Rebels find 5 answers …

Friday, April 11, 2003 | 11:03 a.m.

1.Who will replace three-year starter Jason Thomas at quarterback?

Actually, this one was answered back on Nov. 30 when junior Kurt Nantkes, subbing at the last moment for the injured Thomas, engineered UNLV to a stunning 36-33 upset of 13th-ranked Colorado State in chilly Fort Collins.

Nantkes, 23, has done nothing in spring practice to disappoint UNLV coaches, both on and off the field. A hard worker who has to be frequently booted out of the film room by coaches, he has garnered the respect of his teammates for his leadership and character.

As for his physical skills and passing abilities ...

"If you saw him on an NFL field, you'd think he'd fit right in," Rebels assistant Bruce Snyder said. "He's got plenty of arm and an efficient delivery."

The real quarterback question is who will come in if Nantkes goes down? Redshirt freshman Tyler Arciaga, who also has a strong arm, is battling sophomore Scott Turner and a winner may not be decided until fall. 2.What kind of influence will Bruce Snyder have on the team?

A lot.

The 1996 national coach of the year at Arizona State has always been known for putting together tough, physical football teams that either led or were near the top of the Pac-10 in penalties. Anyone who thought he was stopping by Las Vegas to relax in semi-retirement obviously hasn't watched Snyder, 63, during spring workouts where he is one of the most intense and involved coaches on the field.

"He is adding a toughness and efficiency to our team that will be apparent this fall," Robinson said. 3.Has Robinson shown any signs of slowing since his heart attack last month?

"Bleep no," defensive coordinator Mike Bradeson said.

In fact, those who have attended the first 10 practices have noticed a more animated and intense Robinson.

"He's usually on the phone with me first thing in the morning going over something," Bradeson said. "He's working as hard as ever." 4.What changes can we expect in the offense in 2003?

Thomas was the school's all-time leading rusher for a quarterback (1,528 yards) and usually managed to escape three or four sacks a game.

With a rebuilt and still suspect offensive line, look for the Rebels to use a lot of quick passes to the backs and sight reads to the tight end and wide receivers to neutralize the blitz and take advantage of Nantkes' accurate passing.

And with a stable of talented running backs led by seniors Larry Croom and Deon Burnett and JC transfer Alvin Marshall, expect to see more split back formations. 5.How good can linebacker Ryan Claridge be after taking a year off to rehab a torn abdominal muscle?

He's still shaking off the rust, but there's little doubt Claridge, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound junior, will once again be an impact player in the Mountain West Conference.