UNLV Football: Croom’s transition to receiver gives big boost to offense

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2002 | 9:27 a.m.

Larry Croom was one of the most heavily recruited running backs on the West Coast his senior year at perennial prep powerhouse Long Beach (Calif.) Poly High School.

But Croom, who transferred to UNLV from Arizona a year ago, can do a whole lot more than run with a football as Nevada-Reno found out the hard way Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Croom also has played wide receiver off and on during his career. And those pass-catching skills came in handy during the Rebels' 21-17 Fremont Cannon victory over the Wolf Pack.

The 5-foot-10, 205-pound junior caught six passes for a game-high 114 yards and two touchdowns, including a 45-yard touchdown grab from Jason Thomas with 6:03 left in the game that proved to be the game-winner.

"I think the last time I scored two touchdowns in a game like that was probably back in high school," Croom said. "And the timing of the second touchdown probably couldn't have been better. You kind of thrive on coming through in a situation like that."

Look for Croom to be put in those kinds of situations a lot more times before he's done at UNLV.

"He's a player who has the gifts that make a good runner or a good receiver," UNLV coach John Robinson said. "He's very quick. He's very fast. And he's explosive.

"A lot of players have explosive and quick but aren't fast. But he really has all three. He also can catch the football and adjust to the ball. He just has a lot of skills."

Robinson said one of his goals is to utilize all of Croom's skills much like the St. Louis Rams have done with another pretty good running back.

"Obviously, the easy comparison is with Marshall Faulk, where you have him doing things from all over," Robinson said. "He (Croom) has real speed (10.6 in the 100 meters). Any time we can get him matched up with somebody with less speed is a good thing.

"We have to keep using him and find different ways to get him the ball. We got him the ball the other night (against Nevada-Reno) and it was the difference in the game."

Croom, who left Arizona when John Mackovic replaced Dick Tomey after the 2000 season despite the fact he was starting off and on for the Wildcats, isn't complaining. Although he considers himself a tailback first, he says he doesn't mind lining up as a slotback like he did against the Wolf Pack.

"Whatever they want me to play is fine," Croom said. "I'm all about winning and helping the team win. I really do mean that. Some people say it but don't really mean it, but I do. As long as it's helping the team win, I have no problem with playing wide receiver or tailback or whatever."

Just call him Slash.

"I'm kind of used to (playing different positions)," Croom said. "I've played wide receiver since I've been little. I've played running back since I was little. My sophomore year (at Long Beach Poly) I got my opportunity to first play by lining up in the slot. That got me into the open field and that eventually got me my carries (at running back).

"I'm a true running back at heart, but I can also go out and play wide receiver because I've been taught to do those things at wide receiver. Whatever it takes to win."