Rebels coming up short on recruits

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2002 | 9:15 a.m.

Wednesday's start of the national letter of intent signing period can't come soon enough for the UNLV Rebels, whose once promising recruiting class seems to be unraveling.

John Robinson's squad, which lost key wide receiver recruit Derek Hagan to Arizona State last week, apparently will come up short at the finish on four other blue chip prospects, including three others who had earlier given the Rebels non-binding oral commitments.

Running back Ronnie Smith of California, an honorable mention Sun Super 11 pick who has drawn comparisons to current UNLV star Dominique Dorsey and was arguably the crown jewel of this year's recruiting class, said Monday night that he now is "undecided" on his college choice after visiting Nebraska over the weekend.

The 5-foot-10, 160-pound Smith, who also took a recruiting trip to Kansas State, told a reporter from the Long Beach Press-Telegram on Sunday night that he had verbally committed to the Cornhuskers during his visit. However, he backed off that statement on Monday.

"Me and my family are still talking about it," Smith said. "I'm keeping my options open. I still haven't made my final decision. We're still talking about it."

Nebraska, which last week beat out Michigan for prep All-American running back David Horne of Omaha Central, didn't start recruiting the explosive Smith until January.

"They just got my film a couple of weeks ago," Smith said. "They came in kind of late."

The Rebels also apparently have lost their one quarterback recruit, Odell Howard (6-4, 230) of Pomona, Calif., to Washington State.

Howard, the Inland Valley Player of the Year who has been compared athletically to current UNLV quarterback Jason Thomas, told PacWestFootball.com that he was going to renege on his commitment to the Rebels.

"I felt Washington State was a better opportunity for me on and off the field," Howard said. "Pullman is more of a college town and Vegas has a lot of distractions. They don't call it Sin City for nothing and knowing me, I could have some problems there, so I think Pullman is a better environment for me."

Howard said he will play tight end and slot back for the Cougars.

The Rebels got more bad news when offensive lineman Jacob Bingham (6-6, 305) of Granite Hills High in El Cajon, Calif., who garnered seven votes in the Long Beach Press Telegram's Best in the West poll of college coaches, picked Arizona State over UNLV and Nebraska. And Fresno City College defensive tackle Loa Emmsley (6-3, 280), a former prep teammate of James Sunia who also committed earlier to UNLV, now appears to be headed to Boise State.

Meanwhile, JCfootball.com reported that former UNLV quarterback Matt Ray will sign with Troy State, his third Division I school in three years. Ray transferred to Nevada-Reno from UNLV, then moved on to Butte Community College in Oroville, Calif., last fall.