Foothill’s Ford could end up taking junior college route

Steve Guiremand

Monday, Feb. 4, 2002 | 11:15 a.m.

John Ford says he is still verbally committed to UNLV. But don't expect the talented 6-foot-2, 220-pound senior running back from Foothill High in Henderson to sign a letter of intent with John Robinson's Rebels when the national signing period begins on Wednesday.

That's because Ford, rated the No. 68 prospect in the nation by Tom Lemming of ESPN.com and a first-team all-state pick by the Sun, may wind up in junior college next fall because of academics.

"I won't be signing on Wednesday," Ford said Sunday. "I still have some work academically to do. If I don't (meet NCAA minimum freshman eligibility standards), I'd have to go to junior college."

In fact, Ford said most of the recruiting calls he gets these days are from junior colleges, not Division I football factories.

"Utah called, but most of the schools are junior colleges that are calling now," he said. "I haven't talked with anybody from UNLV in about three weeks. But I'm still committed to them right now."

Part of the problem is that Ford hasn't taken one of the standardized college entrance tests -- the SAT or ACT -- yet.

Ford said he planned to take the ACT later this month and the SAT in March. He said it's possible he won't know until summer whether he can enroll in a Division I school next fall.

Ford, who rushed for 2,026 yards on 271 carries and scored 32 touchdowns while leading Foothill to the Southeast Division title last fall, isn't the only blue chip prospect the Rebels are waiting on as national signing day approaches.

The Rebels are one of three finalists for one of the top offensive linemen in the West, Jacob Bingham (6-6, 305) of Granite Hills High School in El Cajon, Calif.

Bingham has narrowed his choices to UNLV, Nebraska and Arizona State.

Two other players UNLV is holding out hope for are junior college defensive tackle Loa Emmsley (6-2, 280) of Fresno City College, who is also considering Boise State, and highly touted junior college wide receiver Kellen Taylor (6-2, 200) of the City College of San Francisco, who visited Oregon over the weekend.

Another early Rebel commitment, quarterback Odell Howard (6-4, 225) of Pomona (Calif.) High School, took a last-minute trip to Washington State over the weekend. Howard was the only quarterback UNLV offered a scholarship to this year although Terry Furlow (6-0, 180), a transfer from Fresno State, enrolled in January and is paying his own way this semester.

Here's how UNLV's recruiting class is shaping up with less than two days to go:

Quarterback: Odell Howard, 6-4, 225, Pomona, Calif.

Running back: Ronnie Smith, 5-10, 160, Harbor City, Calif., Narbonne.

Wide receiver: David Relf, 6-2, 200, Compton, Calif., JC; Carl Bolden, 6-4, 185, Fresno, Calif., Central High School; James Staggs, 6-2, 185, Ventura, Calif., Dos Pueblos.

Tight end: Joe Del Castillo, 6-5, 220, Santa Rosa, Calif., Cardinal Newman.

Offensive line: Carlos Acosta, 6-3, 285, (transfer from Cal State Northridge); Marcus Bryan, 6-4, 270, Glendora, Calif.; Brandon Gray, 6-4, 275, Los Angeles Cathedral; Marco Guerra, 6-5, 320, Los Angeles Fremont; Keith Kincade, 6-3, 295, (mid-year enrollee from Cal State Northridge); Ryan Morris, 6-6, 295, Escondido, Calif., Palomar JC.

Defensive Line: Joseph Oniwar, 6-1, 280, Cerritos, Calif., JC; Chris Eagan, 6-3, 265, Cerritos, Calif., JC; Steve Hall, 6-2, 280, Westlake, Calif.; Shaun Saiki, 6-3, 245, Mesa, Ariz., Community College (mid-year enrollee).

Linebacker: George Morris, 6-3, 215, Richmond, Calif., De Anza.

Defensive backs: Danny Jones, 5-10, 185, Fresno, Calif., City College (mid-year enrollee).

Utility: Tremayne Kirkland, 5-11, 160, Sacramento, Calif., Hiram Johnson; Patrick Owens, 5-11, 175, Los Angeles Crenshaw; Donnell Wheaton, 5-11, 170, Harbor City, Calif., Narbonne.08