Rebels land Calif. recruit

Steve Guiremand

Monday, Jan. 21, 2002 | 10:06 a.m.

UNLV will make it official today, naming former XFL offensive coordinator Vince Alcalde and coach John Robinson's son, David, as quarterbacks and tight ends coach, respectively.

Alcalde was a top assistant with the Las Vegas Outlaws last year. Robinson was linebackers coach at Cal State Northridge, which dropped its football program.

John Robinson, in his dual role as athletic director, also will introduce Diane Dickenson, who will perform in an athletic fund-raising capacity, at today's news conference.

-- By Steve Guiremand

UNLV's Dominique Dorsey would have led the nation in kickoff return average last season if he had a couple of more attempts to qualify. But opposing teams wisely began kicking away from the explosive 5-foot-6 back.

However, the Rebel football team may have another kickoff return threat to go with Dorsey next fall.

Donnell Wheaton (5-11, 170) of Harbor City, Calif., Narbonne High School, who committed to UNLV over Kansas State, Cal and San Diego State over the weekend, knows a thing or two about returning kickoffs. Wheaton returned five of them last season for touchdowns for the Los Angeles City Invitational champs.

"For a kid to return five kickoffs for touchdowns in one season is incredible," Narbonne assistant coach Craig Marshall said. "And he did it in five different games, too."

Wheaton also played wide receiver on a Narbonne squad that had two Division I running back recruits, Cal-bound Marcus O'Keith and UNLV-bound Ronnie Smith.

"We didn't get to throw as much as we would have liked because we had two great running backs," Armstrong said. "But Donnell caught over 20 passes for us and had four touchdown catches."

The Rebels also picked up a commitment from one of the top line prospects in the San Fernando Valley this year, Steve Hall (6-2, 290) of Westlake, Calif.

"More than anything, he's a football player," Westlake coach Jim Benkert said. "He plays with an attitude. We had 12 Division I players the last two years here. Steve is the best lineman we've ever had since I've been here. He's just tapping his potential."

Two other prospects who visited UNLV this weekend, defensive lineman Loa Emmsley (6-3, 290) of Fresno City College and prep wide receiver Carl Holden of Fresno, Calif., reaffirmed earlier commitments.