Rebels LB Seward has nose, mind for defense

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Sept. 5, 2002 | 9:39 a.m.

You might say that Adam Seward developed a football defensive mentality at an early age.

"I remember when I was a kid I'd call my dad at the office," the 6-foot-2, 240-pound sophomore from Bonanza High School recalled. "He was a defensive coordinator, so he'd answer the phone, 'Sack the quarterback!' or 'Stop the run!' And I'd say, 'Hey, dad.' "

Tom Seward was a co-captain for 1978 NCAA Division II champion Eastern Illinois and went on to coach at several Division I schools, including Illinois and UNLV (1986-1989). And his knowledge of the sport has rubbed off on his oldest son.

Although he is only a sophomore, Adam Seward is the quarterback of UNLV's defense from his starting middle linebacker spot.

"If you look at most defenses, the middle linebacker is usually the guy who tries to run everything," Seward said. "He has to call the front, how many backs are in the backfield and try and check the coverages and everything. It's a tough job, but I'm up for it."

It's a job that no doubt was made a little easier growing up in a football family.

Mother Amy, a regular at practice and the weekly Rebel Football Foundation luncheons at Big Dog's cafe, is a former Chicago Bears cheerleader. And his father, who now works for a Las Vegas car dealership, laid down a strong base of fundamentals for Adam during his youth football days.

"I was always around watching (football) film and everything," Adam Seward said. "Then while I was growing up and playing, he'd always help me out with things. He'd tell me, 'This is what you need to do and this is what you don't need to do.' So I grew up around football my whole life. I think it's benefitted me in a lot of ways."

Still, it took Seward a while to adjust to playing in a more complicated college defense.

"I'm still learning," he said. "When I first got here I had no idea what I was doing at first. I'd go out there and run around and get yelled at all the time. But as I started watching film and playing more, you could kind of see the same teams run the same kind of patterns or the same run plays. ... You sort of get a feel for what's coming."

After redshirting in 2000, Seward had 60 tackles and three sacks last season while starting four games at outside linebacker. He moved to middle linebacker this season so that Ryan Claridge could be moved outside to better utilize his speed. But Claridge has been sidelined with an abdominal injury which may force him to redshirt.

Still, UNLV's linebackers had a solid game in the Rebels' opening 27-7 loss to Wisconsin, especially against the Badgers' power running game. Wisconsin tailback Anthony Davis, who rushed for 184 yards on 37 carries a week earlier against Fresno State, managed just 81 yards on 20 carries against UNLV.

"We gave up 27 points, which I wouldn't say is good," Seward said. "But overall, considering they came out and said they were going to run the ball down our throats and stuff ... I think we kept that from happening."