 4-7 record in 2001.

Slowed by off-season surgeries to his throwing shoulder and foot, Thomas was nowhere near the Heisman Trophy form he had displayed a year earlier. Wide receivers repeatedly dropped passes in key situations. Injuries to stalwarts like Anton Palepoi, Dominique Dorsey and Steven Costa mounted. And the normally reliable Rebel defense seemed to break down at the end of close games.

But Robinson, two wins shy of his 200th career coaching victory in college and the NFL, is hoping to turn last year's negative into a positive.

Thomas, for one, is healthy again and seems on a mission to redeem himself. And unlike 2001, the Rebels appear to have a strong group of senior leaders.

"I am excited about this Rebel team's leadership," Robinson said. "We have a group of seniors that are hungry and ready to put the team ahead of individual glory. I just have the feeling that this is one of those classes that could do some special things."

An overview of the 2002 Rebels:

Offense

Thomas, who should benefit greatly from a much-improved supporting cast and the addition of fulltime quarterbacks coach Vince Alcalde, appears to be poised for a big season.

"He had a difficult time last year," Robinson said. "It seemed like everything went wrong, but he has done a lot of things to get himself back on track and his shoulder is 100 percent."

Joining Thomas in what has the makings of a potent backfield are senior fullback Steve Costa, who wowed NFL scouts with a 4.4 forty at NFL timing day last spring; preseason all-Mountain West tailback Joe Haro, who rushed for 1,107 yards last season; and two talented junior transfers from Pac-10 schools. Larry Croom started off-and-on at Arizona for two years and Deon Burnett broke Rueben Mayes' freshman rushing record at Washington State with 974 yards and 12 touchdowns in 1999.

If that isn't enough, explosive Dominique Dorsey, the MWC Freshman of the Year last season, also is back.

The wide receiving corps, which struggled last year with the departure of Nate Turner, should also be much improved.

Junior JC transfer David Relf bolsters a unit that includes veterans Troy Mason and Michael Johnson and much-improved sophomore Earvin Johnson. And senior tight end DeJhown Mandley figures to contend for all-conference honors.

The key to UNLV's offensive success figures to be how quickly offensive line guru Rob Boras can rebuild a unit that returns just one starter, senior guard Tony Terrell.

Defense

A school-record four defensive players were taken in the NFL Draft, including pass-rushing defensive end Anton Palepoi in the second round by the Seattle Seahawks and secondary stars Kevin Thomas (Buffalo) and Sam Brandon (Denver). And who can forget that tackle Ahmad Miller earned the title of "Mr. Irrelevent" after being selected by Houston with the last pick.

"We lost four great players to the NFL last year," Robinson said. "Replacing them has to be our No. 1 challenge. Developing the talent and experience we lost, especially in the secondary, will be a tall order."

That task was made even more difficult when two key defensive returnees, linebacker Ryan Claridge (abdominal strain) and defensive end Trevan Sorensen (neck), were lost to injuries in fall practice. Although there is a chance Claridge could return by October, Sorensen's career is over.

The line still has the makings of a good one thanks to a solid group of tackles led by junior Dietrich Canterberry and senior Garrett Brassington. Talented JC transfer Joe Oniwor and senior Phil Reed provide good depth. But the Rebels are thin at defensive end with the loss of Sorensen. Senior Ahmad Briggs is a preseason all-conference pick while Sorensen's replacement, Chris Eagen, is a highly touted JC All-American. And sophomore backup Leon Moore of Rancho High School has all-conference potential.

Claridge's injury was huge to an already thin group of linebackers. Sophomore Adam Seward of Bonanza High becomes the new leader of that group and along with senior Tyrone Tucker, a transfer from Iowa State, give the Rebels two of the conference's best. But depth is a real concern.

The secondary must replace Thomas and Brandon. JC transfer Daniel Jones and senior Chamieon Sutton will likely share time at one corner while senior Jamal Wynn, who started 11 games in Thomas' shadow last season, returns to the other.

Former Alabama starter Connie Brown should pick up where Brandon left off at one safety spot while former Durango High star Jamaal Brimmer is expected to start at the other.

Special teams

With Dorsey, Croom, Haro and Burnett, the Rebels are deep at kickoff return. Mason, who finished 15th nationally a year ago with a 12.9 average, is back as punt returner.

Junior Dillon Pieffer returns to handle plackicking chores while sophomore Gary Cook, who did a solid job last season (38.4 avg.) as a true freshman, will be the punter.

Long-snapper Eddie Freas and holder Toby Smeltzer are also back.

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