Rebels add OL recruit

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, July 2, 2002 | 9:27 a.m.

Lack of depth on the offensive line was one of UNLV's potential weaknesses heading into the 2002 football season.

But John Robinson and Co. can sleep a little easier after Fullerton (Calif.) Junior College lineman Joe Eddleman signed scholarship papers with UNLV this week despite offers from Florida State, Oregon, Boise State, Utah and Northwestern.

The 6-foot-4, 315-pound Eddleman, who earned his Juco degree after passing 20 units in the spring term, will join the Rebels for fall practice Aug. 5 and have three years of eligibility.

"I thought UNLV had the best facilities of any school I visited," said the Juco All-American left tackle, who also took recruiting trips to Oregon, Florida State and Boise State. "It came down to UNLV and Florida State. I know a lot of people might be surprised I picked UNLV. But I liked their coaches and their facilities the best and felt it would be the best place for me."

Eddleman, also an excellent long snapper, is expected to compete for a starting spot at quick guard or strong tackle. He has been timed at 5.1 in the 40 and bench presses 420 pounds.

"One of the things he does is run very well," offensive line coach Rob Boras said.

Eddleman, who prepped at Valencia High School in Placentia, Calif., didn't play his first year at Fullerton Junior College so he could focus on academics. Last season, he helped lead Fullerton to a 6-5 record and a berth in the Beach Bowl in Santa Monica.

Though he had one more year of Juco eligibility, Eddleman decided to graduate early in order to have three years of Division I eligibility instead of the usual two for Juco transfers.

"I didn't really tell too many schools about it," he said. "I decided to take a big load in the spring to see if I could graduate early. And I made it."

Eddleman said he plans to major in psychology at UNLV.