Robinson gives his class a B-minus

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002 | 10:15 a.m.

It wasn't too long ago that UNLV had to stave off schools such as Southern Utah and Nebraska-Kearney for its football recruits.

These days it's just plain old Nebraska.

That's right, Nebraska.

The Cornhuskers, who just a month ago were playing Miami in the national championship game at the Rose Bowl, were one of several high-profile schools who came in at the wire and persuaded Rebel recruits to renege on their non-binding oral commitments with UNLV. As a result, the recruits signed with those schools on Wednesday, the first day of the national letter of intent signing period for prep football recruits.

"For a while there, we were doing sensationally," said UNLV head coach John Robinson, who gave his group an overall grade of B-minus.

But star running back recruit Ronnie Smith of Harbor City (Calif.) Narbonne High School switched to Nebraska after Cornhusker head coach Frank Solich made a surprising last-minute stop at his high school; athletic quarterback prospect Odell Howard of Pomona, Calif., switched to Washington State; and wide receiver Derek Hagan of Palmdale, Calif., changed his mind and went to Arizona State.

Robinson said he met with his staff on Wednesday morning and wanted to devise a strategy for the future by which UNLV recruits are not swayed at the finish line by late-arriving traditional powers.

"We've got to talk about how we can keep guys when we get them (committed), how do we ward off a Nebraska or an Arizona State or a Washington State?" Robinson said. "But we've got to stay in that league. ... Smith really stunned us because he was a really solid commitment."

Still, Robinson felt the Rebels managed to fill several key needs, including bringing in a solid group of line prospects. Getting more physical in the trenches was a top priority after the Rebels were manhandled up front the last two years by teams such as Utah.

"As far as size, we got what we hoped for," Robinson said. "We added at least 11 big and physical guys, which is what you need today in college football. This class, combined with some very talented transfers getting ready to play this fall, means we will have more size and speed on the field."

Robinson singled out two transfers from Cal State Northridge, which disbanded its program last fall -- center Carlos Acosta (6-4, 290) and tackle Keith Kincaid (6-4, 295) -- as well as preseason JC All-American offensive tackle Ryan Morris (6-6, 295) of Palomar, Calif., as players who should contend for starting spots next season.

The Rebels signed four defensive linemen, including Stephan Hall (6-2, 280) of Westlake, Calif., who was the Los Angeles Daily News lineman of the year. Hall just recently met NCAA minimum test score requirements and had a number of Pac-10 schools as well as Notre Dame trying to get him to switch at the end.

Three other junior college players -- ends Chris Eagen (6-4, 265) of Cerritos, Calif., and Shaun Siaki (6-4, 250) of Mesa, Ariz., and tackle Joseph Oniwor (6-1, 285) of Cerritos, Calif. -- should see plenty of playing time in the fall.

Two other key recruits were wide receiver David Relf (6-1, 190) of Compton (Calif.) JC, a former prep teammate of Rebel quarterback Jason Thomas, who should provide some much-needed toughness and sure hands at the position, and cornerback Danny Jones (5-10, 180) of Fresno (Calif.) City College, who should battle for the starting corner job vacated by Mountain West Conference defensive player of the year Kevin Thomas.

"I wish we would have recruited a few more defensive players," Robinson said. "I would have liked to have signed another defensive lineman. ... This class would have been an 'A' if we had gotten those three kids."

Here's where the Sun's Super 11 football players signed: